Chris
- Meaning
- Short form of several Christ-related names
Saved in this browser. No account needed.
What does Chris mean?
Chris means “Short form of several Christ-related names”.
Chris is a familiar form of several names, including Christopher, Christian, and Christine. They share a connection with Christ but do not have identical full meanings: Christopher is traditionally interpreted as Christ-bearer, while Christian and Christine concern belonging to the Christian faith. Chris can also be used as a complete name on its own.
Kris is a close spelling alternative. The single-syllable form is used for boys and girls, often without revealing which longer name, if any, stands behind it. When it honors a relative, that longer name can explain the family connection more precisely than assigning every Chris the meaning of Christopher alone.
Nicknames & variations
Explore short forms, spellings, and related names.
Variations & related forms
Related forms and spellings recorded for this name.
How popular is Chris?
United States · 2025Explore how often Chris is used and how its ranking has changed.
- US boys rank
- #646 2025 · #1 is most popular
- Boys named Chris
- 431 Recorded births in 2025
- Change in births
- 1.7% More than 2024
Chris over time
United States · Boys
Recorded births
Hover or tap the chart, or move the slider. You can also use the keyboard arrow keys.
Yearly data & usage
Rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys. The summary highlights boys, the most common recorded usage in 2025. Use the chart’s usage selector to explore both categories.
| Year | Usage | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | #646 | 431 |
| 2024 | Boys | #651 | 424 |
| 2024 | Girls | #12,434 | 7 |
| 2023 | Boys | #774 | 330 |
| 2023 | Girls | #7,729 | 14 |
| 2022 | Boys | #668 | 408 |
| 2022 | Girls | #13,974 | 6 |
| 2021 | Boys | #658 | 412 |
| 2021 | Girls | #9,707 | 10 |
| 2020 | Boys | #676 | 382 |
| 2020 | Girls | #10,447 | 9 |
| 2019 | Boys | #570 | 490 |
| 2018 | Boys | #612 | 440 |
| 2018 | Girls | #14,180 | 6 |
| 2017 | Boys | #595 | 459 |
| 2017 | Girls | #16,396 | 5 |
| 2016 | Boys | #560 | 514 |
| 2016 | Girls | #14,723 | 6 |
| 2015 | Boys | #506 | 569 |
| 2015 | Girls | #12,078 | 8 |
| 2014 | Boys | #520 | 539 |
| 2014 | Girls | #13,370 | 7 |
Years reflect available birth records. Missing records do not mean zero births.
Names like Chris
Explore the connection, then save your favorites to compare.
Christopher
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Bearer of Christ
Listed as a related name to Chris.
Christian
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Follower of Christ
Listed as a related name to Chris.
Christina
Mostly girls- Meaning
- A Christian
Listed as a related name to Chris.
Cristopher
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Bearer of Christ
Listed as a related name to Chris.
Christine
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Christian; follower of Christ
Listed among Chris’s variations and related forms.
Theodore
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Gift of God
Shares an origin with Chris.
Found a few you like?
Save them, then compare up to four names in your shortlist.