Christopher is a popular male given name of English origin. It is derived from the Late Middle English name Cristopher, which is in turn derived from the Greek name Chrístephanos (χρίστης + φανής), a compound of chrís (χρῖσος) meaning "golden" and pháos (φάος) meaning "appearance". The name was originally intended to mean "bearing Christ", but it is often interpreted as meaning "holder of Christ".
The name Christopher has been popular throughout history. It was borne by several saints, including Saint Christopher, who is said to have carried the young Jesus across a river and is therefore considered the patron saint of travelers. The name became especially common in the Middle Ages, when it was adopted by many European monarchs and nobles.
Today, Christopher remains a popular name around the world. It has been particularly successful in English-speaking countries such as the United States, where it has consistently ranked among the top 100 names for boys since the mid-20th century. Variations of the name include Kristoffer (Scandinavian), Cristofer (Spanish), and Christo (Greek).
In literature and popular culture, Christopher has been used as a character name in numerous works, including "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis and "Mrs. Doubtfire" by Matthew Broderick. It has also been borne by several notable figures throughout history, such as Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer who discovered the Americas, and Christopher Reeve, the American actor best known for his role as Superman in the 1970s and 1980s.
Overall, Christopher is a name of ancient origins that has stood the test of time. With its strong religious connotations and rich history, it remains a popular choice for parents looking to give their son a classic, meaningful name.
The name Christipher has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1966 and 2009, there were a total of 620 babies named Christipher born in the U.S.
In the early years, Christopher was not commonly chosen as a baby boy's name. Only 8 births were recorded for each year from 1966 to 1970. However, starting in 1972, there was a significant increase in popularity, with 19 births that year.
The peak of popularity came in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1987, there were 35 births, which is the highest number recorded for any single year. This trend continued into the following years, with 31 births in 1988 and 28 births in both 1989 and 1990.
After the early 1990s, there was a steady decline in popularity. Between 1995 and 2009, fewer than 17 babies were named Christipher each year on average. The lowest point came in the years 2000 and 2008, with only 6 births recorded for each year.
Despite the fluctuations in popularity over time, Christopher remains a name that has been given to hundreds of children born in the United States since the mid-1960s.