Total births
3,252
Unisex name · since 1950
Karsten
Since 1950, U.S. Social Security records show 3,252 babies named Karsten, peaking in 2010. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #3915
- among boys today
- 3,252
- born since 1950
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 73%
- more common than other boys
Karsten currently ranks #3915 among unisex names in America, with 3,252 babies recorded since 1950.
Social Security Administration records show Karsten recorded 3,252 times among boys since 1950, holding rank #3915 nationally today, ahead of 73% of boys, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1950 to 2025.
- #3915 among boys today
- 3,252 born since 1950
- 2000s peak decade
- 73% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Karsten is currently the #3915 unisex name in America, more common than 73% of boys - 3,252 born since 1950, peaking in the 2000s.
- #3915
- among boys today
- 3,252
- born since 1950
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 73%
- more common than other boys
Karsten vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3915
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 73% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Karsten was born in this single decade.
2010
Single peak year
135 babies were named Karsten in 2010 - its busiest year on record.
How Karsten compares
3,252 Top 16% higher than 84% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Karsten's all-time total is 9x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Karsten | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,252 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 135 | 23 | 22,252 |
Karsten's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Karsten's SSA record in two at 1992 and the more recent half accounts for 79% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 21%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1954, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2010 peak of 135, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Karsten at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2010
Current rank
#3,915
Active since
1950
Karsten popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1950–2025
- Peak year (2010)
- 135
- Annual births at peak, across 76 years of records
Karsten popularity over time - girls
172 total births recorded since 1972 (Karsten as girls' name)
Karsten by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Karsten's strongest decade.
1,084 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Karsten births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 18
1950s
18 births
- 1960s 98
1960s
98 births
- 1970s 283
1970s
283 births
- 1980s 211
1980s
211 births
- 1990s
1990s
498 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,084 births
- 2010s
2010s
887 births
- 2020s 173
2020s
173 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,084 births (33% of all-time use).
How Karsten compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Karsten's total volume
Karsten vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Karsten by state
Where Karsten concentrates geographically, total births since 1950
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 197 | 6.1% |
| #2 | Texas | | 136 | 4.2% |
| #3 | Washington | | 103 | 3.2% |
| #4 | Oklahoma | | 76 | 2.3% |
| #5 | Arizona | | 73 | 2.2% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 59 | 1.8% |
| #7 | Minnesota | | 54 | 1.7% |
| #8 | Wisconsin | | 52 | 1.6% |
California share of Karsten's total US births 6.1%
Even split
197 of 3,252 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 25 reporting states.
Karsten appears in 25 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Karsten? ▼
Since 1950, Social Security records show 3,252 babies named Karsten. Today it holds rank #3915 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2010, with 135 births.
When was Karsten most popular? ▼
Karsten was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,084 total births. The single peak year was 2010.
Where is Karsten most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Karsten are California (197 births), Texas (136 births), Washington (103 births).
Is Karsten a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Karsten is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,252 births, and as a girl's name it has 172 births.
How long has the name Karsten been used? ▼
Karsten has been recorded in Social Security data since 1950, spanning 76 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Karsten? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Karl, Karter, Karson, Kareem, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Karsten's data
- Karsten's decade-level peak was the 2000s (1,084 total births); usage has since declined to 173 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Karstens (197 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Karsten
Nearby Names Like Karsten
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Karsten
Karl Boy
#1689 100,836 births
Karter Boy
#248 29,465 births
Karson Boy
#397 21,394 births
Kareem Boy
#675 18,161 births
Karim Boy
#820 6,886 births
Compare Karsten side by side: Karsten vs Karl Karsten vs Karter Karsten vs Karson
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Karsten
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1950–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Karsten: #3915 Unisex Name - 3,252 Births, Peak 2010." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/karsten. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Karsten draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.