Fosteen
A nature-inspired compound name; "Fos" may derive from "forest" and "teen" from an alternate suffix.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Fosteen. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Fosteen today is around 98 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fosteen births was 1938 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fosteen. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Fosteen is about 98 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Fosteens were born before 1938.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Fosteen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1938
6 babies that year
Average age
98
years old
1938 SSA rank
#4,003
Tracked since 1923
Popularity
Fosteen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Fosteen from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 11 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fosteen by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Fosteen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Fosteen
The name Fosteen has its origins in the ancient Norse language, traced back to the 8th century Viking era. It is derived from the Old Norse words "fǫst" meaning "firm" or "steadfast" and "stein" which translates to "stone" or "rock". The combination of these two words suggests a meaning of "unwavering" or "resolute as a rock".
In the Viking sagas and early Scandinavian folklore, the name Fosteen was often associated with characters or individuals who displayed traits of bravery, strength, and resilience. It was a name bestowed upon warriors and seafarers who fearlessly navigated the treacherous waters of the North Atlantic and embarked on daring expeditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fosteen can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, where a renowned Viking chieftain from the 10th century was known by this moniker. Fosteen Thorvaldsson, born in 947 CE, was celebrated for his leadership and unwavering courage in battles against rival clans.
During the Middle Ages, the name gained popularity among the Norse settlers who established communities across parts of Europe and the British Isles. Fosteen Eriksson, a Norwegian explorer born in 1135 CE, is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to set foot in Greenland, leading a daring expedition across uncharted territories.
In the 13th century, a Dutch monk and scholar named Fosteen van Delft, born in 1212 CE, gained recognition for his contributions to the study of ancient languages and his translations of Greek and Latin texts.
The name also found its way into the annals of Scottish history, with Fosteen MacLeod, born in 1457 CE, a renowned Highland clan chief known for his fierce loyalty and defense of his people's lands against English invaders.
As the centuries passed, the name Fosteen continued to be used, albeit sparingly, across various regions of Europe. In the 18th century, Fosteen Andersson, a Swedish naval officer born in 1734 CE, gained fame for his bravery during the Russo-Swedish War, where he led his crew to victory in several decisive battles.
While the name Fosteen may not be as common in modern times, its historical significance and the spirit of resilience it embodies continue to resonate, serving as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Viking era and the adventurous spirit of those who bore this name.
People
Fosteen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fosteen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Fosteen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fosteen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fosteen going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Fosteen a common name?
We classify Fosteen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fosteen most popular?
The single biggest year for Fosteen was 1938, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fosteen is about 98 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Fosteen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Fosteen a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fosteen in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Fosteen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Fosteen in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Fosteen can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Fosteen?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.