Christopher is a name of Greek origin that means "bearer of Christ." It was derived from the Greek word "Christos," which means "anointed" or "messiah," and the word "pher," which means "to bear" or "to carry." The name Christopher was popularized by Saint Christopher, who was a martyr during the 3rd century in the Roman Empire. According to legend, Saint Christopher was a powerful man who carried people across a dangerous river. One day, he carried a child across the river who turned out to be Christ. From that moment on, Saint Christopher became known as the patron saint of travelers and is often depicted carrying the infant Jesus on his shoulders. The name Christopher became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages and has remained a popular choice for boys' names ever since. It was particularly popular in England during the Tudor period and has been among the top 10 most popular boy's names in the United States for many years.
The name Christopher has been quite popular over the years in the United States, with a total of 423 babies being named Christopher between 1966 and 2008.
The popularity of the name Christopher peaked during the late 1970s to early 1980s. In fact, it was one of the top ten names for boys during these years. The highest number of births recorded in a single year was 30, which occurred in 1983.
However, as with many names, the popularity of Christopher has fluctuated over time. After peaking in the early 1980s, the number of babies named Christopher began to decline steadily throughout the rest of the decade and into the 1990s. By the year 2000, only five boys were named Christopher.
Despite this decline, Christopher remains a classic name with enduring appeal. It has consistently ranked among the top thousand names for boys in the United States since it was first recorded by the Social Security Administration in 1937.