Kristen is a female given name of Scandinavian origin, particularly from Norway and Sweden. It derives from the Old Norse word 'Krístrinn', which is composed of the words 'kristr' meaning 'Christian' and '-inn' meaning 'belonging to'. Therefore, Kristen translates to "follower of Christ". This name gained significant popularity in English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century.
The name Kristen had a notable peak in popularity during the late 1960s and early 1970s, with over 50 births each year between 1968 and 1974, reaching a high of 71 births in 1975. However, its popularity gradually declined thereafter, dropping below 20 births per year after 2008. Despite this decline, Kristen remains a classic name with a total of 2167 births recorded over the period from 1947 to 2023.