Chris
Chris is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Anointed, or bearer of Christ.
Origin and history
Chris is a unisex name traditionally used as a short form for Christopher, Christian, or Christine. Derived from the Greek word Christos, it carries the meaning of 'bearer of Christ' or 'anointed'. In the United States, it achieved high popularity in the mid-to-late 20th century as both a standalone name and a nickname.
Popularity in the United States
147,462 babies in the United States have been named Chris since 1880. It ranks #232 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #661.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.5 %)
- TX (8.3 %)
- NY (6.7 %)
- OH (4.9 %)
- IL (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 503 |
| 1890-1900 | 396 |
| 1900-1910 | 339 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,103 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,667 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,899 |
| 1940-1950 | 7,166 |
| 1950-1960 | 25,897 |
| 1960-1970 | 56,338 |
| 1970-1980 | 24,855 |
| 1980-1990 | 6,513 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,143 |
| 2000-2010 | 7,671 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,585 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,387 |
Famous people named Chris
- Chris Evans: Actor
- Chris Hemsworth: Actor
- Chris Pratt: Actor
Fun facts
- While historically a nickname for Christopher or Christian, Chris has long been used as a independent given name in the U.S.
- Although more commonly given to males, Chris has a long history of usage for females as well, often short for Christina or Christine.