Find out how popular the first name Kirsten has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kirsten by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kirsten is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Kirsten being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 35 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kirsten.

The history of the first name Kirsten

The name Kirsten is of Danish origin, derived from the ancient Norse name Kristin, which means "a Christian" or "follower of Christ." The name was popular in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages, particularly in Denmark and Norway.

The earliest recorded use of the name Kirsten dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in Danish historical records. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Kirsten Svendsdatter, a Danish noblewoman who lived in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the name gained popularity in Germany, where it was spelled as "Kirsten" or "Kersten." One notable bearer of the name from this period was Kirsten Munk, a Danish noblewoman who was the mother of King Christian IV of Denmark.

During the Protestant Reformation, the name Kirsten became associated with the Lutheran faith, as many Lutherans chose to give their children names with Christian meanings. This further contributed to the name's popularity in Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kirsten. Some examples include Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962), a renowned Norwegian opera singer; Kirsten Dunst (born 1982), an American actress known for her roles in films like "Spider-Man" and "Interview with the Vampire"; and Kirsten Gillibrand (born 1966), an American politician and former United States Senator from New York.

Other famous Kirstens include Kirsten Olesen (1913-1989), a Danish athlete and Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, and Kirsten Haglund (born 1992), an American figure skater and Olympian.

While the name Kirsten has its roots in Danish and Scandinavian culture, it has become popular in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kirsten was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kirsten, please contact us.

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