Find out how popular the first name Christian has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Christian by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Christian is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 96% of people named Christian being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 4,125 male babies and 39 female babies born with the name Christian.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 39 baby girls were named Christian in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Christian

The given name Christian has its origins in the late Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos), which was derived from the word Χριστός (Christos), meaning "the anointed one" or "Christ". The name was initially used as an adherent or follower of Christ, and later became a popular personal name among Christians.

The use of the name Christian can be traced back to the early Christian era, around the 1st century AD. It is believed to have been first used in the city of Antioch, where the followers of Jesus were first referred to as "Christians" (Acts 11:26). The name quickly spread throughout the Roman Empire and other regions with the growth of Christianity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Christian appears in the New Testament, where it is mentioned that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). The name also appears in various early Christian writings and texts, such as the Didache and the writings of Ignatius of Antioch.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Christian. One of the earliest was Christian of Gaza (5th century), a Christian monk and writer from Gaza. Another early figure was Christian of Stavelot (c. 630-720), a Benedictine monk and abbot who founded the Abbey of Stavelot in present-day Belgium.

In the Middle Ages, Christian names became more widespread as Christianity spread across Europe. One notable figure was Christian of Buch (c. 1180-1237), a Danish prince and later a Cistercian monk who founded the Priory of Antvorskov in Denmark.

During the Renaissance period, Christian names continued to be popular, particularly among the nobility and ruling classes. One prominent example was Christian I (1426-1481), who was the King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden from 1460 to 1481.

In more recent times, several notable figures have borne the name Christian, including Christian Dior (1905-1957), the French fashion designer and founder of the Dior fashion house, and Christian Bale (born 1974), the English actor known for his roles in films such as The Dark Knight trilogy and The Machinist.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Christian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Christian, please contact us.

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