National Kristina Day – September 21, 2024

History of National Kristina Day

The feminine name Kristina (originally spelled as Christina or Cristina) originated from the Hebrew word for ‘Messiah,’ which was translated in Ancient Egyptian and Greek to ‘Christos.’ The Greek word ‘Christos’ is the title Greek Christians used to refer to Jesus of Nazareth. It means ‘the anointed one.’ The Medieval Latin version of the name is Christianus and Christiana, meaning ‘a Christian’ or ‘follower of Christ.’

This name was later adapted into the Middle English forms Christian and Christina. Despite the old history of these names and their variations, they were not common until the 17th century. The name Christian was originally a baptismal name used by Christians but has now become a common first name with its many feminine and masculine variations. This name is now popular across many continents and adopted by many of the Christian faith.

The first name Christian was exclusively male but later became common as a feminine first name in Scotland during the 17th and 18 centuries. Actress Christian Serratos from “The Walking Dead” has this gender-bending name! One of the most notable Kristinas is Christina of Sweden who was originally Protestant but converted to Catholicism. The names Kristina and Krista are most popular in Europe while Christina is most popular in the U.S. The name Kristina began circulating in the U.S. around the 1940s and grew in popularity in the 1970s. Its variant Christina was much more popular and is now in the top 300.