Kit

♂ Boy

Pronounced KIT /kɪt/High

Meaning: Pure; follower of Christ; English pet form of Christopher (Greek Christophoros: bearer of Christ) or Katherine (Greek Aikaterine: pure)High

In 30 seconds: An English pet form of Christopher (bearer of Christ) or Katherine (pure). A crisp one-syllable name, Kit has a long English literary history — used for both boys (Kit Marlowe) and girls (Kit Harington's partner).

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Origin HighEnglish, Greek

MeaningPure; follower of Christ; English pet form of Christopher (Greek Christophoros: bearer of Christ) or Katherine (Greek Aikaterine: pure)

U.S. rank (2025)#1103 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births195 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,943

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

Kit is an English pet form of Christopher (Greek Christophoros: bearer of Christ) or Katherine. Christopher/Kit Marlowe was an Elizabethan playwright, spy, and poet. Kit Carson was the legendary American frontiersman.

Kit ranked #1150 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Kit Marlowe (Christopher Marlowe, 1564–1593) was Shakespeare's contemporary and possible rival — some scholars have suggested he actually wrote Shakespeare's plays. His spy activities and sudden death at 29 have made him one of English literature's most mysterious figures.

Overall data confidence 87%

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

Variations

ChristopherChristian

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Christopher Marlowe (Kit) (1564–1593)
English Elizabethan playwright and poet, contemporary of Shakespeare, author of Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine. His mysterious death at 29 has made him a literary enigma.

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Explore names like Kit

By themeenglish greek unisex literary one-syllable diminutive

By meaningPurity

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kit mean?

Kit means 'pure' (from Katherine) or 'bearer of Christ' (from Christopher), an English pet form of either name.

How do you pronounce Kit?

It's said KIT — one syllable.

Is Kit a boy or girl name?

Kit is used for both sexes.

How popular is Kit?

Kit ranked #1150 for U.S. boys in 2024.