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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kirsty

Kirsty

♀ Girl

Pronounced KUR-stee /ˈkɜːr.sti/Medium

Meaning: Kirsty is a Scottish pet form of Kirsten or Christine, names from Greek christianos, 'a Christian,' and Christ, 'the anointed one.' Long a stand-alone name in Scotland, it carries that Christian sense in a brisk two-beat form.Medium

In 30 seconds: Kirsty is a Scottish short form of Kirsten or Christine — 'a Christian' (said 'KUR-stee'). Familiar in Britain, it drew its small American peak around 1991.
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Origin MediumScottish, Greek
MeaningKirsty is a Scottish pet form of Kirsten or Christine, names from Greek christianos, 'a Christian,' and Christ, 'the anointed one.' Long a stand-alone name in Scotland, it carries that Christian sense in a brisk two-beat form.
U.S. rank (2013)#18031 ↗ Rising
2013 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1991
Total births (all-time)≈ 945

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199119612013

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

Kirsty is a Scottish diminutive of Kirsten or Christine, from Greek christianos, 'a Christian.' A long-established given name in Scotland, it saw only scattered American use, drawing its modest high near 1991 at close to a hundred girls a year as British names had a small vogue.

A girl named Kirsty at that peak is in her thirties today. In Britain it reads as a warm, everyday Generation-X name; in America it stayed uncommon and never entered the mainstream. Its clean sound keeps it accessible, and Kirsten and Christy are its closest cousins.

Did you know? Kirsty is far more a British name than an American one — singer Kirsty MacColl and broadcaster Kirsty Young made it a household sound in the U.K. while it stayed a rarity in the States.
Overall data confidence 75%
References — Kirsty — Scottish short form of Kirsten/Christine; British popularity; 1991 US peak

Variations

KirstieKirstenChristine

Nicknames

Kirs

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kirsty MacColl (1959–2000)
    British singer-songwriter known for songs including 'Fairytale of New York'

If you like Kirsty…

Kirsten— a parent name Kirsty shortens
Christy— a like short form of Christine in sound
Kristy— a same-era brisk two-beat variant
Kerstin— a Scandinavian sister form of the same root

Explore names like Kirsty

By themenickname-namescottish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kirsty mean?

Kirsty is a Scottish short form of Kirsten or Christine, ultimately meaning 'a Christian.'

How do you pronounce Kirsty?

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

Is Kirsty a boy or girl name?

Kirsty is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kirsty?

Kirsty is far more common in Britain than the U.S., where it peaked modestly in the early nineties; it remains uncommon here.

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