UK girl's name
Kerstin
A feminine name of Swedish and German origin meaning "Christian".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kerstin is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kerstin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4798, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 6 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 2005. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Kerstin. 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 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kerstin ranked #4798 for girls in England and Wales in 2005, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 6 girls were registered as Kerstin.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kerstin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4798
2005
Births in 2005
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
6 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Kerstin mean?
The name Kerstin is a feminine given name of Swedish origin, derived from the ancient Germanic root "Kristan" or "Christen," meaning "Christian" or "follower of Christ." This name has been in use since the early medieval period, when Christianity began to spread across Scandinavia.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Kerstin can be traced back to the 12th century in Sweden. During this time, many Scandinavian names were influenced by the rise of Christianity, and names like Kerstin became popular as a way to honor the new faith.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Kerstin was Kerstin Gyllenstierna (1518-1590), a Swedish noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the Swedish Reformation. She was a strong supporter of the Protestant movement and worked to promote the teachings of Martin Luther in Sweden.
Another notable Kerstin in history was Kerstin Hesselgren (1841-1907), a Swedish painter and illustrator known for her landscapes and portraits. She was one of the first female artists in Sweden to gain widespread recognition and is considered a pioneer in the Swedish art world.
In the realm of literature, Kerstin Ekman (born 1933) is a renowned Swedish author and playwright. Her works often explore themes of feminism, social justice, and the relationship between humans and nature. She has received numerous literary awards, including the August Prize and the Nordic Council's Literature Prize.
Moving to the field of science, Kerstin Lindquist (1918-2018) was a Swedish geophysicist who made significant contributions to the study of the Earth's magnetic field. She was among the first women to be appointed as a professor at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
Lastly, Kerstin Gennburg (born 1939) is a Swedish diplomat and former Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). She has been actively involved in promoting sustainable development and gender equality in international development efforts.
While the name Kerstin has its roots in Swedish culture, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in Scandinavian countries and regions with Swedish influence. The name continues to be a popular choice for parents seeking a name with a rich historical and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kerstin over time
The chart below shows babies named Kerstin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2005. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kerstin, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2005, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kerstin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kerstin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4798 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2379 | 12 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Kerstin
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kerstin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kerstin in the UK right now?
In 2005, Kerstin was ranked #4798 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kerstin most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 6 babies registered as Kerstin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kerstin?
A feminine name of Swedish and German origin meaning "Christian".
How many people are called Kerstin in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Kerstin across the 3 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.