Boy · 22nd of 24,088
Christian
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
470,105
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1996
Peak Popularity Year
16,543
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Christian stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
The name Christian has its roots in Latin, meaning 'follower of Christ'. It has evolved through various historical forms and is linked to the biblical tradition of early Christians. The name is commonly associated with values of faith and tradition and remains popular in contemporary society.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈkrɪs.tʃən/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Christian comes from the Latin 'Christianus', which means 'follower of Christ'. It is derived from 'Christus', the Latin form of the Greek 'Christos', meaning 'anointed one'.
Meaning
follower of Christ
Language Evolution
Christianus (Latin), Christian (Middle English), Cristian (Old English)
Biblical Background
The name Christian is associated with the early followers of Jesus Christ, as mentioned in the New Testament.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the early centuries of Christianity and became widely used in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Variants & Derivatives
Kristian, Cristiano, Christiaan, Cristina, Krista
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Christian is a popular name across various cultures and often conveys a sense of faith and tradition.
Famous People
Christian Bale, Christian Dior, Christian Slater, Christian McCaffrey
Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Declining
25-Year Trend:
Gradually Declining
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 16,543 peak births in 1996
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Nevada
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Full popularity table across American generations 14 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 499th of 7545 | 2,411 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 593rd of 6773 | 1,823 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 364th of 7552 | 7,713 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 137th of 10718 | 34,137 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 56th of 16616 | 109,666 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 22nd of 24088 | 217,868 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 54th of 23106 | 75,715 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4192nd of 9107 | 84 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4803rd of 9204 | 61 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2775th of 12526 | 325 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 789th of 19264 | 2,867 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 382nd of 27321 | 10,608 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 828th of 35406 | 4,921 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2303rd of 30306 | 960 |