Cris

♂ Boy

Pronounced KRIS /ˈkrɪs/High

Meaning: A short form of Cristian/Christopher — from Greek, 'a follower of Christ' or 'bearing Christ' (Christos, 'the anointed')Medium

In 30 seconds: A follower of Christ: Cris shortens Cristian — 'a follower of Christ'. Crisp, friendly, and warm.

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Origin MediumGreek

MeaningA short form of Cristian/Christopher — from Greek, 'a follower of Christ' or 'bearing Christ' (Christos, 'the anointed')

U.S. rank (2024)#5942 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births15 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1960

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,019

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cris is a short form of Cristian/Cristóbal (Christopher) — from Greek Christos, 'the anointed' — 'a follower of Christ' or 'bearing Christ'. A crisp, friendly Spanish/Portuguese short form (Cristiano Ronaldo is nicknamed Cris; said 'KRIS'; nickname Cris).

In the U.S. it appears in Latino families. Rare as a formal name, a-follower-of-Christ at the root, and friendly.

Did you know? Christian means 'a follower of Christ' and Christopher 'bearing Christ' (Greek Christos, 'the anointed') — Cris is a crisp Spanish/Portuguese short form (the footballer Cristiano 'Cris' Ronaldo; said 'KRIS').

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Cris — short form etymology

Variations

ChrisCristianCristóbal

Nicknames

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If you like Cris…

Chris— a fellow short form

Cristian— a name it shortens

Cristobal— a name it shortens

Kris— a K- spelling

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cris mean?

Cris shortens Cristian — Greek 'a follower of Christ; the anointed'.

How do you pronounce Cris?

It's said KRIS /ˈkrɪs/ — one syllable.

Is Cris a boy or girl name?

Cris is most often a boy's name.

How popular is Cris?

Cris is a rare given name in the U.S.