Cris Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KRIS //krɪs//
Origin: Latin; Greek
Meaning: Latin: bearer of Christ; Greek: Christ-like
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Cris is derived from the Latin name "Christianus," which means "follower of Christ." This term evolved from the Greek word "Christianos," itself stemming from "Christos," meaning "anointed one" or "messiah." The name entered the English language through Old French during the medieval period, particularly after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Latin-based names were adopted into English vernacular. Cris is often considered a diminutive or variant of the name Christopher, which also has roots in the Greek "Christophoros," meaning "Christ-bearer." Historically, the name has been associated with various significant figures, including saints and martyrs.
One notable example is Saint Christopher, a legendary figure from the 3rd century, who is venerated as the patron saint of travelers. His story, which emphasizes the importance of carrying Christ in one's heart, contributed to the name's religious significance in Christian communities.
The name Cris, as a shortened form, has been used in various cultures and languages, often reflecting a sense of familiarity or affection. Culturally, the name Cris has resonated through literature and art, often symbolizing faith, protection, and guidance.
In the context of Christian symbolism, the name evokes the idea of devotion and service to others, aligning with the teachings of Jesus Christ. The use of diminutives like Cris can also indicate a close relationship or endearment, which has helped the name endure across generations.
Overall, Cris embodies a rich linguistic and cultural heritage that reflects its historical roots in Christianity and its evolution through language.
Famous people named Cris
In this section, you will find notable people named Cris. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Cris who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Cris who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Cris Carter is a former professional American football player best known for his career with the Minnesota Vikings, being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and his work as a sports commentator.
Fictional characters named Cris
The following list of fictional characters named Cris is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Cris is a fictional character from the video game series Final Fantasy. They are a key figure in the narrative, often involved in significant events that shape the story's progression.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cris, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cris. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Cris was first seen in the United States in 1885.
Cris has ranked as high as #1031 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Cris has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Cris is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cris was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Cris (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cris.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2011 | 38 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2008 | 28 |
| 2007 | 44 |
| 2006 | 42 |
| 2005 | 33 |
| 2004 | 31 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 1999 | 29 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1997 | 13 |
| 1996 | 25 |
| 1995 | 21 |
| 1994 | 11 |
| 1993 | 18 |
| 1992 | 9 |
| 1991 | 18 |
| 1990 | 14 |
| 1989 | 22 |
| 1988 | 18 |
| 1987 | 13 |
| 1986 | 18 |
| 1985 | 11 |
| 1984 | 17 |
| 1983 | 24 |
| 1982 | 30 |
| 1981 | 14 |
| 1980 | 23 |
| 1979 | 20 |
| 1978 | 21 |
| 1977 | 27 |
| 1976 | 35 |
| 1975 | 22 |
| 1974 | 41 |
| 1973 | 36 |
| 1972 | 43 |
| 1971 | 54 |
| 1970 | 62 |
| 1969 | 60 |
| 1968 | 57 |
| 1967 | 56 |
| 1966 | 83 |
| 1965 | 69 |
| 1964 | 81 |
| 1963 | 84 |
| 1962 | 96 |
| 1961 | 105 |
| 1960 | 115 |
| 1959 | 99 |
| 1958 | 96 |
| 1957 | 74 |
| 1956 | 67 |
| 1955 | 63 |
| 1954 | 56 |
| 1953 | 46 |
| 1952 | 66 |
| 1951 | 36 |
| 1950 | 22 |
| 1949 | 34 |
| 1948 | 41 |
| 1947 | 23 |
| 1946 | 15 |
| 1945 | 14 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1943 | 8 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 8 |
| 1938 | 6 |
| 1935 | 5 |
| 1934 | 6 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 |
| 1925 | 5 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1923 | 7 |
| 1922 | 6 |
| 1919 | 6 |
| 1918 | 8 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1912 | 6 |
| 1885 | 5 |