Kris
Kris is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Follower of Christ or anointed one; short form of Kristen/Kristina.
Origin and history
Kris is a unisex short form of names like Kristen, Kristina, or Christopher. For females, it gained popularity in the mid-to-late 20th century in the United States as a sleek, modern alternative to longer Christian-derived names. It remains a familiar, straightforward choice though less commonly given to baby girls today.
Popularity in the United States
13,571 babies in the United States have been named Kris since 1880. It ranks #1365 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2048.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.9 %)
- MI (8.2 %)
- MN (7.4 %)
- WI (7.1 %)
- IL (6.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 503 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,891 |
| 1960-1970 | 7,158 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,009 |
| 1980-1990 | 462 |
| 1990-2000 | 216 |
| 2000-2010 | 120 |
| 2010-2019 | 159 |
| 2020-2029 | 53 |
Famous people named Kris
- Kris Jenner: Media Personality, Businesswoman
Fun facts
- Kris evolved as an independent given name after starting as a popular nickname for Kristine, Kristen, or Kristina.
- While used for both males and females in the U.S., Kris saw significant usage for girls during the 1950s through 1980s.