Chris

Chris - A very unique male name

Chris appeared on the charts for the first time in 1911 on position #669. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Chris and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Chris? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Chris. The baby boy name Chris was given to 383 baby boys in 2025, ranking #650 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,828 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Chris peaked in popularity 60 years ago in 1966 on position 55.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Chris, 1-5?

Chris is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Chris is currently topping the baby name charts in Florida at position #284 - and is the least popular in Georgia at position #1,234.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Chris is where you live.

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Chris origin and meaning

Greek, short form of Christopher

Short form of Christopher, from Greek Christophoros, 'Christ-bearer'

Chris has been used as a standalone name since 1911, though it began as the short form of Christopher and Christian. It peaked in 1961 and, after a long decline, has ticked back up since 2020.

Attested etymology

Chris is a 5 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Chris, pop culture references for the name Chris and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Chris

We've found the following names that sound similar to Chris, sorted by popularity.

Craig / Cruz / Cyrus / Cris / Cross / Croix / Cruze / Chirag / Criss / Creek /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Chris

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Chris a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Chris?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KRIS · /krɪs/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Kris — K-spelling, also used for girls

Famous bearers

• Chris Evans — Actor, Captain America in the Marvel films; born Christopher, universally known as Chris (b. 1981) Contemporary
• Chris Hemsworth — Australian actor, Thor in the Marvel films; born Christopher, universally known as Chris (b. 1983) Contemporary
• Chris Pratt — Actor, known for Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World; born Christopher, universally known as Chris (b. 1979) Contemporary

Style

Short formNickname nameClassic

Why parents choose it

Chris is the easygoing short form parents use when Christopher feels too long — direct, friendly and fully established on its own.

Worth knowing

• People will regularly assume the full name is Christopher