Christopher is a name of English origin, derived from the Greek name Christophoros. This name consists of two elements: "Christos," which means "anointed" or "messiah," and "phoreō," which translates to "to bear, carry." Therefore, Christopher signifies "bearer of Christ."
The story behind this name is associated with Saint Christopher, one of the most popular saints in the Christian tradition. According to legend, Saint Christopher was a giant who carried people across a river. One day, he carried a child across the river, but as they reached the other side, the child suddenly grew heavy and revealed himself to be Christ. Since then, Christopher has become associated with travel and protection against sudden death.
The name Christopher has been used since the Middle Ages in England, often inspired by the veneration of Saint Christopher. It gained popularity during the 19th century and has remained a popular choice for boys' names ever since. Today, Christopher is widely recognized as a classic name that carries a sense of tradition and strength.
In terms of variations, the name Christopher can be shortened to Chris or Christie, while alternative spellings include Kristopher and Cristóbal (Spanish). Some popular nicknames derived from Christopher include Topher, Chris, Kit, Kris, and Christoph.
The given statistics illustrate the popularity of the name Christopher over time in the United States. In the late 19th century, the name had a modest start with around 60 to 100 births per year between 1880 and 1900.
However, the early 20th century saw a significant increase in its popularity. Between 1910 and 1920, the number of annual births named Christopher more than doubled from around 70 to nearly 300 births per year. This trend continued throughout the 1920s and 1930s, with the number of annual births named Christopher fluctuating between approximately 230 and 300.
The post-World War II era marked a substantial leap in the popularity of the name Christopher. From around 400 births per year in the late 1940s, the number grew exponentially, reaching nearly 5,000 births per year by the mid-1950s. This upward trend continued through the 1960s and 1970s, with over 30,000 births named Christopher recorded in 1972.
The popularity of the name Christopher peaked in the early to mid-1980s, with over 59,000 births per year between 1982 and 1985. Since then, its popularity has steadily declined, although it remains a commonly chosen name. Between 2010 and 2022, the number of annual births named Christopher ranged from around 6,000 to 13,000.
In total, over two million babies were named Christopher in the United States between 1880 and 2022. This demonstrates that while trends come and go, the name Christopher has consistently been a popular choice among parents throughout American history.