What Does the Name Cruz Mean?

Cruz is a unisex name of Spanish/Portuguese (from the surname/word 'cruz') origin meaning “cross.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Cruz
Gender	unisex
Origin	Spanish/Portuguese (from the surname/word 'cruz')
Meaning	cross
Variants	Cruize, Cruse, De la Cruz (surname form)
Popularity	A widely used Hispanic surname and given name; rose as a boys' first name in the English-speaking world in the 2000s after high-profile celebrity usage.

The meaning and origin of Cruz

The name Cruz means “cross” and has Spanish/Portuguese (from the surname/word 'cruz') origins. Cruz is a Spanish and Portuguese word and surname meaning 'cross', originally a religious or topographical name referencing the Christian cross. Though predominantly given to boys, it has historical unisex use in Spanish-speaking cultures and was popularized by celebrity children.

Variants and related names

Cruz is related to several other names you may recognize: Cruize, Cruse, De la Cruz (surname form). These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Cruz?

A widely used Hispanic surname and given name; rose as a boys' first name in the English-speaking world in the 2000s after high-profile celebrity usage.

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