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Kristen

Girl name · 164 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kristen: 164 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 13 births in 1998.

Kristen is a Danish and Norwegian feminine form of Christian, ultimately deriving from the Greek *Christos*, meaning “anointed one” or “follower of Christ.” It gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the 20th century as a variant of Christine or Christina. Notable bearers include American actress Kristen Stewart, known for the *Twilight* series, and comedian Kristen Wiig of *Saturday Night Live* fame. While no major places are named directly after the name, its root appears in countless locations like Christiansborg Palace in Denmark. A further note: In Scotland, Kristen emerged as a modern alternative to the more traditional Kirsten or Kirsty, and it shares a linguistic link with the Scottish island of St Kilda, whose name may derive from the same Old Norse *kristr*. The name’s short, crisp sound has made it a steady choice since the 1970s.