Kristoph
A masculine name derived from Greek meaning "bearer of Christ".
Name Census estimates that about 61 living Americans carry the first name Kristoph. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kristoph today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kristoph births was 1989 (44 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kristoph. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kristoph. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
61
~ 1 in 5,618,924 Americans
Peak year
1989
44 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2016 SSA rank
#9,339
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Kristoph: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kristoph from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 44 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
Kristoph 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 Kristoph during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kristophs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kristoph
The name Kristoph originates from the Greek language and culture, with roots dating back to the early centuries of the Common Era. It is derived from the combination of two Greek words, "Christos" meaning "anointed" or "Christ," and "phero" meaning "to bear" or "to bring." This linguistic heritage suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who embraced or propagated the Christian faith.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kristoph can be found in the writings of the 4th-century Christian scholar and theologian, St. Jerome. In his work, he mentions a figure named Kristophoros, which translates to "Christ-bearer" and is believed to be a variant of the name Kristoph. This early reference highlights the name's deep-rooted connection to Christian theology and its potential significance within early Christian communities.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Kristoph gained popularity across various regions of Europe, particularly in Germanic-speaking countries. It was often used as a baptismal name, reflecting the religious significance it carried. Notable historical figures who bore the name Kristoph include Kristoph Willibald Gluck, an 18th-century German composer renowned for his operas, who lived from 1714 to 1787.
In the realm of literature, Kristoph Marlowe, an English playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era, left an indelible mark on the literary world with his works such as "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus." He lived from 1564 to 1593 and is considered one of the most influential figures in English Renaissance drama.
During the 19th century, Kristoph Ernst Friedrich Weyse, a Danish composer and organist, made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He lived from 1774 to 1842 and is renowned for his compositions, including operas, symphonies, and choral works.
Another notable figure with the name Kristoph was Kristoph von Schmid, a 19th-century German writer and educator. Born in 1768 and lived until 1854, he is best known for his children's stories and educational works, which aimed to instill moral values and promote literacy among young readers.
While the name Kristoph has endured through various historical periods and cultural contexts, its origins can be traced back to the early days of Christianity, carrying a rich symbolic meaning and a connection to the faith's foundational beliefs.
People
Kristoph + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kristoph as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kristoph: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kristoph?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 61 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kristoph 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 5,618,924 US residents.
Is Kristoph a common name?
We classify Kristoph as "Very Rare". It ranks above 57.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 63 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kristoph most popular?
The single biggest year for Kristoph was 1989, when 44 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kristoph is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kristoph a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kristoph 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.
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.