Christian Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated June 7, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Christian Name Meaning

Fact: The name has been borne by various royals, including King Christian IV of Denmark, who ruled in the 17th century, and several other Danish and Norwegian kings.

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A Deep Dive

Christian Overview

Meaning

Follower of Christ

Gender

Boy, Gender-neutral

Origin

Latin

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word “Christianus,” coming from the Greek word “Christianos”.

Religion

Christianity

Pronunciation

/ˈkrɪʃtʃən/

Popularity

Popular in many countries, often ranked in the top 100 boys’ names in English-speaking regions since 1986.

Syllable

2 syllables

Length

9 letters

Numerology

11 (Intuitive, Idealistic, Spiritual)

Name Styles

Religious and Spiritual, Classic, Traditional, Cute

Associated Traits

Gracious, faithful, strong, compassionate, and reliable

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Deeply rooted in Christian tradition, symbolizing devotion and faith.

Name Day

November 12th
A Deep Dive

Christian Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Christina, Christopher, Christine, Cristiano, Kristian, Krystian, Cristian, Kirsten

Common Nicknames

Chris, Christy, Kris, Chrissy, Kit

Diminutives

Christie, Christo, Christy, Chrissy, Kris

Famous People

  • Christian Bale
    (English Actor)
  • Christian Dior
    (French Fashion Designer)
  • Christian Slater
    (American Actor)
  • Christian Eriksen
    (Danish Footballer)
  • Christian McCaffrey
    (American Football Player)
  • Christian Cage
    (American Wrestler)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Christian Grey
    ("Fifty Shades of Grey," Book and Film)
  • Christian Shephard
    ("Lost," TV Series)
  • Christian
    ("Moulin Rouge!," Film)

Places

  • Christian County
    (Kentucky, USA)

What Is the Meaning of Christian?

The name Christian means “follower of Christ”. It is derived from the Latin word “Christianus,” which in turn comes from the Greek word “Christianos,” meaning a follower of Christ.

The term “Christ” is derived from the Greek word “Christos,” meaning “anointed one,” which is a translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.”

What Is the Origin of The Name Christian?

The name Christian originates from the Latin word “Christianus,” meaning “a Christian” or “follower of Christ.” It became popular in the early Christian communities and has been widely used across various cultures for centuries.

Christian Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Christian in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#702021#732022#772023
Top 3 Rankings#212006#222000#222005

