The nameChris
Chris is the easy short form of Christopher, Christian and Christine. It peaked in America in the 1960s.
- Boy's name
- Greek
Meaning
Chris comes from the Greek Christos, "anointed", as in Christopher, "bearer of Christ".
Origin
Greek, through English.
History
In the United States Chris was given on its own to boys, reaching 55th in 1966. It is also short for Christina and Christine.
Famous people named Chris
- Chris Evert, tennis player
- Chris Martin, singer
- Chris Hemsworth, actor
- Chris Rock, comedian
Popularity of the name Chris
Chris in the United States
Chris was most popular in the United States in the 1960s, with 67,621 births over the decade, 40% of all recorded babies named Chris. Its rise began around 1946, and it peaked in 1961. Half of all babies named Chris in the United States were born before 1964, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 400 births a year on average, against 499 in the five years before.
Chris in the United Kingdom
Chris was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 433 births over the decade, 39% of all recorded babies named Chris. Half of all babies named Chris in the United Kingdom were born before 2011, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 33 births a year.
Chris in France
Chris in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Chris
Names from the same generation as Chris, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Chris? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Chris with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Chris side by side with the name of your choice.
Chris in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Chris mean?
Chris comes from the Greek Christos, "anointed", as in Christopher, "bearer of Christ".
What is the origin of the name Chris?
Greek, through English.
Is Chris a girl's or a boy's name?
Chris is a boy's name. In the United States, 14% of the babies named Chris are girls.
How popular is the name Chris?
In 2024, Chris was the 651st most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 423 births.
What are the variants of the name Chris?
Variants and related names of Chris include Christophe.
What are good sibling names for Chris?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Melina, Barbara, Irene and Corinne for a sister, Jayson, Damien, Hector and Andre for a brother.
Who are famous people named Chris?
Chris Evert, tennis player; Chris Martin, singer; Chris Hemsworth, actor; Chris Rock, comedian.