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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kerstin

Kerstin

♀ Girl

Pronounced KUR-stin /ˈkɜːr.stɪn/Medium

Meaning: Kerstin is the Swedish form of Christina or Christine, from Greek christiana, 'a Christian,' by way of Latin. A long-standing Scandinavian classic, it carries that Christian meaning with a Nordic finish, a sister form to Kirsten.Medium

In 30 seconds: Kerstin is the Swedish Christina — 'a Christian' (said 'KUR-stin'). A Scandinavian classic that saw its small American peak around 1998.
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Origin MediumScandinavian, Greek
MeaningKerstin is the Swedish form of Christina or Christine, from Greek christiana, 'a Christian,' by way of Latin. A long-standing Scandinavian classic, it carries that Christian meaning with a Nordic finish, a sister form to Kirsten.
U.S. rank (2021)#16500 ↘ Falling
2021 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,535

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819502021

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

Kerstin is the Swedish form of Christina, from Greek christiana, 'a Christian.' A staple name in Scandinavia for centuries, it saw only scattered American use, drawing its modest high near 1998 at close to a hundred girls a year as Nordic names gained a little favor.

A girl named Kerstin at that peak is in her twenties today. In Sweden it reads as a warm traditional name across generations; in America it stayed uncommon and reads as a heritage or Scandinavian-flavored pick. Kirsten and Kristin are its closest cousins, sharing the root.

Did you know? Kerstin is Sweden's own form of Christine, sister to the Danish and Norwegian Kirsten — all descended from the Greek word for 'a Christian.'
Overall data confidence 72%
References — Kerstin — Swedish form of Christina (Gk 'a Christian'); late-1990s US peak

Variations

KirstenChristinaKersten

Nicknames

KerstKiki

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kerstin…

Kirsten— a Danish-Norwegian sister form of the same name
Kristin— a like Scandinavian form of Christina
Christine— the parent name behind Kerstin
Kiersten— a like Kir-/Ker- variant in sound

Explore names like Kerstin

By themeheritagegreekscandinavian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kerstin mean?

Kerstin is the Swedish form of Christina, ultimately meaning 'a Christian.'

How do you pronounce Kerstin?

It's said KUR-stin /ˈkɜːr.stɪn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kerstin a boy or girl name?

Kerstin is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kerstin?

Kerstin is a Scandinavian classic that stayed rare in the U.S., peaking modestly in the late nineties; it remains uncommon here.

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