Fun Facts About the Name Christian
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 453,899 boys named Christian from 1880 through 2025.
- Back among the favorites: Christian returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 40 consecutive years, through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Christian's rank fell 68 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 473 thousand babies named Christian: U.S. records list 473,773 babies given the name Christian from 1880 through 2025. Even 19,874 girls received the name Christian - about 1 girl for every 23 boys.
What Does the Name Christian Mean?
Christian is a given name meaning "follower of Christ." It comes from the Latin Christianus, which was borrowed from the Greek Christianos, a noun and adjective for a follower of Christ. The Greek term derives from Christos ("anointed one"), a translation of the Hebrew mashiach (messiah). The literal sense of the root is "anointed," but the name's established meaning is "follower of Christ" or "belonging to Christ."
Christian Name History & Origins
The word Christianos appears in the New Testament as a label for the disciples of Jesus. From this descriptive term, the Latin Christianus became a personal name in medieval Europe. In Scandinavia, the name was borne by Danish kings beginning with Christian I in the 15th century, and it remained a royal name in Denmark and Norway. In Scotland, Christian was also used as a woman's name, often in place of Christina. In England, it appears as a male given name in medieval records and continued in use after the Reformation. The name was already established when John Bunyan used it for the protagonist of The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), an allegorical Everyman figure. Its use has continued in English-speaking countries and in parts of continental Europe.
How Popular is the Name Christian?
Christian ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1972 through 1973, then returned in 1986 and remained through 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,901 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2024 | #4,479 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2023 | #3,849 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2022 | #3,226 | 50 | 0.0031% |
| 2021 | #3,304 | 48 | 0.0029% |
| 2020 | #3,234 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #2,457 | 72 | 0.0043% |
| 2018 | #2,225 | 83 | 0.0049% |
| 2017 | #2,115 | 91 | 0.0053% |
| 2016 | #1,932 | 104 | 0.0059% |
| 2015 | #1,698 | 125 | 0.0070% |
| 2014 | #1,606 | 134 | 0.0075% |
| 2013 | #1,587 | 135 | 0.0077% |
| 2012 | #1,554 | 141 | 0.0080% |
| 2011 | #1,375 | 167 | 0.0095% |
| 2010 | #1,445 | 157 | 0.0088% |
| 2009 | #1,289 | 188 | 0.0102% |
| 2008 | #1,266 | 197 | 0.0104% |
| 2007 | #1,173 | 217 | 0.0113% |
| 2006 | #1,064 | 240 | 0.0126% |
| 2005 | #1,088 | 219 | 0.0119% |
| 2004 | #822 | 304 | 0.0166% |
| 2003 | #822 | 299 | 0.0164% |
| 2002 | #773 | 310 | 0.0173% |
| 2001 | #625 | 400 | 0.0222% |
| 2000 | #577 | 452 | 0.0249% |
| 1999 | #529 | 479 | 0.0270% |
| 1998 | #483 | 528 | 0.0299% |
| 1997 | #421 | 623 | 0.0358% |
| 1996 | #374 | 720 | 0.0411% |
| 1995 | #356 | 738 | 0.0420% |
| 1994 | #346 | 769 | 0.0431% |
| 1993 | #305 | 876 | 0.0484% |
| 1992 | #280 | 987 | 0.0535% |
| 1991 | #297 | 936 | 0.0499% |
| 1990 | #316 | 863 | 0.0455% |
| 1989 | #331 | 764 | 0.0414% |
| 1988 | #393 | 611 | 0.0343% |
| 1987 | #393 | 583 | 0.0335% |
| 1986 | #406 | 547 | 0.0319% |
| 1985 | #414 | 538 | 0.0313% |
| 1984 | #454 | 457 | 0.0271% |
| 1983 | #522 | 364 | 0.0218% |
| 1982 | #476 | 439 | 0.0259% |
| 1981 | #491 | 416 | 0.0249% |
| 1980 | #528 | 358 | 0.0216% |
| 1979 | #744 | 218 | 0.0136% |
| 1978 | #855 | 173 | 0.0113% |
| 1977 | #891 | 159 | 0.0104% |
| 1976 | #811 | 171 | 0.0117% |
| 1975 | #738 | 197 | 0.0135% |
| 1974 | #607 | 257 | 0.0175% |
