Kris

♂ Boy

Pronounced KRIS /ˈkrɪs/High

Meaning: Short form of Kristopher/Christopher — Greek Christophoros, 'bearing Christ' — also a Scandinavian short formHigh

In 30 seconds: Christopher, trimmed to one crisp syllable: Kris is the K-styled short form — 'bearer of Christ'. Snappy, friendly, and worn by athletes and musicians alike (Kris Kristofferson). Easy and warm.

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Origin MediumGreek

MeaningShort form of Kristopher/Christopher — Greek Christophoros, 'bearing Christ' — also a Scandinavian short form

U.S. rank (2025)#3218 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births37 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1962

Total births (all-time)≈ 14,399

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

Kris is a short form of Kristopher/Christopher — Greek Christophoros, 'bearing Christ' — and a Scandinavian short form of Kristian and related names. Crisp and friendly, it stands alone for athletes and artists (Kris Kristofferson, Kris Bryant).

It registers thinly as a standalone name. Christ-bearing at the root, snappy, and warm.

Did you know? Kris Kristofferson — Rhodes Scholar, soldier, and songwriter of 'Me and Bobby McGee' — gave this short form a rugged, poetic cool all its own.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Kris — short form background

Variations

ChrisKrysKristopher

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024)
American singer-songwriter and actor who wrote classics like 'Me and Bobby McGee' and starred in films including 'A Star Is Born'
★Kris Jenner (1955-)
American media personality and businesswoman, manager and matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family
★Kris Bryant (1992-)
American professional baseball player and World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs in 2016

If you like Kris…

Chris— the C-spelled short form

Kristopher— the formal name behind it

Kristian— a fellow K-styled Christian name

Kit— another short form of Christopher

Explore names like Kris

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kris mean?

Kris is a short form of Kristopher/Christopher, Greek for 'bearing Christ'.

How do you pronounce Kris?

It's said KRIS /ˈkrɪs/ — a single syllable.

Is Kris a boy or girl name?

Kris is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Kris?

Kris is a rare standalone name in the U.S.