Given name & surname
Kristen
“follower of Christ”
Kristen is a variant of Kristina. In English use, Kristina carries the interpretation “follower of Christ.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kristen is a variant of Kristina. In English use, Kristina carries the interpretation “follower of Christ.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kristen shares an earlier linguistic root with Christian. An origin associated with Christian is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Danish use, Kristen is used as a form of Christian.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1938. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kristen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 220,952
- 2,185 boys · 218,767 girls
- Most popular year
- 1982
- 9,596 babies
- 2025
- 106
- #1,999 for girls · #7,985 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 96 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,999 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 31.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 9,534 in 1982. It also appeared in 10 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (14). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 199,107 as a first name in 2020; 193 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.
Kristen’s family of names
In English usage, Kristen has a diminutive in Kris. Kristen shares a linguistic root with Christian. In English usage, Kristen has a related form in Kristin.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kristen has relatives in 4 languages.
9 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Christianvariant · Danish
- Kristinavariant
- Krisdiminutive · English
- Kristinvariant · English, Estonian
- Christenvariant · Danish
- Kristjanvariant · Estonian
- Kristtenlikely variant
- Kristennlikely variant
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 4
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.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kristen
- Kristen StewartAmerican actress (born 1990)
- Kristen BellAmerican actressborn 1980
- Kristen WiigAmerican actress and comedian (born 1973)
- Kris JennerAmerican media personality, socialite, and businesswomanborn 1955
- Kristen MichalEstonian politician (born 1975)
- Kristen SchaalAmerican actressborn 1978
- Kristen NygaardComputer scientist, Mathematician (1926-2002)
- Kristen ConnollyAmerican film actressborn 1980
- Kristen JohnstonAmerican actress (born 1967)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Kristen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kristel
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Krystal
“resembling clear, sparkling, brilliant glass”
>99% girls
Krista
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Kirsten
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Crystal
“resembling clear, sparkling, brilliant glass”
>99% girls
Afton
“from the Afton river”
16% boys · 84% girls
Cassie
“one who is pure; virginal” · “vigilant, wakeful”
>99% girls
Erin
“woman from Ireland” · “a man from Ireland”
6% boys · 94% girls