seven reflections
Login
Christopher Name Meaning, Origins & History

Christopher

Pronunciation: KRIS-tuh-fer

Meaning Christ bearer Origin Ancient Greek Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#68
TREND
7
Peak Years
1984, 1985, 1983
Lowest Years
1901, 1899, 1898
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Christopher in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Christopher

  • An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 2,069,544 boys named Christopher from 1880 through 2025.
  • Decades of popularity: Christopher stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 77 consecutive years, from 1949 through 2025.
  • Still popular, but losing ground: Christopher's rank fell 65 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
  • More than 2 million babies named Christopher: U.S. records list 2,079,051 babies given the name Christopher from 1880 through 2025. Even 9,507 girls received the name Christopher - about 1 girl for every 218 boys.

What Does the Name Christopher Mean?

Christopher is the English form of the Greek name Christophoros, meaning "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer." The Greek name is a compound of Christos ("Christ," from a word meaning "anointed one") and pherein ("to bear" or "carry"). In early Christian use, the meaning was chiefly spiritual: a person who bears Christ in faith or proclaims him, rather than a literal description of carrying him. The Latin form Christophorus passed into many European languages. The later legend of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ child across a river gave the name a literal narrative, but that story is a traditional development rather than part of the name's original etymology.

Christopher Name History & Origins

The Greek name Christophoros was used by early Christians in the eastern Mediterranean. It was Latinized as Christophorus, and a martyr named Christopher was venerated in the early church. Traditional accounts place his martyrdom in Lycia, sometimes under the emperor Decius in the third century, but these details are not historically reliable; the famous story of him carrying the Christ child across a river is a medieval legend. The name spread with Christianity across Europe, taking forms such as Italian Cristoforo, Spanish Cristóbal, Portuguese Cristóvão, French Christophe, German Christoph, and English Christopher. In England, the English form was in use in the Middle Ages. The common short form is Chris; Kit was also used as a traditional English diminutive. A well-known later bearer was the navigator Christopher Columbus, born in Genoa and known in Italian as Cristoforo Colombo.

How Popular is the Name Christopher?

Christopher remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1949 to 2025. Its highest annual birth count was in 1984, and people born that year turn 42 in 2026.

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.

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.

Famous People Named Christopher

Christopher Lambert
Christopher Lambert
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken

Explore Name Lists Featuring Christopher

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Most Popular Boy Names at All Time

Most Popular Boy Names of All Time

Longtime Favorite Boy Names

Longtime Favorite Boy Names Through the Years

Falling Favorite Boy Names

Falling Baby Names: Favorites Losing Popularity

Explore More Lists with Name Christopher

Most Popular Boy Names That Start with C

See List of Most Popular Boy Names Starting with C

How the Name Christopher Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.

✦ Christopher's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Christopher's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
Explore Insights & Tips

Name Search