Christina is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the male name Christian, which in turn comes from the Late Latin word 'Christianus', meaning "belonging to Christ". The name Christina was first used as a female name in England during the Middle Ages, although it was not particularly popular until the 19th century.
The name has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous is Christina, Queen of Sweden (1626-1689), who was known for her religious beliefs and support of the German Pietist movement. Another notable bearer of the name is Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), an English poet of the Victorian era.
Over time, the name Christina has become associated with various cultural references. It is the title character in George Bernard Shaw's play "Saint Joan", and it was also the name of a pop singer from the Philippines who achieved international fame in the 1990s.
Overall, Christina is a classic and elegant given name that carries a rich historical legacy while still sounding modern and approachable. Its meaning, "belonging to Christ", gives it a profound and spiritual significance that has resonated with many throughout the centuries.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Christina has shown significant variations in popularity over time in the United States.
From 1880 to around 1960, the number of annual births with the name Christina fluctuated between a low of 65 and a high of around 2700. However, starting in the mid-1960s, there was a significant increase in popularity. In 1967, there were 6599 births registered as Christina, marking the beginning of a consistent trend of increased usage.
The name reached its peak popularity between 1968 and 1972, with over 10,000 births each year. The highest recorded figure during this period was in 1973, with 10,888 births. This high level of popularity persisted until the late 1970s.
However, from the early 1980s onwards, there has been a steady decline in the usage of the name Christina. In 2023, only 401 births were registered with this name, indicating that it is now much less common than it was during its peak popularity period.
In conclusion, while Christina was once a highly popular name in the United States, its usage has significantly decreased over time, with current figures representing a fraction of what they were at their peak. Despite this decline, Christina remains among the names chosen for newborns each year.