Chris

♂ Boy

Pronounced KRIS /krɪs/High

Meaning: Short form of Christopher or Christian, from Greek Christophoros meaning Christ-bearer, or from Greek Christos meaning anointed one, from chrio meaning to anointHigh

In 30 seconds: A clean, one-syllable short form of Christopher or Christian, Chris has been a confidently popular standalone name since the mid-20th century and remains a reliable, no-nonsense classic.

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Origin HighGreek, English

MeaningShort form of Christopher or Christian, from Greek Christophoros meaning Christ-bearer, or from Greek Christos meaning anointed one, from chrio meaning to anoint

U.S. rank (2025)#646 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births431 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1961

Total births (all-time)≈ 147,470

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Chris is a short form of Christopher (from Greek Christophoros, meaning Christ-bearer) or Christian (from Greek Christianos, follower of Christ). Both parent names trace back to Greek Christos, meaning anointed, itself a translation of the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah). Christopher became widespread in Christian Europe from the Middle Ages, carried by the legend of Saint Christopher.

Chris emerged as a standalone name in the mid-20th century and was particularly popular in the 1960s–1980s in the United States and Britain. It has been used for both boys and girls (though male usage dominates) and has been borne by numerous celebrities including Chris Rock, Chris Evans, and Chris Hemsworth. The name's single-syllable punch and wide recognition keep it in steady use.

Did you know? Chris is one of the few names that works equally well as a given name, a nickname, and a surname — and it appears across all three categories in real-world usage, a rare triple-duty name.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Chris — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ChristopherChristianKris

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Chris Evans (1981–present)
American actor, known for portraying Captain America in the Marvel films.
★Chris Rock (1965–present)
American comedian, actor, and filmmaker.

If you like Chris…

Kyle— shares the clean, one-syllable or two-syllable mid-century American boy-name energy

Scott— fellow monosyllabic classic from the same American mid-century name cohort

Jason— shares the crisp, friendly American name feel from the same era

Ryan— another short, confident name that dominated the same generational wave

Frequently Asked

What does the name Chris mean?

Chris is short for Christopher or Christian, both from Greek Christos meaning anointed one. It carries the meaning bearer of Christ or anointed.

How do you pronounce Chris?

It is said KRIS /krɪs/ — a single syllable.

Is Chris a boy or girl name?

Chris is used for both boys and girls, though it is predominantly a boys' name. It is also a nickname for Christine or Christina for girls.

Is Chris still popular?

Chris was most popular in the U.S. in the 1960s–1980s. It remains in steady use today, often as a nickname though also as a standalone name.