Kertina
A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly derived from Brittany.
Name Census estimates that about 30 living Americans carry the first name Kertina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kertina today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kertina births was 1972 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kertina. 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 Kertina. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
30
~ 1 in 11,425,145 Americans
Peak year
1972
17 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
1976 SSA rank
#8,630
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Kertina: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kertina 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 Kertina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 33 | 33 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kertina
The name Kertina has its origins rooted in ancient Scandinavian languages, dating back to the Viking era. Linguists believe it is derived from the Old Norse words "kerta" meaning "candle" and "ina" signifying "radiant one." This linguistic connection suggests the name may have been bestowed upon individuals with a luminous personality or striking physical beauty.
Records indicate the earliest known person bearing this name was Kertina of Vestfold, a Norwegian noblewoman who lived in the late 9th century. Her name is mentioned in the Heimskringla, a renowned historical account of the Norwegian kings written by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century.
In the 11th century, a Kertina of Birka, a prominent merchant and trader from the Swedish town of Birka, was noted for her successful business ventures and influence in the Baltic region. Her name is inscribed on several Viking Age runestones found in modern-day Sweden.
During the 12th century, a Kertina of Lund, a scholar and poet from Denmark, gained recognition for her contributions to the literature of the time. Her collection of Norse poems, known as the "Kertina Codex," has been preserved and studied by historians and linguists.
In the 14th century, Kertina of Roskilde, a Danish noblewoman, is documented as having played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the unification of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under the Kalmar Union in 1397.
The name Kertina also appears in the historical records of Iceland, with Kertina Oddsdóttir, a respected lawspeaker and chieftain who lived in the late 10th century. Her wise counsel and leadership during a period of political turmoil earned her a place in the Icelandic sagas.
While the name Kertina has its origins in the Nordic regions, it has been adopted and adapted by various cultures throughout history, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, its connection to the ancient Scandinavian languages and the legacy of strong, influential women bearing this name have endured, making it a name steeped in historical significance.
People
Kertina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kertina 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
Kertina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kertina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 30 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kertina 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 11,425,145 US residents.
Is Kertina a common name?
We classify Kertina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 33 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kertina most popular?
The single biggest year for Kertina was 1972, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kertina is about 52 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 Kertina in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kertina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kertina 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 Kertina still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kertina 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 Kertina 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 Americans are named Kertina?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.