Given name & surname
Krista
“follower of Christ”
Krista is a variant of Kristina. In English use, Kristina carries the interpretation “follower of Christ.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Krista is a variant of Kristina. In English use, Kristina carries the interpretation “follower of Christ.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Krista is a short form of Christina. Christina has been associated with Latin and Middle English naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Krista is a short form of Christina. In Finnish usage, Krista developed from Christa.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1937. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Krista through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 73,863
- 148 boys · 73,715 girls
- Most popular year
- 1986
- 3,065 babies
- 2025
- 41
- #3,679 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −43%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 41 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,679 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 42.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,054 in 1986. In 2025, Pennsylvania had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 66,762 as a first name in 2020; 192 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.
Krista’s family of names
In English usage, Krista is a short form of Christina. In Finnish usage, Krista developed from the German form Christa. Krista has a related form in Kristina.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Krista has relatives in 7 languages.
6 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Christinafull form · English
- Kristinavariant
- Christavariant · Danish, English
- Kristiinavariant · Estonian
- Cristavariant · Finnish
- Kristtalikely variant
- Krisstalikely variant
- Kristýnafull form · Czech
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Krista
- Krista SiegfridsFinnish singerborn 1985
- Krista AllenAmerican actressborn 1971
- Krista PärmäkoskiFinnish cross-country skierborn 1990
- Krista KosonenFinnish actressborn 1983
- Krista KiuruFinnish politician (born 1974)
- Krista GuloienCanadian rowerborn 1980
- Krista MikkonenFinnish politicianborn 1972
- Krista Kostial-ŠimonovićCroatian physician and academic (1923–2018)
- Krista AruEstonian historian of journalism, museologist, politician (1958-2025)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Krista, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Krystal
“resembling clear, sparkling, brilliant glass”
>99% girls
Kristen
“follower of Christ”
6% boys · 94% girls
Vanna
“golden-haired woman”
>99% girls
Kierra
“little dark-haired one”
>99% girls
Kirsten
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Trisha
“of noble descent”
>99% girls
Erica
“ever the ruler”
>99% girls
Misha
“who is like God?”
20% boys · 80% girls