The first name Cressida
A girl’s name from Greek meaning “briseis”, “gold”.
3 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Cressida means “briseis”, “gold” in Greek.
Used by Geoffrey Chaucer, also by Shakespeare in Troilus and Cressida (1602), from Italian Criseida (which Boccaccio mistakenly substituted for Briseida (“Briseis”)), from Ancient Greek Χρυσηΐς (Khrusēḯs), from Ancient Greek χρυσός (khrusós, “gold”).
More names that mean gold.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 9 girls were named Cressida, making it the 2,788th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 28 births (#1,204).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Cressida with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Cressida at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 11 girls born in the United States were named Cressida, the 8,987th most popular girls’ name that year.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Cresida
Famous people named Cressida
4 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Cressida CowellBritish writer, born 1966
- Cressida DickBritish police officer, born 1960
- Cressida BonasEnglish actress, dancer and model, born 1989
- Finty WilliamsEnglish actress (born 1972)
More Greek girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Cressida mean?
- Cressida means “briseis”, “gold” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Cressida?
- Used by Geoffrey Chaucer, also by Shakespeare in Troilus and Cressida (1602), from Italian Criseida (which Boccaccio mistakenly substituted for Briseida (“Briseis”)), from Ancient Greek Χρυσηΐς (Khrusēḯs), from Ancient Greek χρυσός (khrusós, “gold”).
- How popular is the name Cressida?
- In 2025, 9 girls born in England and Wales were named Cressida, ranking 2,788th. Its peak was 2015, with 28 births.
- Is Cressida a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 162 US babies named Cressida since 1880 were girls.
- When was Cressida most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 11 babies were named Cressida, its highest rank at 8,987th.
- What are other spellings of Cressida?
- Cresida.