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Christian

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
202377
(-4 from 2022)
4125
(-346 from 2022)
0.22527
202273
(-3 from 2021)
4471
(-159 from 2021)
0.23871
202170
(-8 from 2020)
4630
(-469 from 2020)
0.24712
202062
(-5 from 2019)
5099
(-677 from 2019)
0.27567
201957
(-3 from 2018)
5776
(-801 from 2018)
0.30056
201854
(-2 from 2017)
6577
(-440 from 2017)
0.33837
201752
(-6 from 2016)
7017
(-649 from 2016)
0.35455
201646
(-3 from 2015)
7666
(-547 from 2015)
0.37845
201543
(-1 from 2014)
8213
(-261 from 2014)
0.40172
201442
(-7 from 2013)
8474
(-872 from 2013)
0.41352
201335
(-2 from 2012)
9346
(-291 from 2012)
0.46251
201233
(-3 from 2011)
9637
(-695 from 2011)
0.47492
201130
(-1 from 2010)
10332
(-777 from 2010)
0.50861
201029
(-6 from 2009)
11109
(-1541 from 2009)
0.54074
200923
No change from 2008
12650
(-416 from 2008)
0.59644
200823
(-1 from 2007)
13066
(-993 from 2007)
0.59924
200722
(-1 from 2006)
14059
(-428 from 2006)
0.63470
200621
(+1 from 2005)
14487
(+278 from 2005)
0.66079
200522
(+2 from 2004)
14209
(+284 from 2004)
0.66792
200424
(+1 from 2003)
13925
(+19 from 2003)
0.65890
200325
(-1 from 2002)
13906
(-690 from 2002)
0.66182
200224
No change from 2001
14596
(-860 from 2001)
0.70626
200124
(-2 from 2000)
15456
(-601 from 2000)
0.74724
200022
(+3 from 1999)
16057
(+1275 from 1999)
0.76889
199925
(+1 from 1998)
14782
(+263 from 1998)
0.72496
199826
(-1 from 1997)
14519
(-540 from 1997)
0.71605
199725
(-1 from 1996)
15059
(-763 from 1996)
0.75379
199624
(+4 from 1995)
15822
(+2011 from 1995)
0.78963
199528
(+7 from 1994)
13811
(+1824 from 1994)
0.68665
199435
No change from 1993
11987
(+96 from 1993)
0.58807
199335
No change from 1992
11891
(-63 from 1992)
0.57569
199235
(+13 from 1991)
11954
(+2509 from 1991)
0.56946
199148
(+12 from 1990)
9445
(+2665 from 1990)
0.44558
199060
(+18 from 1989)
6780
(+2156 from 1989)
0.31505
198978
(+8 from 1988)
4624
(+688 from 1988)
0.22061
198886
(+4 from 1987)
3936
(+612 from 1987)
0.19658
198790
(-1 from 1986)
3324
(+111 from 1986)
0.17044
198689
(+12 from 1985)
3213
(+299 from 1985)
0.16720
1985101
(+3 from 1984)
2914
(+188 from 1984)
0.15142
1984104
(+8 from 1983)
2726
(+306 from 1983)
0.14525
1983112
(+2 from 1982)
2420
(-156 from 1982)
0.12986
1982114
(+7 from 1981)
2576
(+342 from 1981)
0.13650
1981121
(-3 from 1980)
2234
(-84 from 1980)
0.11995
1980118
(+2 from 1979)
2318
(+54 from 1979)
0.12498
1979120
(-5 from 1978)
2264
(+56 from 1978)
0.12639
1978115
(+1 from 1977)
2208
(-86 from 1977)
0.12923
1977116
(-4 from 1976)
2294
(+27 from 1976)
0.13420
1976112
(-9 from 1975)
2267
(-195 from 1975)
0.13886
1975103
No change from 1974
2462
(-26 from 1974)
0.15175
1974103
(-6 from 1973)
2488
(-208 from 1973)
0.15261
197397
(-1 from 1972)
2696
(-267 from 1972)
0.16708
197296
(+26 from 1971)
2963
(+322 from 1971)
0.17700
1971122
(+5 from 1970)
2641
(+18 from 1970)
0.14528
1970127
(+13 from 1969)
2623
(+430 from 1969)
0.13771
1969140
(+11 from 1968)
2193
(+413 from 1968)
0.11989
1968151
(+35 from 1967)
1780
(+460 from 1967)
0.10026
1967186
(+51 from 1966)
1320
(+431 from 1966)
0.07418
1966237
(+38 from 1965)
889
(+159 from 1965)
0.04891
1965275
(+19 from 1964)
730
(+19 from 1964)
0.03853
1964294
(+5 from 1963)
711
(+39 from 1963)
0.03508
1963299
(+6 from 1962)
672
(+22 from 1962)
0.03255
1962305
(+14 from 1961)
650
(+45 from 1961)
0.03093
1961319
(-18 from 1960)
605
(-56 from 1960)
0.02805
1960301
(+22 from 1959)
661
(+80 from 1959)
0.03053
1959323
(+53 from 1958)
581
(+154 from 1958)
0.02682
1958376
(+51 from 1957)
427
(+100 from 1957)
0.01982
1957427
(-45 from 1956)
327
(-62 from 1956)
0.01494
1956382
(+3 from 1955)
389
(+38 from 1955)
0.01812
1955385
(-6 from 1954)
351
(-1 from 1954)
0.01679
1954379
(-4 from 1953)
352
(+15 from 1953)
