Christopher is a name of English origin, derived from the Greek name Christophoros. This name consists of two elements: "Christos," which means "anointed" or "messiah," and "phoreō," which translates to "to bear, carry." Therefore, Christopher signifies "bearer of Christ."
The story behind this name is associated with Saint Christopher, one of the most popular saints in the Christian tradition. According to legend, Saint Christopher was a giant who carried people across a river. One day, he carried a child across the river, but as they reached the other side, the child suddenly grew heavy and revealed himself to be Christ. Since then, Christopher has become associated with travel and protection against sudden death.
The name Christopher has been used since the Middle Ages in England, often inspired by the veneration of Saint Christopher. It gained popularity during the 19th century and has remained a popular choice for boys' names ever since. Today, Christopher is widely recognized as a classic name that carries a sense of tradition and strength.
In terms of variations, the name Christopher can be shortened to Chris or Christie, while alternative spellings include Kristopher and Cristóbal (Spanish). Some popular nicknames derived from Christopher include Topher, Chris, Kit, Kris, and Christoph.
The name Christopher peaked in popularity between the late 1940s and early 1970s, with a significant rise starting around 1947 (2273 births) and reaching its zenith in 1968 (31467 births). This trend continued until 1973, after which there was a steady decline in the number of babies named Christopher. By 2022, the name had fallen out of favor considerably, with only 5171 births recorded that year. Over the entire period from 1880 to 2023, there were a total of 2,059,620 births registered as Christopher.