Given name & surname
Carsten
“the anointed one”·“follower of Christ”·“from the free man's town”
In Norwegian use, Carsten has a related form in Karsten. One Greek interpretation is “the anointed one.” Carsten is a variant of Christina. One English interpretation is “follower of Christ.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Norwegian use, Carsten has a related form in Karsten. One Greek interpretation is “the anointed one.” Carsten is a variant of Christina. One English interpretation is “follower of Christ.” Carsten is a variant of Carlton. One English interpretation is “from the free man's town.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Carsten is a variant of Christina. Christina has been associated with Latin and Middle English naming traditions. Carsten is a variant of Carlton. An origin associated with Carlton is English. Carsten shares an earlier linguistic root with Christian. An origin associated with Christian is Latin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Carsten is a variant of Carlton. The history of Carlton gives this family its wider story. Carlton’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Carsten through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,377
- 2,367 boys · 10 girls
- Most popular year
- 2011
- 129 babies
- 2025
- 24
- #4,272 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −44%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 24 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,272 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 43.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 129 in 2011. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,538 as a first name in 2020; 1,190 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carsten’s family of names
Carsten shares a linguistic root with Christian. Carsten has a related form in Christina. In Danish usage, Carsten has a related form in Christian.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Carsten has relatives in 3 languages.
2 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Carsten
- Carsten NiebuhrGerman mathematician, botanist, cartographer and explorer in Danish service (1733–1815)
- Carsten JanckerGerman association football player and managerborn 1974
- Carsten RamelowGerman association football playerborn 1974
- Carsten BorchgrevinkAnglo-Norwegian polar explorer (1864-1934)
- Carsten JensenDanish author and political columnistborn 1952
- Carsten MogensenDanish badminton playerborn 1983
- Carsten BallAustralian tennis playerborn 1987
- Carsten EmbachGerman bobsledderborn 1968
- Carsten WolfEast German racing cyclistborn 1964
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Carsten, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Camden
“from the winding valley”
95% boys · 5% girls
Caiden
Caiden is a masculine given name.
99% boys · 1% girls
Kasen
“one who is pure; chaste” · “protected by a helmet”
>99% boys
Cayden
Cayden is a masculine given name.
98% boys · 2% girls
Kaden
“a beloved companion”
99% boys · 1% girls
Caden
“a battlemaiden” · “spirt of battle •”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kaiden
“a beloved companion”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kolton
“from the coal town”
>99% boys