Boy · 2nd of 16,616
Christopher
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
2,074,303
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1984
Peak Popularity Year
60,409
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Christopher 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
Christopher is a name of Greek origin meaning 'bearer of Christ,' stemming from the Greek 'Christophoros.' It has evolved through various historical forms, reflecting its strong Christian connotations and significance. The name is associated with traits of reliability and faith, linked to the legendary Saint Christopher. It has remained popular through the centuries, particularly since the Middle Ages.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈkrɪs.tə.fər/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Christopher comes from the Greek name 'Christophoros,' meaning 'bearer of Christ.' It is composed of the elements 'Christos,' referring to Christ, and 'phoros,' meaning 'to bear' or 'to carry.'
Meaning
Bearer of Christ
Language Evolution
Christophoros (Ancient Greek), Christofer (Old French), Christopher (Middle English)
Biblical Background
The name is associated with Saint Christopher, a legendary Christian martyr who is believed to have carried the Christ child across a river.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the Christian world during the Middle Ages, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Christopher as a patron saint of travelers.
Variants & Derivatives
Chris, Kris, Topher, Cristopher
Modern Popularity & Image
Christopher remains a popular name in many cultures, often perceived as traditional and strong, with a sense of reliability and faith.
Famous People
Christopher Columbus, Christopher Nolan, Christopher Walken, Christopher Reeve
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
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 60,409 peak births in 1984
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Alaska
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 56 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Cchristopher
Charistopher
Chirstopher
Chistopher
Chrisopher
Chrisotpher
Christepher
Christhoper
Christhopher
Christiopher
Christipher
Christofer
Christoffer
Christofher
Christoher
Christohper
Christohpher
Christoopher
Christopehr
Christoper
Christophere
Christophor
Christophr
Christopoher
Christorpher
Christpher
Christphor
Christpoher
Christropher
Chritopher
Chrsitopher
Chrstopher
Chrystopher
Crhistopher
Crisstopher
Cristhofer
Cristofer
Cristoffer
Cristofher
Cristopher
Crystofer
Crystopher
Khristopher
Khrystopher
Krisopher
Krisstopher
Kristofer
Kristoffer
Kristofor
Kristoher
Kristoper
Kristopher
Kristophor
Kristupas
Krystofer
Krystopher
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 13 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 338th of 7545 | 4,712 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 264th of 6773 | 8,227 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 41st of 7552 | 177,322 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6th of 10718 | 673,592 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2nd of 16616 | 784,367 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5th of 24088 | 324,328 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 40th of 23106 | 90,773 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3956th of 9204 | 96 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1677th of 12526 | 748 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 683rd of 19264 | 3,704 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 737th of 27321 | 4,197 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3587th of 35406 | 656 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 10696th of 30306 | 106 |