| 1973 | #673 | 222 | 0.0152% |
| 1972 | #720 | 199 | 0.0131% |
| 1971 | #722 | 210 | 0.0126% |
| 1970 | #755 | 195 | 0.0112% |
| 1969 | #855 | 148 | 0.0088% |
| 1968 | #978 | 113 | 0.0069% |
| 1967 | #1,004 | 104 | 0.0063% |
| 1966 | #989 | 107 | 0.0063% |
| 1965 | #1,916 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1964 | #2,111 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1963 | #1,759 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1962 | #3,457 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #2,854 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #2,915 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1959 | #2,409 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1958 | #2,876 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #3,731 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #3,368 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #3,824 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #2,796 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #2,529 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1952 | #2,137 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #2,714 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #3,713 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #2,866 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #3,638 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #2,786 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #3,720 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #4,668 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #4,680 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #2,691 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #3,629 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1938 | #3,230 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #4,294 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #3,546 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #4,152 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #4,277 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #4,388 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #4,398 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #4,551 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #5,085 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #2,807 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1921 | #2,796 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1920 | #4,036 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #3,401 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1916 | #4,534 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #3,495 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1914 | #3,719 | 5 | 0.0007% |
| 1911 | #2,535 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1898 | #1,746 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1890 | #1,367 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1889 | #1,166 | 6 | 0.0034% |
| 1886 | #1,134 | 5 | 0.0035% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #96 | 3,641 | 0.2132% |
| 2024 | #77 | 4,247 | 0.2476% |
| 2023 | #77 | 4,153 | 0.2431% |
| 2022 | #73 | 4,483 | 0.2570% |
| 2021 | #71 | 4,634 | 0.2651% |
| 2020 | #62 | 5,101 | 0.2957% |
| 2019 | #57 | 5,780 | 0.3223% |
| 2018 | #54 | 6,581 | 0.3625% |
| 2017 | #52 | 7,021 | 0.3794% |
| 2016 | #46 | 7,668 | 0.4042% |
| 2015 | #43 | 8,218 | 0.4289% |
| 2014 | #42 | 8,479 | 0.4415% |
| 2013 | #35 | 9,350 | 0.4944% |
| 2012 | #33 | 9,639 | 0.5082% |
| 2011 | #30 | 10,334 | 0.5442% |
| 2010 | #29 | 11,109 | 0.5791% |
| 2009 | #23 | 12,654 | 0.6380% |
| 2008 | #23 | 13,068 | 0.6406% |
| 2007 | #22 | 14,062 | 0.6776% |
| 2006 | #21 | 14,487 | 0.7049% |
| 2005 | #22 | 14,209 | 0.7115% |
| 2004 | #24 | 13,925 | 0.7016% |
| 2003 | #25 | 13,908 | 0.7041% |
| 2002 | #24 | 14,596 | 0.7518% |
| 2001 | #24 | 15,457 | 0.7956% |
| 2000 | #22 | 16,057 | 0.8176% |
