Where does the name Chris come from?

Chris is a boy name of Ancient Greek origin.

Is Chris a boy or a girl name?

Chris is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 14% of children given the name Chris are girls and 86% are boys.

How popular is the name Chris in 2023?

Chris ranks #7729 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1961 with 8,774 babies.

How do you pronounce Chris?

Chris is pronounced KRIS (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Chris?

Chris is also written as Cris, Kris, Christopher.

A name from Ancient Greek · Boy

Chris

A short form of Christopher (Greek Christophoros, 'Christ-bearer') or of Christian. Independent as a given name since the 19th century; arguably the most generic-American male name of the late 20th century.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

146,607 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

344 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

CA short form of Christopher (Greek Christophoros, 'Christ-bearer') or of Christian. Independent as a given name since the 19th century; arguably the most generic-American male name of the late 20th century.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Chris".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Cris Most common Kris Christopher

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Chris.

C
Chris Rock (comedian)
C
Chris Evans (actor)
C
Chris Pratt (actor)

Quick answers

People often ask about Chris.

What does the name Chris mean?: Chris means a short form of Christopher (Greek Christophoros, 'Christ-bearer') or of Christian. Independent as a given name since the 19th century; arguably the most generic-American male name of the late 20th century.
Where does the name Chris come from?: Chris is a boy name of Ancient Greek origin.
Is Chris a boy or a girl name?: Chris is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 14% of children given the name Chris are girls and 86% are boys.
How popular is the name Chris in 2023?: Chris ranks #7729 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1961 with 8,774 babies.
How do you pronounce Chris?: Chris is pronounced KRIS (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Chris?: Chris is also written as Cris, Kris, Christopher.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.