Kris first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kris has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kris

A Scandinavian modern name derived from the Greek word Khristos meaning "follower of Christ".

Popularity of Kris by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kris is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 76% of people named Kris being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 32 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Kris.

Year	Male Count	Female Count
2024	32	8
2023	28	9
2022	34	5
2021	59	10
2020	65	13
2019	83	12
2018	73	14
2017	74	15
2016	57	16
2015	58	24
2014	63	17
2013	60	19
2012	72	11
2011	55	15
2010	50	16
2009	102	15
2008	80	13
2007	82	10
2006	87	10
2005	72	12
2004	63	18
2003	59	12
2002	72	16
2001	74	6
2000	56	7
1999	55	12
1998	63	13
1997	60	23
1996	65	21
1995	65	22
1994	67	14
1993	66	25
1992	86	26
1991	61	30
1990	79	30
1989	73	27
1988	91	29
1987	100	34
1986	92	24
1985	97	37
1984	121	35
1983	111	52
1982	125	57
1981	159	70
1980	214	96
1979	299	103
1978	379	131
1977	398	110
1976	298	110
1975	323	141

The history of the first name Kris

The name Kris has its origins in the Greek language and is derived from the word "Christos," which means "anointed one." It is a shortened version of the name Kristos or Christopher and has been in use since ancient times.

In the early days of Christianity, the name Kris was often associated with followers of Christ or those who had been baptized. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in Greek and Latin texts from the 4th and 5th centuries AD.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Kris was Kris of Lyon, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD. He was beheaded for his faith and is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church.

Another notable figure was Kris the Hermit, a Byzantine monk who lived in the 6th century AD. He was known for his ascetic lifestyle and was considered a holy man by his contemporaries.

In the Middle Ages, the name Kris became more widespread across Europe. One famous bearer of the name was Kris the Dane, a Danish Viking who raided parts of England in the 9th century AD.

During the Renaissance period, the name Kris gained popularity among artists and intellectuals. One such individual was Kris Plantin, a renowned Flemish printer and publisher who lived from 1520 to 1589.

In more recent history, there have been several notable individuals named Kris. One example is Kris Kristofferson, an American singer, songwriter, and actor born in 1936. He is known for his contributions to country music and films such as "A Star Is Born."

Another famous Kris is Kris Bryant, an American professional baseball player born in 1992. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2015 and has been an All-Star multiple times.

Kris Jenner, an American media personality and businesswoman born in 1955, is also well-known. She is the matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family and has been instrumental in their rise to fame.

Overall, the name Kris has a rich history that spans centuries and cultures, from its Greek origins to its modern-day use around the world.

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 Kris was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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