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Cresta

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Cresta

Pronounced KRES-tuh /ˈkrɛs.tə/High

Meaning: Cresta is a word-name from the Latin crista, a 'crest', 'plume' or 'ridge' — the source of English 'crest'. It also survives as a Spanish and Italian word for a crest or summit, giving the name a bright, peak-topping image.Low

In 30 seconds: Cresta is a crisp word-name from the Latin crista, 'crest' or 'plume' (said 'KRES-tuh').

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Origin LowLatin

MeaningCresta is a word-name from the Latin crista, a 'crest', 'plume' or 'ridge' — the source of English 'crest'. It also survives as a Spanish and Italian word for a crest or summit, giving the name a bright, peak-topping image.

U.S. rank (1987)#11677 ↘ Falling

1987 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1975

Total births (all-time)≈ 236

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cresta comes from the Latin crista, meaning a 'crest', 'plume' or 'ridge', the same root behind the English 'crest' and the Spanish and Italian words for a summit or cockscomb. As a given name it is rare and word-derived, chosen for its clean sound and its image of a high, bright peak.

It was always uncommon, appearing briefly around the nineteen-seventies with a small peak in the middle of that decade and fading soon after. A Cresta today is likely a Gen-Xer; the name is a rare word-name rather than a traditional given name.

Did you know? Cresta shares its root with the famous Cresta Run, the ice toboggan track in St. Moritz, and with the everyday word 'crest' — both from the Latin crista, a ridge or plume.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Cresta — Latin crista 'crest'

Variations

CrestiCristaKrista

Nicknames

CresTessa

Famous Bearers

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Krista— a near-homophone K- name

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Vita— the same vintage feel

Fleta— lands in the same popularity range

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cresta mean?

Cresta is a word-name from the Latin crista, meaning a 'crest', 'plume' or 'ridge'.

How do you pronounce Cresta?

It's said KRES-tuh /ˈkrɛs.tə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cresta a boy or girl name?

Cresta is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Cresta?

Cresta has always been rare, a word-name that appeared briefly around the nineteen-seventies.