Josten
A masculine name of Scandinavian origin, possibly derived from the Old Norse word "jostr" meaning "hearth" or "fireside".
Name Census estimates that about 273 living Americans carry the first name Josten. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Josten today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Josten births was 2004 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Josten. 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.
People living today
273
~ 1 in 1,255,510 Americans
Peak year
2004
16 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2019 SSA rank
#11,419
Tracked since 1984
Popularity
Josten: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Josten from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 106 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Josten remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Josten 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 Josten during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jostens live
Origin
Meaning and history of Josten
The given name Josten is believed to have originated from the Germanic language family, specifically from Old Norse or Old German roots. It is thought to be derived from the word "Jost," which means "just" or "fair," combined with the suffix "-en," indicating a diminutive form or a term of endearment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Josten can be found in various historical records and documents from the Middle Ages, particularly in regions of present-day Germany and Scandinavia. It is speculated that the name may have been used as a nickname or a shortened form of longer names such as Justinus or Justus, which were popular among early Christians and derived from the Latin word "justus," meaning "just" or "righteous."
During the High Middle Ages, the name Josten appeared in various medieval chronicles and records, often associated with individuals from noble or influential families. One notable example is Josten von Erbach, a German knight who lived in the 13th century and was known for his participation in the Crusades.
In the 16th century, the name gained prominence in the Netherlands, where it was sometimes spelled as "Josten" or "Joosten." One of the most famous individuals with this name was Josten de Soete, a Dutch painter and engraver who lived from around 1547 to 1611. His works, which included portraits and religious scenes, are considered important examples of Dutch Renaissance art.
Another notable figure with the name Josten was Josten Burrichter, a German clockmaker and inventor who lived from 1528 to 1608. He is credited with creating one of the earliest known portable clocks, which helped revolutionize timekeeping and navigation during the Age of Exploration.
In the 19th century, the name Josten was relatively uncommon but still found usage in various parts of Europe. One example is Josten Sverdrup, a Norwegian explorer and scientist who lived from 1854 to 1930. He was part of several Arctic expeditions and made significant contributions to the exploration of the North Pole region.
While the name Josten has not been as widely popular as some other names, it has maintained a presence throughout history, particularly in Germanic and Scandinavian cultures. Its origins and meaning have remained tied to concepts of fairness, justice, and righteousness, reflecting the values and ideals of the societies in which it was used.
People
Josten + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Josten 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
Josten: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Josten?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 273 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Josten 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 1,255,510 US residents.
Is Josten a common name?
We classify Josten as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 279 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Josten most popular?
The single biggest year for Josten was 2004, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Josten is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Josten a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Josten 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.
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.