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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kris

Kris

♀ Girl

Pronounced KRISS /ˈkrɪs/High

Meaning: A short form of Kristina or Kristopher (Christina/Christopher), from Greek roots meaning 'follower of Christ; anointed' or 'bearer of Christ.' Fully unisex; used across the sexes.Low

In 30 seconds: A crisp short form: Kris trims Kristina or Kristopher, tied to 'Christ' (said 'KRISS'). Unisex and clean.
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Origin LowGreek
MeaningA short form of Kristina or Kristopher (Christina/Christopher), from Greek roots meaning 'follower of Christ; anointed' or 'bearer of Christ.' Fully unisex; used across the sexes.
U.S. rank (2025)#11463 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1965
Total births (all-time)≈ 13,571

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196519402025

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

Kris is a short form of Kristina or Kristopher, from Greek roots meaning 'follower of Christ; anointed' or 'bearer of Christ.' Fully unisex, it reads as a clean, casual one-syllable name and is used across the sexes, which we note (said 'KRISS').

It appears only rarely as a full given name for girls in the U.S. Rare, crisp, and unisex.

Did you know? Kris works for a girl or a boy -- a short form of Kristina or Kristopher, both rooted in the Greek for 'Christ.' Its single syllable keeps it modern and no-fuss, and it is used across the sexes, which we note.
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Kris — Short for Kristina/Kristopher; 'bearer of Christ'; unisex

Variations

ChrisKrysKristina

Nicknames

KrissyKiki

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kris…

Kristin— a fuller form Kris shortens
Chris— a near-twin unisex short form
Krista— a like Christina-rooted pick
Kit— a like crisp one-syllable name

Explore names like Kris

By themegreekunisexshortcross-sex

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kris mean?

Kris is short for Kristina or Kristopher, from Greek roots meaning 'follower of Christ' or 'bearer of Christ.'

How do you pronounce Kris?

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

Is Kris a boy or girl name?

Kris is fully unisex, used across the sexes — we note the cross-sex use.

How popular is Kris?

Kris is a rare full given name for girls in the U.S.

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