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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kristen

Kristen

♀ Girl

Pronounced KRIS-ten /ˈkrɪs.tən/Low

Meaning: Follower of Christ, ChristianLow

In 30 seconds: Kristen is a Scandinavian feminine form of Christian, meaning follower of Christ. Hugely popular in the United States from the 1970s through 1990s, it remains a recognizable classic with a fresh, approachable feel.
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Origin LowScandinavian, Latin
MeaningFollower of Christ, Christian
U.S. rank (2025)#1999 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births96 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1982
Total births (all-time)≈ 218,768

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198219382025

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

Kristen derives from the Latin Christianus meaning follower of Christ, through Old Norse Kristin. It became one of the most popular girl names in the United States between 1975 and 1995, charting in the top 20 for multiple years.

While its peak popularity has passed, Kristen remains a solid, recognizable name. Famous bearers including actress Kristen Bell and Twilight star Kristen Stewart have kept it in the public consciousness. Kristin with an i is the Scandinavian/German spelling.

Did you know? Kristen is the Scandinavian feminine form of Christian, and was especially popular in Denmark and Norway before becoming widespread in America during the mid-20th century.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Kristen

Variations

KristinKristineChristineChristin

Nicknames

KrisKrissy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kristen Bell (b. 1980)
    American actress known for Veronica Mars, The Good Place, and voicing Anna in Frozen.
  • ★Kristen Stewart (b. 1990)
    American actress known for the Twilight saga and an Oscar-nominated performance in Spencer.

If you like Kristen…

Kirsten— Danish variant of same origin
Kristina— Extended Scandinavian form
Jensen— a similarly popular pick
Carmen— echoes that soft -en sound
Lauren— the same classic feel

Explore names like Kristen

By themeclassictwo-syllablescandinavianretrochristian

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Kristen mean?

Kristen means follower of Christ or Christian, derived from the Latin Christianus through Old Norse Kristin.

Is Kristen a Scandinavian name?

Yes, Kristen is the Scandinavian feminine form of Christian, originally from Denmark and Norway.

How do you pronounce Kristen?

Kristen is pronounced KRIS-ten, with stress on the first syllable.

What are nicknames for Kristen?

Common nicknames for Kristen are Kris and Krissy.

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