Jestyn
A masculine given name likely derived from the Welsh name "Jestin" or "Iestin".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Jestyn. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jestyn today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jestyn births was 1998 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jestyn. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jestyn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1998
5 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
1998 SSA rank
#10,381
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Jestyn: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Jestyn 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 Jestyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Jestyn
The name Jestyn has its origins in Welsh culture and language, with roots that can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "iestin," which means "to gird" or "to prepare." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with warriors or those who prepared for battle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jestyn appears in the "Mabinogion," a collection of medieval Welsh tales and legends. In these stories, Jestyn is mentioned as the name of a minor character, indicating that the name was in use during the 12th or 13th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jestyn. One of the most famous was Jestyn ap Gwrgant (c. 1070-1137), a Welsh prince and Lord of Glamorgan. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh and the Norman invaders during the Norman conquest of Wales.
Another historical figure with the name Jestyn was Sir Jestyn Trahaearn (c. 1250-1314), a Welsh knight and landowner. He was known for his loyalty to the English crown and participated in the Wars of Scottish Independence under King Edward I.
In the 16th century, Jestyn ap Rhys (c. 1510-1580) was a prominent Welsh poet and scholar. He is renowned for his contributions to the preservation and promotion of Welsh language and literature during the Renaissance period.
Moving forward in time, Jestyn Philipps (1800-1874) was a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire. He was actively involved in the agricultural and political affairs of his time.
Lastly, Jestyn Griffiths (1919-2005) was a Welsh actor and singer who gained popularity for his performances in various stage productions and television shows. He was known for his versatility and contributed significantly to the entertainment industry in Wales.
While the name Jestyn has its roots in Welsh culture, it has also been adopted and used in other regions, though with varying spellings and pronunciations. However, its historical significance and strong ties to Welsh heritage make it a unique and intriguing name with a rich cultural background.
People
Jestyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jestyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jestyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jestyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jestyn 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Jestyn a common name?
We classify Jestyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jestyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Jestyn was 1998, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jestyn is about 28 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 Jestyn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jestyn a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jestyn in the SSA data are male. 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 Jestyn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jestyn 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 Jestyn 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 Jestyn?
Find out how many Americans are named Jestyn on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.