Chrsitopher
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Name Census estimates that about 168 living Americans carry the first name Chrsitopher. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Chrsitopher today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Chrsitopher births was 1986 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Chrsitopher. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
168
~ 1 in 2,040,204 Americans
Peak year
1986
20 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1992 SSA rank
#6,782
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Chrsitopher: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Chrsitopher from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 118 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chrsitopher by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Chrsitopher during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Chrsitopher
The given name Christopher has its origins in the Greek language and culture, dating back to the 1st century AD. It is derived from the Greek words "Christos" meaning "Christ" and "phero" meaning "to bear" or "to carry." The name can be translated as "Christ-bearer" or "bearer of Christ."
The name gained popularity among early Christians, who saw it as a symbolic representation of their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ. It was believed that those who bore the name were destined to spread the teachings of Christ and serve as evangelists.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Christopher can be found in the apocryphal text "The Acts of St. Christopher," which dates back to the 3rd century AD. This text depicts the story of a legendary saint named Christopher, who is said to have carried a child, representing Christ, across a river.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Christopher. One of the most famous is Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer who is credited with leading expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean and establishing the first European settlements in the Americas.
Another prominent figure is Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), an English playwright and poet who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare. His works, such as "Doctor Faustus" and "The Jew of Malta," are considered seminal in the development of English drama.
Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was a renowned English architect who played a pivotal role in rebuilding numerous churches and other buildings in London after the Great Fire of 1666. His most notable work is St. Paul's Cathedral, which stands as one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city.
Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986) was a celebrated English novelist and playwright, known for his semi-autobiographical works such as "Goodbye to Berlin" and "A Single Man." His writings explored themes of sexuality, identity, and social dynamics in early 20th century Britain and Europe.
Lastly, Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) was an American actor best known for his iconic portrayal of Superman in the eponymous film series. After suffering a life-altering spinal cord injury, he became a vocal advocate for stem cell research and raised awareness about living with disabilities.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Christopher, a name that has endured and transcended cultures and eras, reflecting its deep-rooted symbolic significance.
People
Chrsitopher + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Chrsitopher as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Chrsitopher: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Chrsitopher?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 168 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Chrsitopher going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,040,204 US residents.
Is Chrsitopher a common name?
We classify Chrsitopher as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 176 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Chrsitopher most popular?
The single biggest year for Chrsitopher was 1986, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Chrsitopher is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Chrsitopher in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Chrsitopher a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Chrsitopher in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Chrsitopher still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Chrsitopher in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Chrsitopher can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Chrsitopher?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Chrsitopher at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.