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Chris Unisex

Popularity: #546 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationKRIS / /krɪs/

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Greek: bearer of Christ; Latin: follower of Christ

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Chris is derived from the Greek word 'Christos', meaning 'anointed one' or 'messiah'. This term is a translation of the Hebrew 'Mashiach', which also means 'anointed'. The name Christos was used in the early Christian community to refer to Jesus of Nazareth, who is regarded as the Christ in Christian theology. The name made its way into Latin as 'Christus', which was then adopted into Old French as 'Crist' before entering the English language as Chris, often used as a diminutive of Christopher or Christian.

Historically, the name Chris has been associated with significant religious figures and events. The spread of Christianity in the first few centuries CE led to the adoption of the name in various forms across different cultures. Notable figures include Saint Christopher, a legendary Christian martyr from the 3rd century, who is often depicted as a giant carrying the Christ child across a river. The name gained further prominence through the translation of the Bible into various languages, particularly the King James Version in the early 17th century, which solidified the use of Christ in Christian contexts.

Culturally, the name Chris has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing faith and devotion. Its association with Christ has made it a popular choice among Christian families, reflecting a connection to religious heritage. The name has also been used in various literary and artistic works, reinforcing its significance in Western culture. The diminutive form, Chris, has become widely accepted as a standalone name, demonstrating the flexibility and enduring nature of the name's roots.

Trend Summary

Chris has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., peaking in the 1970s and 1980s.

Similar Names

ChristianChristopherCrispinCyrusChaseClintCodyCameron

Variants

  • Christopher
  • Kristopher
  • Cristofer

International Variants

  • Cristóbal (Spanish)
  • Krzysztof (Polish)
  • Christophe (French)
  • Cristian (Italian)

Famous people named Chris

Chris Hemsworth is an actor best known for Thor, The Avengers, and Extraction.

Chris Evans is an actor best known for Captain America, The Avengers, and Snowpiercer.

Chris Pratt is an actor best known for Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, and Parks and Recreation.

Chris Rock is a comedian and actor best known for Everybody Hates Chris, Grown Ups, and Madagascar.

Chris Martin is a musician best known as the lead vocalist of Coldplay, known for albums like A Rush of Blood to the Head and Viva la Vida.

Chris Pine is an actor best known for Star Trek, Wonder Woman, and Hell or High Water.

Chris Daughtry is a musician best known as the lead vocalist of Daughtry and for his appearance on American Idol.

Chris Cornell was a musician best known as the lead vocalist for Soundgarden and Audioslave.

Chris Bosh is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors.

Chris O'Dowd is an actor best known for The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids, and Moone Boy.

Chris Sacca is an investor best known for his work with Twitter and as a venture capitalist.

Chris Tucker is an actor and comedian best known for Rush Hour, Friday, and Silver Linings Playbook.

Chris Klug is a professional snowboarder best known for winning a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Chris Moneymaker is a professional poker player best known for winning the 2003 World Series of Poker.

Chris Jericho is a professional wrestler and musician best known for his time in WWE and as the lead singer of Fozzy.

Chris Eubank is a former professional boxer best known for his reign as WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion.

Chris Lilley is a comedian and actor best known for his television series Summer Heights High and Ja'mie: Private School Girl.

Chris Squire was a musician best known as the bassist for the progressive rock band Yes.

Chris Stapleton is a musician best known for his work in country music and albums like Traveller and Starting Over.

Fictional characters named Chris

Chris Redfield is a fictional character from the video game series Resident Evil. He is a skilled member of the BSAA and one of the main protagonists fighting against bioterrorism.

Chris Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is the overweight and often clueless son of Peter and Lois Griffin, known for his humorous antics.

Sibling Suggestions

KyleRyanJasonEricAdamMark

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Chris was first seen in the United States in 1880. Chris has ranked as high as #117 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. In the past 5 years the name Chris has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Chris (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 62
17%
CA 60
17%
FL 48
13%
NY 35
10%
MA 18
5%
MD 14
4%
PA 12
3%
GA 10
3%
IL 10
3%
OH 10
3%
IN 9
3%
KY 9
3%
WA 8
2%
SC 8
2%
NC 7
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
188049
188152
188239
188347
188457
188550
188662
188746
188859
188942
189032
189132
189249
189340
189445
189541
189653
189735
189833
189936
190045
190126
190237
190335
190427
190525
190630
190729
190837
190948
191032
191143
191276
191381
1914126
1915145
1916148
1917145
1918179
1919128
1920180
1921147
1922169
1923155
1924178
1925182
1926168
1927153
1928164
1929171
1930172
1931154
1932208
1933142
1934181
1935182
1936190
1937196
1938228
1939246
1940317
1941321
1942383
1943447
1944529
1945551
1946827
19471,116
19481,286
19491,389
19501,249
19511,474
19521,686
19531,579
19541,801
19552,193
19562,533
19573,252
19584,456
19595,678
19606,496
19617,204
19626,792
19636,329
19645,638
19655,480
19665,257
19674,620
19684,249
19694,282
19704,461
19714,292
19723,473
19732,703
19742,278
19751,955
19761,598
19771,496
19781,339
19791,264
1980990
1981830
1982713
1983651
1984627
1985614
1986536
1987514
1988497
1989539
1990489
1991510
1992462
1993446
1994442
1995489
1996552
1997532
1998599
1999623
2000651
2001695
2002692
2003678
2004675
2005723
2006842
2007909
2008943
2009861
2010721
2011581
2012648
2013624
2014538
2015567
2016514
2017458
2018440
2019490
2020382
2021412
2022407
2023330
2024423