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Name Lineage

    The first name Kirsten

    A girl’s name from Greek.

    Pronounced /ˈkɝstən/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    From North Germanic (Danish Kirsten and Norwegian Kirsten). Doublet of Christina.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Kirsten last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 3 girls. It peaked in 1996, with 225 births (#195).

    0150300 1996200020052010201520202025
    2,237
    babies named Kirsten, 1996–2025
    #5,891
    rank in 2024
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Kirsten with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Kirsten at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 60 girls born in the United States were named Kirsten, the 2,841st most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1991, when 1,931 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    53,393
    babies named Kirsten since 1880
    #2,841
    rank in 2025
    1991
    peak 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

    Famous people named Kirsten

    37 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Kirsten Dunst
      American actress (born 1982)
    • Kirsten Gillibrand
      American politician (born 1966)
    • Kirsten Flipkens
      Belgian tennis player, born 1986
    • Kirsten Vangsness
      American actress and screenwriter, born 1972
    • Kirsten Price
      American pornographic actress, model & cable television host, born 1981
    • Kirsten Prout
      Canadian actress, born 1990
    • Kirsten Wild
      Dutch racing cyclist, born 1982
    • Kirsten Emmelmann
      East German sprinter, born 1961
    • Kirsten Moore-Towers
      Canadian figure skater, born 1992
    • Kirsten Barnes
      Canadian rower, born 1968
    • Kirsten van de Ven
      Association footballer, born 1985
    • Kirsten Klose
      German hammer thrower, born 1977

    More Greek girls’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Kirsten mean?
    From North Germanic (Danish Kirsten and Norwegian Kirsten). Doublet of Christina.
    What is the origin of the name Kirsten?
    From North Germanic (Danish Kirsten and Norwegian Kirsten). Doublet of Christina.
    How popular is the name Kirsten?
    In 2024, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Kirsten, ranking 5,891st. Its peak was 1996, with 225 births.
    Is Kirsten a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 53,393 US babies named Kirsten since 1880 were girls.
    When was Kirsten most popular?
    1991 in the United States, when 1,931 babies were named Kirsten, its highest rank at 154th.
    How do you pronounce Kirsten?
    Kirsten is /ˈkɝstən/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Kirsten?
    Kyrsten, Kirstin, Kyrstin, Kirstyn, Kyrstyn and Kerstin.
    Is Kirsten also a surname?
    Yes. Kirsten is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.