Krzysztof
Name of Slavic origin meaning "bearer of Christ" or "follower of Christ".
Name Census estimates that about 453 living Americans carry the first name Krzysztof. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Krzysztof today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Krzysztof births was 1989 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Krzysztof. 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
453
~ 1 in 756,632 Americans
Peak year
1989
18 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,236
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Krzysztof: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Krzysztof from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 128 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Krzysztof 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 Krzysztof during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Krzysztofs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Illinois, New Jersey, New York recorded the most babies named Krzysztof, while New York, New Jersey, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 54 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Krzysztof
Krzysztof is a masculine given name of Polish origin, derived from the Greek name Christophoros, meaning "Christ-bearer." The name has been in use since the 10th century in Poland, with its earliest known recording dating back to around 966 AD.
The name Krzysztof is a Polish adaptation of the Greek name Christophoros, which was composed of the elements "Christos" (Christ) and "phoros" (bearer or carrier). This name was given to those who carried the faith or symbolically bore Christ within their hearts. The Polish version, Krzysztof, emerged as a result of the Christianization of Poland in the 10th century.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Krzysztof can be found in the Polish chronicles from the 11th century, where it was mentioned as the name of a priest or monk. However, the name gained widespread popularity in Poland during the Middle Ages, particularly after the canonization of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers and protection against sudden death.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Krzysztof. One of the earliest was Krzysztof Arciszewski (1592-1656), a Polish nobleman, military commander, and diplomat who played a significant role in the Polish-Swedish War of 1626-1629. Another prominent figure was Krzysztof Kluk (1739-1796), a Polish naturalist, priest, and author, known for his contributions to the field of natural history.
In the realm of literature, Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński (1921-1944) was a celebrated Polish poet and soldier who fought in the Warsaw Uprising during World War II. His poetic works, imbued with patriotism and a sense of duty, have become an integral part of Polish literary heritage.
In the field of science, Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020) was a renowned Polish composer and conductor, known for his avant-garde works and contributions to contemporary classical music. His compositions, such as "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" and the "St. Luke Passion," have earned him international acclaim.
Another notable figure was Krzysztof Kieślowski (1941-1996), a Polish film director and screenwriter renowned for his thought-provoking and emotionally powerful films, including the "Three Colors" trilogy and "Dekalog," a series of ten films inspired by the Ten Commandments.
While these are just a few examples, the name Krzysztof has been borne by many other individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Poland and beyond.
People
Krzysztof + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Krzysztof 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
Krzysztof: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Krzysztof?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 453 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Krzysztof 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 756,632 US residents.
Is Krzysztof a common name?
We classify Krzysztof as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 468 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Krzysztof most popular?
The single biggest year for Krzysztof was 1989, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Krzysztof is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Krzysztof a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Krzysztof 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.