Kirsten Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Kirsten is a name of Danish origin that means 'Christian'. It evolved from the name Christine and has historical forms like Kristina. The name carries traits of strength and individuality, with no direct biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 20th century and is now seen as both traditional and modern.
The name Kirsten is most popular in Washington, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kirsten has been stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Kirsten' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7025th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4131st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6776th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17241st out of 24088 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2676th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 781st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 306th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 222nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 338th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1987th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Kirsten' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kirsten"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɪrstən/
Origin
Danish
Etymology
Kirsten is a diminutive form of the name Christine, which ultimately derives from the Latin 'Christianus', meaning 'follower of Christ'.
Meaning
Christian
Language Evolution
Christine, Kristina, Kirsten
Historical Usage
Kirsten gained popularity in Scandinavia during the 20th century and has since been adopted in various other cultures.
Variants & Derivatives
Kristen, Christina, Kirsty
Modern Popularity & Image
Kirsten is viewed as a traditional yet modern name, often associated with strong cultural roots and a sense of individuality.
Famous People
Kirsten Dunst, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kirsten Neuschäfer
Explore More Kirsten Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kirsten"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kirsten"
"Kirsten" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7025th of 7552 | 8 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4131st of 10718 | 101 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6776th of 16616 | 83 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 17241st of 24088 | 20 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2676th of 9204 | 201 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 781st of 12526 | 3,039 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 306th of 19264 | 13,540 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 222nd of 27321 | 20,205 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 338th of 35406 | 14,934 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1987th of 30306 | 1,200 |
Regional Popularity of "Kirsten" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 4616th/4616 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Kirsten" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
100.00% 1556th/1556 |
- |
100.00% 1264th/1264 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
100.00% 639th/639 |
100.00% 673rd/673 |
100.00% 1320th/1320 |
100.00% 529th/529 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 278th/278 |
100.00% 258th/258 |
100.00% 500th/500 |
100.00% 216th/216 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 188th/188 |
100.00% 222nd/222 |
100.00% 255th/255 |
100.00% 229th/229 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 278th/278 |
100.00% 360th/360 |
100.00% 286th/286 |
100.00% 513th/513 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
100.00% 2234th/2234 |
100.00% 1697th/1697 |
100.00% 1752nd/1752 |
100.00% 2659th/2659 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kirsten"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kirsten" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.