| 1999 | #25 | 14,782 | 0.7699% |
| 1998 | #26 | 14,522 | 0.7598% |
| 1997 | #25 | 15,059 | 0.7988% |
| 1996 | #24 | 15,823 | 0.8353% |
| 1995 | #28 | 13,812 | 0.7256% |
| 1994 | #35 | 11,987 | 0.6205% |
| 1993 | #35 | 11,890 | 0.6062% |
| 1992 | #35 | 11,954 | 0.5985% |
| 1991 | #48 | 9,447 | 0.4676% |
| 1990 | #60 | 6,782 | 0.3302% |
| 1989 | #78 | 4,626 | 0.2312% |
| 1988 | #86 | 3,936 | 0.2056% |
| 1987 | #90 | 3,324 | 0.1780% |
| 1986 | #89 | 3,214 | 0.1745% |
| 1985 | #101 | 2,914 | 0.1577% |
| 1984 | #104 | 2,727 | 0.1511% |
| 1983 | #112 | 2,419 | 0.1349% |
| 1982 | #114 | 2,576 | 0.1420% |
| 1981 | #121 | 2,235 | 0.1248% |
| 1980 | #118 | 2,318 | 0.1299% |
| 1979 | #120 | 2,264 | 0.1315% |
| 1978 | #116 | 2,207 | 0.1344% |
| 1977 | #116 | 2,295 | 0.1397% |
| 1976 | #112 | 2,268 | 0.1445% |
| 1975 | #103 | 2,462 | 0.1577% |
| 1974 | #103 | 2,490 | 0.1584% |
| 1973 | #97 | 2,693 | 0.1728% |
| 1972 | #96 | 2,962 | 0.1826% |
| 1971 | #122 | 2,641 | 0.1493% |
| 1970 | #127 | 2,623 | 0.1411% |
| 1969 | #140 | 2,194 | 0.1227% |
| 1968 | #151 | 1,781 | 0.1025% |
| 1967 | #186 | 1,320 | 0.0757% |
| 1966 | #237 | 889 | 0.0498% |
| 1965 | #275 | 730 | 0.0392% |
| 1964 | #295 | 711 | 0.0357% |
| 1963 | #299 | 672 | 0.0331% |
| 1962 | #305 | 650 | 0.0314% |
| 1961 | #319 | 606 | 0.0285% |
| 1960 | #301 | 662 | 0.0311% |
| 1959 | #323 | 581 | 0.0272% |
| 1958 | #377 | 427 | 0.0201% |
| 1957 | #427 | 327 | 0.0152% |
| 1956 | #382 | 389 | 0.0184% |
| 1955 | #385 | 350 | 0.0170% |
| 1954 | #379 | 352 | 0.0173% |
| 1953 | #373 | 338 | 0.0171% |
| 1952 | #385 | 319 | 0.0164% |
| 1951 | #414 | 272 | 0.0144% |
| 1950 | #412 | 268 | 0.0150% |
| 1949 | #453 | 218 | 0.0123% |
| 1948 | #469 | 202 | 0.0115% |
| 1947 | #492 | 187 | 0.0102% |
| 1946 | #477 | 182 | 0.0112% |
| 1945 | #503 | 141 | 0.0105% |
| 1944 | #524 | 135 | 0.0099% |
| 1943 | #542 | 135 | 0.0095% |
| 1942 | #607 | 108 | 0.0078% |
| 1941 | #532 | 122 | 0.0099% |
| 1940 | #598 | 99 | 0.0085% |
| 1939 | #601 | 94 | 0.0085% |
| 1938 | #592 | 99 | 0.0089% |
| 1937 | #639 | 85 | 0.0080% |
| 1936 | #611 | 91 | 0.0088% |
| 1935 | #725 | 71 | 0.0068% |
| 1934 | #624 | 92 | 0.0089% |
| 1933 | #671 | 77 | 0.0078% |
| 1932 | #658 | 86 | 0.0082% |
| 1931 | #634 | 87 | 0.0084% |
| 1930 | #632 | 94 | 0.0086% |
| 1929 | #634 | 93 | 0.0086% |
| 1928 | #581 | 114 | 0.0103% |
| 1927 | #584 | 112 | 0.0099% |
| 1926 | #587 | 113 | 0.0102% |
| 1925 | #612 | 105 | 0.0094% |
| 1924 | #568 | 125 | 0.0110% |
| 1923 | #583 | 116 | 0.0106% |
| 1922 | #490 | 160 | 0.0147% |
| 1921 | #544 | 132 | 0.0120% |
| 1920 | #508 | 143 | 0.0134% |
| 1919 | #531 | 125 | 0.0128% |
| 1918 | #474 | 155 | 0.0153% |
| 1917 | #467 | 149 | 0.0161% |
| 1916 | #452 | 154 | 0.0173% |
| 1915 | #445 | 151 | 0.0178% |
| 1914 | #437 | 122 | 0.0186% |
| 1913 | #451 | 91 | 0.0178% |
| 1912 | #404 | 91 | 0.0212% |
| 1911 | #457 | 41 | 0.0181% |
| 1910 | #432 | 40 | 0.0206% |
| 1909 | #475 | 29 | 0.0177% |
| 1908 | #454 | 29 | 0.0188% |
| 1907 | #396 | 32 | 0.0218% |
| 1906 | #364 | 33 | 0.0248% |
| 1905 | #422 | 26 | 0.0197% |
| 1904 | #370 | 30 | 0.0234% |
| 1903 | #312 | 36 | 0.0302% |
| 1902 | #338 | 33 | 0.0269% |
| 1901 | #278 | 38 | 0.0357% |
| 1900 | #377 | 35 | 0.0233% |
| 1899 | #258 | 42 | 0.0395% |
| 1898 | #351 | 30 | 0.0245% |
| 1897 | #288 | 39 | 0.0346% |
| 1896 | #312 | 36 | 0.0301% |
| 1895 | #245 | 53 | 0.0451% |
| 1894 | #278 | 40 | 0.0346% |
| 1893 | #279 | 39 | 0.0347% |
| 1892 | #279 | 42 | 0.0344% |
| 1891 | #277 | 34 | 0.0336% |
| 1890 | #238 | 49 | 0.0441% |
| 1889 | #227 | 51 | 0.0461% |
| 1888 | #244 | 51 | 0.0422% |
| 1887 | #233 | 47 | 0.0463% |
| 1886 | #299 | 33 | 0.0298% |
| 1885 | #218 | 55 | 0.0510% |
| 1884 | #231 | 54 | 0.0472% |
| 1883 | #218 | 50 | 0.0478% |
| 1882 | #238 | 49 | 0.0431% |
| 1881 | #208 | 53 | 0.0526% |
| 1880 | #253 | 43 | 0.0389% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
