Christopher Name Meaning
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Christopher.
Fact checked by Karen Cilli
Christopher is derived from the Greek name Christóforos, meaning “bearer of Christ.” This name is composed of two ideas: Christós ("Christ") and phero ("to bear, carry"). Christopher is also associated with Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers who, according to legend, carried Jesus Christ over a dangerous river.
Origin: Christopher is an English name of Greek origin meaning “bearer of Christ.”
Gender: Christopher is most commonly used as a boy’s name.
Pronunciation: krihs-tuh-fer
Editor's Note
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
How Popular Is the Name Christopher?
Christopher is one of the most popular names in existence. You can find it in various ethnolinguistic forms throughout the world. As an English first name, Christopher is a classic that has been used regularly since the 15th century.
In the US, the name has been in the Top 500 names since 1900. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it ranked at the No. 2 spot from 1979 to 1994 (its most popular year). From 1955 to 2020 the name featured in the Top 50 names in the US for boys, and in 2022, it ranked 56th among boy names.
Related: The Most Popular Baby Names in the United States
Name Variations
The following are variations of the name Christopher:
Christoffel (Dutch)
Christoph (German)
Christophe (French)
Christoforos (Greek)
Christophorus (Latin)
Christos (Greek)
Cristóbal (Spanish)
Cristoforo (Italian)
Cristóvão (Portuguese)
Kristoffer (Scandinavian)
Krištof (Slavic)
Krzysztof (Polish)
Risto (Finnish)
Similar Names
Names with similar meaning as Christopher include:
Christian
Christiano
Cristian or Kristian
Kristen
Other boy names starting with "C" include:
Caleb
Calvin
Camden
Cameron
Carlos
Carson
Carter
Cayden
Charles
Charlie
Chase
Cole
Colin
Colt
Connor
Cooper
Corbin
Common Nicknames for Christopher
Some popular nicknames for Christopher include:
Chip
Chris
Kester
Kit
Kris
Topher
Suggested Sibling Names
Looking for a sibling name for Christopher? Here are some popular options:
Abigail
Addison
Ava
Benjamin
Charlotte
Daniel
Dylan
Elijah
Grace
Kiara
Michael
Norah
William
Related: 275 Popular Twin Baby Names
Famous People Named Christopher
Here are some of the most notable Christophers and Chrises:
Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain
Chris Evans, American actor who plays Steve Rogers in the Captain America movies
Chris Hemsworth, Australian actor known as the title character in Thor movies
Chris Isaak, American musician known for his songs “Wicked Game, ”Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,” and “Somebody’s Crying”
Christopher "Topher" Grace, American actor known for playing Eric Forman in the sitcom That ‘70s Show
Christopher Keith Irvine, also known as Chris Jericho, is an American-Canadian professional wrestler and six-time world WWF/WWE champion
Chris Martin, English singer, songwriter, lead singer, and co-founder of the alternative rock band Coldplay
Chris Pratt, American actor who stars in The Guardians of the Galaxy movies
Christopher Nolan, British-American film director, producer, and screenwriter known for directing the Batman movies starring Christian Bale
Chris Reaves Messina, American blogger and speaker known as the inventor of the hashtag currently used on social media platforms
Chris Rock, American comedian and creator of the show Everybody Hates Chris
Sir Christopher Wren, acclaimed English architect known for designing St Paul’s Cathedral in London
Famous literary Christophers
Some famous authors or literary characters named Christoper include:
Christopher Colfer, American actor, singer, and author who penned the popular The Land of Stories book series
Christopher Marlowe, Elizabethan-era English playwright and poet who many think inspired William Shakespeare's work
Christopher Paolini, American author best known for his literary series The Inheritance Cycle
Christopher Robin, Main character in Winnie-the-Pooh stories and namesake of author A. A. Milne's son
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Parents.