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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kersti

Kersti

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Kersti

Pronounced KAIR-stee /ˈkɛrsti/Low

Meaning: Kersti is a short form of Kirsten or Christina used in Estonia and across Scandinavia. The parent names come from Greek christos, 'anointed', the root of Christian, so the inherited sense is 'follower of Christ'. It is a genuine heritage nickname given as a full name.Low

In 30 seconds: Kersti is an Estonian and Scandinavian short form of Kirsten/Christina, from Greek christos, 'anointed'. A heritage name here, it peaked around 1990 (said KAIR-stee).
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Origin MediumEstonian, Scandinavian
MeaningKersti is a short form of Kirsten or Christina used in Estonia and across Scandinavia. The parent names come from Greek christos, 'anointed', the root of Christian, so the inherited sense is 'follower of Christ'. It is a genuine heritage nickname given as a full name.
U.S. rank (1994)#14555 ↘ Falling
1994 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1990
Total births (all-time)≈ 62

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199019691994

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kersti is the Estonian and Nordic short form of Kirsten and Christina, names rooted in Greek christos, 'anointed', the source of the word Christian. As a stand-alone first name it carries real Baltic and Scandinavian heritage rather than being a modern coinage.

Kersti was never common in the United States, appearing thinly among families of Estonian and Scandinavian background and given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 1990. A girl named Kersti then is in her thirties today.

Did you know? In Estonia, Kersti is common enough to be borne by a head of state - Kersti Kaljulaid served as the country's president in recent years.
Overall data confidence 50%
References - Kersti — Estonian/Scandinavian short form of Kirsten/Christina

Variations

KirstiKirstenKerstinChristina

Nicknames

KessiSti

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kersti Kaljulaid (b. 1969)
    Estonian politician who served as President of Estonia

If you like Kersti…

Kirsten— the parent name Kersti shortens
Kerstin— a close Nordic sister form
Kirsti— a near-identical spelling
Sigrid— a like Scandinavian heritage pick

Explore names like Kersti

By themerareheritageshortscandinavian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kersti mean?

It is an Estonian and Scandinavian short form of Kirsten/Christina, from Greek christos, 'anointed'.

How do you pronounce Kersti?

It is said KAIR-stee /ˈkɛrsti/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Kersti a boy or girl name?

Kersti is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kersti?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around nineteen-ninety.

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