0.01701
1953375
(+10 from 1952)
337
(+18 from 1952)
0.01683
1952385
(+29 from 1951)
319
(+47 from 1951)
0.01617
1951414
(-2 from 1950)
272
(+5 from 1950)
0.01423
1950412
(+41 from 1949)
267
(+49 from 1949)
0.01468
1949453
(+15 from 1948)
218
(+16 from 1948)
0.01210
1948468
(+24 from 1947)
202
(+15 from 1947)
0.01133
1947492
(-15 from 1946)
187
(+5 from 1946)
0.01007
1946477
(+26 from 1945)
182
(+41 from 1945)
0.01103
1945503
(+21 from 1944)
141
(+6 from 1944)
0.01028
1944524
(+18 from 1943)
135
No change from 1943
0.00972
1943542
(+64 from 1942)
135
(+27 from 1942)
0.00928
1942606
(-74 from 1941)
108
(-14 from 1941)
0.00767
1941532
(+65 from 1940)
122
(+23 from 1940)
0.00972
1940597
(+4 from 1939)
99
(+5 from 1939)
0.00835
1939601
(-11 from 1938)
94
(-5 from 1938)
0.00829
1938590
(+46 from 1937)
99
(+14 from 1937)
0.00871
1937636
(-25 from 1936)
85
(-6 from 1936)
0.00777
1936611
(+114 from 1935)
91
(+20 from 1935)
0.00855
1935725
(-102 from 1934)
71
(-21 from 1934)
0.00664
1934623
(+45 from 1933)
92
(+15 from 1933)
0.00866
1933668
(-12 from 1932)
77
(-9 from 1932)
0.00755
1932656
(-23 from 1931)
86
(-1 from 1931)
0.00800
1931633
(-1 from 1930)
87
(-7 from 1930)
0.00813
1930632
(+1 from 1929)
94
(+1 from 1929)
0.00832
1929633
(-55 from 1928)
93
(-21 from 1928)
0.00840
1928578
(+6 from 1927)
114
(+2 from 1927)
0.00999
1927584
(+1 from 1926)
112
(-1 from 1926)
0.00964
1926585
(+27 from 1925)
113
(+8 from 1925)
0.00987
1925612
(-44 from 1924)
105
(-20 from 1924)
0.00912
1924568
(+14 from 1923)
125
(+9 from 1923)
0.01069
1923582
(-93 from 1922)
116
(-44 from 1922)
0.01024
1922489
(+54 from 1921)
160
(+28 from 1921)
0.01422
1921543
(-36 from 1920)
132
(-11 from 1920)
0.01160
1920507
(+24 from 1919)
143
(+18 from 1919)
0.01299
1919531
(-57 from 1918)
125
(-30 from 1918)
0.01231
1918474
(-8 from 1917)
155
(+6 from 1917)
0.01478
1917466
(-14 from 1916)
149
(-5 from 1916)
0.01553
1916452
(-7 from 1915)
154
(+3 from 1915)
0.01668
1915445
(-8 from 1914)
151
(+29 from 1914)
0.01714
1914437
(+14 from 1913)
122
(+31 from 1913)
0.01785
1913451
(-47 from 1912)
91
No change from 1912
0.01697
1912404
(+53 from 1911)
91
(+50 from 1911)
0.02016
1911457
(-27 from 1910)
41
(+1 from 1910)
0.01698
1910430
(+43 from 1909)
40
(+11 from 1909)
0.01918
1909473
(-21 from 1908)
29
No change from 1908
0.01640
1908452
(-56 from 1907)
29
(-3 from 1907)
0.01743
1907396
(-33 from 1906)
32
(-1 from 1906)
0.02018
1906363
(+58 from 1905)
33
(+7 from 1905)
0.02291
1905421
(-53 from 1904)
26
(-4 from 1904)
0.01815
1904368
(-56 from 1903)
30
(-6 from 1903)
0.02166
1903312
(+25 from 1902)
36
(+3 from 1902)
0.02784
1902337
(-60 from 1901)
33
(-5 from 1901)
0.02486
1901277
(+98 from 1900)
38
(+3 from 1900)
0.03287
1900375
(-118 from 1899)
35
(-7 from 1899)
0.02159
1899257
(+93 from 1898)
42
(+12 from 1898)
0.03646
1898350
(-62 from 1897)
30
(-9 from 1897)
0.02271
1897288
(+24 from 1896)
39
(+3 from 1896)
0.03198
1896312
(-67 from 1895)
36
(-17 from 1895)
0.02789
1895245
(+33 from 1894)
53
(+13 from 1894)
0.04185
1894278
(+1 from 1893)
40
(+1 from 1893)
0.03203
1893279
No change from 1892
39
(-3 from 1892)
0.03222
1892279
(-2 from 1891)
42
(+8 from 1891)
0.03195
1891277
(-40 from 1890)
34
(-15 from 1890)
0.03112
1890237
(-11 from 1889)
49
(-2 from 1889)
0.04094
1889226
(+17 from 1888)
51
No change from 1888
0.04285
1888243
(-13 from 1887)
51
(+4 from 1887)
0.03926
1887230
(+68 from 1886)
47
(+14 from 1886)
0.04300
1886298
(-81 from 1885)
33
(-22 from 1885)
0.02772
1885217
(+14 from 1884)
55
(+1 from 1884)
0.04744
1884231
(-16 from 1883)
54
(+4 from 1883)
0.04400
1883215
(+23 from 1882)
50
(+1 from 1882)
0.04445
1882238
(-30 from 1881)
49
(-4 from 1881)
0.04015
1881208
(+44 from 1880)
53
(+10 from 1880)
0.04895
1880252
First SSA data recorded
43
First SSA data recorded
0.03632

