Karstin
A feminine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "pure, innocent".
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Karstin. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 66.7% of registrations being male. The average person named Karstin today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Karstin births was 2010 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Karstin. 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 Karstin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
2010
10 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2013 SSA rank
#13,111
Tracked since 2010
Gender
Gender distribution for Karstin
Karstin is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 15 total registrations, 10 (66.7%) were male and 5 (33.3%) were female.
Karstin as a male name
- Ranked #13,111 in 2013
- 5 male births in 2013
- Peak: 2010 (5 births)
Karstin as a female name
- Ranked #18,392 in 2010
- 5 female births in 2010
- Peak: 2010 (5 births)
Popularity
Karstin: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Karstin 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 Karstin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10 | 5 | 15 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Karstin
The given name Karstin originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the North Germanic peoples of Scandinavia during the Viking Age, approximately between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is a feminine form derived from the Old Norse name Karsi, which itself is a diminutive of the name Karl, meaning "free man" or "husband."
Karstin was a popular name among the Scandinavian populations, particularly in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have been introduced to other parts of Europe through the Viking expeditions and settlements in various regions, including parts of modern-day England, France, and Germany.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Karstin can be found in the Icelandic sagas, which are a collection of narratives documenting the lives and adventures of the Norse people during the Viking Age. These sagas were composed between the 12th and 14th centuries and provide valuable insights into the cultural and linguistic traditions of that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Karstin. One such figure was Karstin Jacobsdotter (1516-1590), a Swedish noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the Swedish Reformation. Another prominent Karstin was Karstin Leijonhufvud (1624-1713), a Swedish countess and political figure who served as a member of the Swedish Riksdag (parliament) during the 17th century.
In the realm of literature, Karstin Pihl (1825-1897) was a Norwegian author and poet known for her works depicting the lives of the rural Norwegian population. Additionally, Karstin Olofsdotter (1854-1946) was a Swedish textile artist and educator who made significant contributions to the promotion of traditional Swedish handicrafts.
Another notable figure bearing the name Karstin was Karstin Sandblom (1910-1992), a Swedish actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions throughout her career. Her performances in both comedic and dramatic roles earned her widespread acclaim and recognition within the Swedish entertainment industry.
While the name Karstin has its roots in the Old Norse language and Scandinavian culture, it has since gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with strong Nordic influences or connections. However, its earliest origins and historical significance can be traced back to the Viking Age and the rich cultural traditions of the North Germanic peoples.
People
Karstin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Karstin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Karstin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Karstin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Karstin 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 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Karstin a common name?
We classify Karstin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Karstin most popular?
The single biggest year for Karstin was 2010, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Karstin is about 15 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 Karstin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Karstin a male name?
Yes, 66.7% of people registered as Karstin 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 Karstin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Karstin 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 Karstin 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 have the name Karstin?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.