girl's name
Kristi
KRIS-tee (English)
- Origin American
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 77,088
Kristi is the fifth spelling of this name to appear in this group — after Kristin, Kristen, Kristina and Kristine, all of them American-led despite the form being Scandinavian. It holds 77,088 lifetime births on record.
- Kristi is a name of American origin.
- Peaked in 1971, when 3,279 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 236,855 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1940.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Kristi Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1940s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 656 |
| 1950s | 5,210 |
| 1960s | 16,918 |
| 1970s | 29,119 |
| 1980s | 17,749 |
| 1990s | 5,708 |
| 2000s | 948 |
| 2010s | 248 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 66 |
What Kristi Means
Kristi means a follower of Christ, or a Christian. The Latin adjective for belonging to Christ is applied as a name rather than translated into a description.
Where Kristi Comes From
Kristi shortens Kristine and Christina, from the Latin Christiana — a Christian. Christos translates the Hebrew mashiach, the anointed one, referring to the oil poured at a coronation, so the family descends from a title. The -i ending belongs to the mid-century American fashion that also produced Vicki, Terri, Toni and Jodi. Our gap band has now produced five spellings of one name, which is more than any other.
Kristi in Use
Kristi peaked in the United States in 1971, when 3,279 babies were registered, and is falling. It charts in exactly one market, at 7,840th in the United States on 14 births, across 77,088 lifetime births. With Kristin, Kristen, Kristina and Kristine it makes five spellings in the gap band, all of them American-led.
How Popular Is Kristi?
In 2025, Kristi was given to 14 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
Where Kristi Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Kristi
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Kristi Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Kristi over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Kristi
- English KRIS-tee /ˈkɹɪs.ti/
Kristi 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.
- Icelandic
- Kristine
Sibling Names for Kristi
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Kristi — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Kristi
What does the name Kristi mean?
A follower of Christ, from the Latin Christiana.
How many spellings are there?
Our gap band alone has Kristin, Kristen, Kristina, Kristine and Kristi — five for one name.
Why the -i ending?
A mid-century American fashion, the same one behind Vicki, Terri, Toni and Jodi.
How popular is Kristi?
7,840th in the United States, down from a 1971 peak of 3,279 births.
Is Kristi a girl's or a boy's name?
Kristi is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Kristi?
Kristi has 2 syllables.
Is Kristi a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Kristi currently ranks #7,840 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.