American States Popularity Rankings for Christian

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#722021#702022#702023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#452021#532022#602023

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#672021#682022#822023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#572021#552022#622023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#952021#852022#872023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#992021#902022#1002023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#502021#562022#562023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#442021#642022#552023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#1282021#1272022#1312023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#722021#642022#802023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#1112021#1222022#972023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#902021#682022#762023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#642021#522022#732023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#702021#1172022#862023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#862021#1002022#872023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#422021#492022#1032023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#612021#732022#732023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#1182021#1142022#1352023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#1242021#1342022#1062023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#1062021#1182022#862023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#712021#742022#692023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#1012021#1052022#1532023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#632021#1012022#552023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#682021#802022#842023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#1422021#1852022#1152023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#1132021#1272022#1032023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#1572021#2052022#1852023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#1172021#1242022#1152023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#1462021#1262022#1582023

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#722021#862022#772023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#632021#402022#822023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#1492021#1502022#1342023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#1492021#1132022#1192023

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#842021#782022#1282023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#1502021#1722022#1642023

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#772021#582022#502023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#1082021#1262022#1462023

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#2072021#572022#1182023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#1092021#762022#1182023

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#2292021#922022#1692023

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#622021#1182022#972023

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#1172021#1332022#1692023

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#772021#742022#1412023

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#1222020#1652021#1962022

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#1992020#1672021#2062022

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#1032021#1532022#1522023

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#832021#1022022#1592023

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#2262020#2422021#1502022

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#1342021#2132022#1402023

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#572015#622016#422020

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#1302010#1132012#1332016

Popularity Rankings for Christian in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Philippines

Philippines flagPhilippines#72017#92018

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa flag American Samoa
Guam flag Guam
Northern Mariana Islands flag Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands flag U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories flagOther American Territories#432017#192018#272020

Popularity in Italy

Italy flagItaly#222020#232021#252022

Popularity in Galicia, Spain

Galicia, Spain flagGalicia, Spain#442000

Popularity in Denmark

Denmark flagDenmark#452021#492022#45First half of 2023

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#612021#1022022#812023

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#822020#732021#802022

Popularity in Spain

Spain flagSpain#942007#842008#892009

Popularity in Austria

Austria flagAustria#882020#862021#1052022

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#1002007#2802022#2662023

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#1112021#1112022#1162023

Popularity in Chile

Chile flagChile#1352019#1562020#1532021

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#1462021#1702022#1652023

Popularity in Argentina

Argentina flagArgentina#1471997#1841998#1501999

Popularity in Mexico

Mexico flagMexico#1522020#1472021

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#1482020#2002021#1692022

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#1512021#1532022#3552023

Popularity in France

France flagFrance#1881992#1751993#1791994

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#2272020#2232021#1832022

Popularity in Greenland

Greenland flagGreenland#2002017#1942019#2002021

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#2662021#2342022#2212023

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#2252019#2332020#2482021

Popularity in Iceland

Iceland flagIceland#2292021

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#3262021#2692022#2342023

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#2572021#2512022#2882023

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#3842019#2972021#3372023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#4012021#3922022#4822023

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Christian a Name for Boys or Girls?

Christian is traditionally a name for boys. However, it has also been used as a name for girls, particularly in English-speaking countries.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Christian

Christian in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

  • Christian Bale (Actor, born 1974): A British actor known for his roles in "The Dark Knight" trilogy and "American Psycho."
  • Christian Dior (Fashion Designer, 1905-1957): A French fashion designer who founded the iconic Christian Dior brand.
  • Christian Slater (Actor, born 1969): An American actor known for his roles in "Heathers" and "Mr. Robot."
  • Christian Eriksen (Footballer, born 1992): A Danish professional soccer player known for his time with Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan.
  • Christian McCaffrey (American Football Player, born 1996): An American football player, widely regarded as one of the top running backs in the NFL, playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
  • Christian Cage (Wrestler, born 1973): A Canadian professional wrestler, also known as Christian, renowned for his time in WWE and AEW, known for his technical skill and multiple championship reigns.
  • Christian Grey ("Fifty Shades of Grey," 2011, Book and Film): A fictional character from the "Fifty Shades" series, known for his complex personality and romantic entanglements.
  • Christian Shephard ("Lost," 2004, TV Series): A character from the TV series "Lost," serving as Jack Shephard’s father and a significant figure in the storyline.
  • Christian ("Moulin Rouge!," 2001, Movie): A character played by Ewan McGregor in the musical film, known for his passionate romance and poetic talent.
  • Christian County (Kentucky, USA): A county named after William Christian, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War.

Similar Names to Christian