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The short answer
Christopher is a masculine name from the Late Greek Christophoros, meaning "bearing Christ", built from Christos and phero "to bear, to carry". Behind the Name explains that early Christians used it as a metaphorical name, expressing that they carried Christ in their hearts; in the Middle Ages literal readings of the etymology produced the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river, and he came to be regarded as the patron saint of travellers. The name has been in general English use since the 15th century and was very popular in the late 20th century. In the United States it ranked #68 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name derives Christopher "from the Late Greek name Christophoros meaning 'bearing Christ', derived from Christos combined with phero meaning 'to bear, to carry'". The entry describes the name as originally metaphorical, used by early Christians to express that they carried Christ in their hearts, and says that medieval literal interpretations of the etymology led to the legends about Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river, from which he became regarded as the patron saint of travellers. As an English given name it has been in general use since the 15th century. Kristopher is listed as a variant, and the entry records a long list of diminutives, including Chris, Kit, Kris and Topher.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Late Greek | Christophoros (Χριστόφορος) | bearing Christ |
| Greek | Christos (Χριστός) + phero (φέρω) | Christ + to bear, to carry |
Popularity
Christopher ranked #68 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name notes that the name became very popular in the second half of the 20th century, reaching the top of the charts for England and Wales in the 1980s and nearing it in the United States; those historical positions are reported second-hand and should be confirmed against ONS and SSA historical files.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #68 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Chris, Kit, Kris, Topher, Chip, Christie, Christy, Kester
Variants: Kristopher, Cristopher
Related names: Christophe, Christoph, Cristoforo, Cristóbal, Krzysztof, Kristoffer
What the name feels like
Christopher is a long, three-syllable classic that has been in English use for five centuries, which gives it an established, dependable feel. Its strength is flexibility: the full form is formal, while Chris, Kit and Topher each set a different tone. Its late-20th-century peak means many parents now hear it as a familiar family name rather than a fresh one.
Style tags: classic, Greek, saint's name, three syllables
Editorial interpretation: The style impressions above are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. The etymology, the Saint Christopher legend, the 15th-century usage and the late-20th-century popularity note are drawn from Behind the Name.
If you like this name
Editorial suggestions: names that share Christopher's Greek Christian origin or its long classic shape with a ready nickname.
Similar by origin
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Frequently asked questions
What does the name Christopher mean?
Christopher means "bearing Christ". It comes from the Late Greek Christophoros, from Christos combined with phero, "to bear, to carry".
Is Christopher a popular name?
Christopher ranked #68 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data. Behind the Name notes it was very popular in the second half of the 20th century.
What are nicknames for Christopher?
Behind the Name lists Chris, Kit, Kris, Topher, Chip, Christie, Christy and Kester as diminutives; Kristopher is a spelling variant.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Christopher — supports etymology, Saint Christopher legend, usage history, 20th-century popularity note, nicknames, variants, related names.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
