Kerstin

A girl's name of Swedish origin with 2,535 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Alternative form of Kirsten.

Kerstin is a girl's baby name of Swedish origin, the Scandinavian form of Christina, meaning 'follower of Christ.' Crisp and elegant, it is widely used across Sweden and Norway and carries a clean, Nordic simplicity that feels both modern and timeless.

EtymologyShow more

Phonetically, Kerstin belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.

Within the Swedish naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Swedish names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Kerstin’s linguistic neighborhood.

At a Glance

2,535

Total births

Since 1950

1998

Peak

97 births

1950

First recorded

72 years of data

Compare Kerstin with another name

Popularity Over Time

Kerstin has 68+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1950.

First appeared: 1950Peak: 1998 (97 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kerstin
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	5	#16500	▼
2010s	97	#11186	▼
2000s	489	#3703	▼
1990s	783	#1891	▲
1980s	445	#2391	▲
1970s	337	#2452	▲
1960s	315	#2255	▲
1950s	64	#4778	—

The Story of Kerstin

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 1998, Kerstin is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Kerstin are most likely born between 1988 and 2008.

How rare is Kerstin?

With 2,535 total births on record, Kerstin remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1950, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1990s with 783 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Kerstin by the numbers

Would fill 53 school buses
Meeting one Kerstin per day would take 6.9 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(68 years, 1950–2021)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kerstin
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2021	5	#16500	-1 (-16.7%)
2018	6	#14776	+1 (20.0%)
2017	5	#17194	-1 (-16.7%)
2016	6	#15309	-8 (-57.1%)
2015	14	#8220	+5 (55.6%)
2014	9	#11468	-2 (-18.2%)
2013	11	#9926	-3 (-21.4%)
2012	14	#8438	-2 (-12.5%)
2011	16	#7617	0
2010	16	#7725	-5 (-23.8%)
2009	21	#6431	-9 (-30.0%)
2008	30	#4956	+2 (7.1%)
2007	28	#5169	-5 (-15.2%)
2006	33	#4411	-12 (-26.7%)
2005	45	#3386	-3 (-6.3%)
2004	48	#3200	-4 (-7.7%)
2003	52	#2936	-8 (-13.3%)
2002	60	#2593	-23 (-27.7%)
2001	83	#2041	-6 (-6.7%)
2000	89	#1910	+1 (1.1%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kerstin a boy's or girl's name?

Kerstin is primarily a girl's name.

When was Kerstin most popular?

Kerstin reached its peak popularity in 1998 with 97 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Kerstin?

Kerstin is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 2,535 babies in the U.S. since 1950. Its peak was in 1998.

Explore More

By Length7-letter names By OriginSwedish names By EndingNames in -n TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1950–2021