The name Chriss is of Greek origin and means "Christian." It is a variant spelling of the more traditional spelling Chris or Chrys. The name has been used historically to refer to individuals who were followers of Christianity, as it was believed that the name would provide protection against evil spirits.
The use of the name Chriss can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was used as a male given name. It became popular in the Roman Empire during the early Christian era and was later adopted by other European cultures. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved and varied depending on the region and language, with some variations including Chrys, Chryss, Kriss, and Kris.
Today, Chriss is still used as a given name for both boys and girls in many parts of the world. It remains a popular choice among parents who wish to give their children a strong and meaningful name with a historical significance.
The name "Chriss" has been a part of the United States' birth records for over a century now, with fluctuations in its popularity throughout various decades.
In the early to mid-1900s, the name Chriss was quite rare. Between 1914 and 1953, there were less than 12 births per year on average, with some years seeing as few as five babies named Chriss.
However, starting from the mid-1950s, the popularity of the name began to increase significantly. The decade between 1954 and 1963 saw a substantial rise in newborn girls being named Chriss, with numbers ranging from nine to nineteen births per year during this period.
This trend continued into the early 1970s, with peaks in popularity occurring in the late 1960s. The years 1968 and 1970 saw twenty-four babies being named Chriss across those two years combined!
After a brief decline in the mid-1970s, the name Chriss maintained a steady level of popularity through to the end of the millennium, with an average of around ten births per year from 1983 onwards.
In recent decades, there has been another resurgence in the popularity of this name. Between 2005 and 2023, there were over one hundred births registered for newborn girls named Chriss across the United States – a significant increase compared to previous years.
Overall, since 1914 up until 2023, a total of 508 babies have been given the name Chriss in the United States. This demonstrates that although it may not be one of the most popular choices today, Chriss remains a name with enduring appeal for parents throughout the country.
Sources:
- Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/names.zip
- BabyCenter: https://www.babycenter.com/birth-certificates#birth-certificate