girl's name
Kirsty
KUR-stee (English)
- Origin Scottish, Latin
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 1000 (Scotland)
- Births on record 21,595
Scotland
#697
2024 births
Kirsty is a Scottish girl's name meaning "follower of Christ." It's a pet form of Christina, formed from the Scots and Scandinavian habit of starting the name with K, and it's well established in Scotland as a name in its own right.
- Kirsty is a name of Scottish, Latin origin.
- Peaked in Scotland in 1988, when 677 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in Scotland.
- Today about 1 in 9,532 babies in Scotland is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1974.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Kirsty Over Time
Births per decade in Scotland, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2024.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,055 |
| 1980s | 5,480 |
| 1990s | 4,164 |
| 2000s | 1,152 |
| 2010s | 167 |
| 2020s (to 2024) | 15 |
What Kirsty Means
Kirsty means a follower of Christ, the same sense as Christina and Christine. The -y ending gives it the familiar, friendly quality of other Scottish short names.
Where Kirsty Comes From
The root is Latin Christiana, from Christianus, a Christian, built on Greek Christos, the anointed one. In Scotland the name took the form Kirstin or Kirsteen, a shape shared with Scandinavian Kirsten. Kirsty developed from those forms as a diminutive, and by the second half of the twentieth century it had become a common birth name. It remains most closely tied to Scotland, though it's also long been familiar in England.
Kirsty in Use
Well-known bearers include English singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, broadcaster Kirsty Young and Zimbabwean Olympic swimmer Kirsty Coventry. Like Maisie and Jamie, it's a Scottish diminutive that stands comfortably alone.
How Popular Is Kirsty?
In 2024, Kirsty was given to 4 babies in Scotland, ranking #697 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
Where Kirsty Is Used
Figures for Scotland leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Kirsty
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Kirsty Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Kirsty over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Kirsty
- English KUR-stee
Kirsty in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Kirsty
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Kirsty — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Kirsty
What does the name Kirsty mean?
Follower of Christ, the same meaning as Christina.
What is Kirsty short for?
Christina or Kirsten, though it's given as a full name too.
Is Kirsty a Scottish name?
Yes. It's a Scottish form that spread to England and beyond.
How popular is the name Kirsty?
In 2024, Kirsty was given to 4 babies in Scotland, ranking #697 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
Is Kirsty a girl's or a boy's name?
Kirsty is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Kirsty?
Kirsty has 2 syllables.
When was Kirsty most popular?
Kirsty peaked in 1988, when 677 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Kirsty a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Kirsty currently ranks #697 in Scotland. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.