UK boy's name
Carsten
A masculine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "keeper of the enclosure".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Carsten is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Carsten popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3937, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2004 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Carsten. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Carsten ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 boys were registered as Carsten.
- • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Carsten as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3937
2019
Births in 2019
4
Latest year
Peak year
2004
5 births
Estimated living
20
2026
Meaning
What does Carsten mean?
The name Carsten originates from the Low German or North German language region, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is a Germanic name derived from the Old Norse word "Karsi" or "Karstein," which means "warrior" or "stone."
The earliest known use of the name Carsten dates back to the 12th century, when it was mentioned in various medieval records and documents from northern Germany and Denmark. It was a popular name among the nobility and upper classes during this time period.
In the 13th century, a Carsten von Rantzau was recorded as a prominent German knight and landowner in Holstein, Germany. He was known for his bravery and military exploits during the Northern Crusades.
Another notable figure was Carsten Niebuhr, a Danish explorer and mathematician who lived from 1733 to 1815. He is famous for his participation in the Danish Arabia Expedition and his contributions to the study of ancient civilizations in the Middle East.
In the 19th century, Carsten Hauch (1790-1872) was a celebrated Danish poet, novelist, and playwright. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Danish Golden Age of literature and was highly influential in shaping the country's cultural identity.
Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevink (1864-1936) was a Norwegian explorer and pioneer of Antarctic exploration. He led the first expedition to overwinter on the Antarctic mainland and made significant contributions to the study of the region's geography and wildlife.
Carsten Kengeter (born 1967) is a German businessman and former CEO of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. He played a key role in the integration of various European stock exchanges and the digitalization of the financial industry.
Over the centuries, the name Carsten has maintained its popularity in Scandinavian countries, Germany, and other parts of northern Europe, often associated with strength, determination, and a connection to the region's rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Carsten over time
The chart below shows babies named Carsten registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Carsten, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Carsten by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Carsten was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4180 | 15 | 4 |
| 2000s | #2578 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Carsten
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Carsten: questions and answers
How popular is the name Carsten in the UK right now?
In 2019, Carsten was ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Carsten most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Carsten in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Carsten?
A masculine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "keeper of the enclosure".
How many people are called Carsten in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Carsten across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.