Christopher Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Christopher is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Christopher?
Christopher is spelled C-H-R-I-S-T-O-P-H-E-R. The name has 11 letters.
Christopher at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Christopher means “bearer of Christ” or “Christ-bearer.”
- Origin
- Christopher is commonly associated with the Greek name Christophoros, which may derive from the Greek words for “Christ” and “to carry” or “bearer.”
- Pronunciation
- KRIS-tuh-fer · 3 syllables
Christopher Popularity in 2025
Rank#68
Recorded Births4,748
- Boys usage fell 7 places to #68 and recorded 334 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Christopher Mean?
Christopher means “bearer of Christ” or “Christ-bearer.”
Origin: Christopher is commonly associated with the Greek name Christophoros, which may derive from the Greek words for “Christ” and “to carry” or “bearer.”
How Do You Pronounce Christopher?
PronunciationKRIS-tuh-fer
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Christopher?
- History
- The name Christopher has been used in various Christian traditions and is often linked to Saint Christopher, a figure venerated as a protector of travelers. It has been documented in Europe for many centuries.
Christopher Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2012 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 4,748 | #68 |
| 2024 | Boys | 5,082 | #61 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6 | #13,462 |
| 2023 | Boys | 5,198 | #55 |
| 2022 | Girls | 5 | #15,306 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5,589 | #55 |
| 2021 | Girls | 11 | #8,978 |
| 2021 | Boys | 5,863 | #52 |
| 2020 | Girls | 11 | #8,953 |
| 2020 | Boys | 6,216 | #47 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5 | #15,539 |
| 2019 | Boys | 7,022 | #44 |
| 2018 | Girls | 9 | #10,545 |
| 2018 | Boys | 7,341 | #42 |
| 2017 | Boys | 8,319 | #39 |
| 2016 | Girls | 13 | #8,393 |
| 2016 | Boys | 9,106 | #36 |
| 2015 | Girls | 15 | #7,613 |
| 2015 | Boys | 9,853 | #32 |
| 2014 | Girls | 16 | #7,302 |
| 2014 | Boys | 10,390 | #30 |
| 2013 | Girls | 15 | #7,748 |
| 2013 | Boys | 10,878 | #26 |
| 2012 | Girls | 19 | #6,576 |
When Was Christopher Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1984 · Boys
60,021 recorded births
National rank #2
1985 · Boys
59,609 recorded births
National rank #2
1983 · Boys
59,324 recorded births
National rank #2
1982 · Boys
59,223 recorded births
National rank #2
Where Christopher Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MS | #24 | 59 |
| NM | #30 | 37 |
| AL | #37 | 95 |
| GA | #41 | 201 |
| NJ | #45 | 183 |
| TX | #49 | 649 |
| TN | #51 | 143 |
| MD | #51 | 99 |