Christian

means 'follower of Christ' or 'Christian' in English; related to the Latin term 'Christianus' — Associated with Christian saints and figures in history
English origin · Boy name
96% boys4% girls
#77US 2023
4.2kBirths / yr
Stable
452kAll-time births
📅 Since 1880🏆 37 years in top 1000.7% of births at peak
How to pronounce Christian
KRISCH·un
/ˈkrɪstʃ.ən/ · stress on KRISCH · 2 syllables
means 'follower of Christ' or 'Christian' in English; related to the Latin term 'Christianus'
Associated with Christian saints and figures in history · English origin

What does Christian mean and where does it come from?

Originally a male name, Christian has made its way into female usage, especially in modern contexts. It reflects a name-rich tradition, often associated with Christian saints and figures in history. Notable women with the name include Christiane Amanpour, a prominent journalist. The name is popular

Cultural significance
Christian has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in English-speaking communities, where it reflects values of means 'follower of christ' or 'christian' in english; related to the latin term 'christianus'.
Peak popularity
Reached #21 in 2006 — currently #77 in the US.
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Related Reading
English-origin baby names with timeless appeal
Browse names →

How else can you spell Christian?

Same sound, different look — useful if you want something slightly more distinctive

What middle names flow best with Christian?

Christian works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Christian Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Christian Rose
Floral · soft ending
Christian Mae
Sweet · timeless
Christian Claire
French influence · crisp
Christian Jane
Literary · strong
Christian Skye
Modern · airy feel
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Middle Names
The best middle names for Christian
Browse ideas →

How popular is Christian right now?

Holding steady — currently #77 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 18802023#77 · Top 0.06%
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2021
2022
2023
YearUS RankBirthsvs Prior Year
2023#774,153▼ down 4 · -7% births
2022#734,483▼ down 2 · -3% births
2021#714,634▼ down 9 · -8% births
2020#625,043▼ down 19 · -38% births
2015#438,196▼ down 14 · -26% births
2010#2911,097▼ down 7 · -22% births
2005#2214,205stable · -12% births
2000#2216,057▲ up 6 · +16% births
1995#2813,809▲ up 32 · +104% births
1990#606,777▲ up 41 · +132% births
1985#1012,915▲ up 17 · +26% births
1980#1182,314▼ down 15 · -6% births
1975#1032,463▲ up 24 · -6% births
1970#1272,623▲ up 148 · +259% births
1965#275730

The story of Christian

Christian has been a beloved American name for over 144 years, first appearing in Social Security records in 1880. Its peak popularity was #21 in 2006. More than 451,983 babies have been named Christian since 1880. The name has grown more popular over time, rising from #254 in 1880 to #77 in 2023. Christian is used for both genders: 4% female and 96% male.

Names that peaked alongside Christian in 2006:

Christian by decade

Christian peaked in the 2000s. See all 2000s names →

DecadeBirths
1880s497
1890s414
1900s321
1910s1,149
1920s1,279
1930s895
1940s1,602
1950s3,778
1960s10,848
1970s26,926
1980s35,334
1990s133,548
2000s145,189
2010s85,114
2020s5,089

What are good nicknames for Christian?

CROATIAN
Krsto
DANISH
ChristerKris
DUTCH
Chris
ENGLISH
ChrisKris

What are the girl versions of Christian?

Kistiñe BASQUEHristina BULGARIANKristina BULGARIANIna CROATIANKristina CROATIANTina CROATIANKristina CZECHKristýna CZECHChrista DANISHChristin DANISHChristina DANISHChristine DANISHIna DANISHKirsten DANISHKirstine DANISHKristin DANISHKristina DANISHKristine DANISHStina DANISHStine DANISHTine DANISHChristina DUTCHChristine DUTCHIna DUTCHStien DUTCHTina DUTCHTineke DUTCHChris ENGLISHChrissie ENGLISHChrissy ENGLISHChrista ENGLISHChristabel ENGLISHChristabella ENGLISHChristabelle ENGLISHChristen ENGLISHChristi ENGLISHChristiana ENGLISHChristianne ENGLISHChristie ENGLISHChristina ENGLISHChristine ENGLISHChristobel ENGLISHChristy ENGLISHCristen ENGLISHIna ENGLISHKiersten ENGLISHKiki ENGLISHKirsten ENGLISHKris ENGLISHKrista ENGLISHKristeen ENGLISHKristen ENGLISHKristi ENGLISHKristia ENGLISHKristie ENGLISHKristin ENGLISHKristina ENGLISHKristine ENGLISHKristy ENGLISHKrysten ENGLISHKrystina ENGLISHKrystine ENGLISHKyrsten ENGLISHTiana ENGLISHTianna ENGLISHTina ENGLISHKristiina ESTONIANKristina FAROESEIina FINNISHKirsi FINNISHKirsti FINNISHKrista FINNISHKristiina FINNISHStiina FINNISHTiina FINNISHChristelle FRENCHChristiane FRENCHChristine FRENCHChrista GERMANChristel GERMANChristiane GERMANChristin GERMANChristina GERMANChristine GERMANIna GERMANKerstin GERMANKiki GERMANKrista GERMANKristiane GERMANKristin GERMANKristina GERMANKristine GERMANChristina GREEKKilikina HAWAIIANKrisztina HUNGARIANKristín ICELANDICKristjana ICELANDICCristiana ITALIANCristina ITALIANTina ITALIANChristiana LATE ROMANKristiāna LATVIANKristīna LATVIANKristīne LATVIANIna LIMBURGISHStien LIMBURGISHKristina LITHUANIANHristina MACEDONIANTina MACEDONIANChristin NORWEGIANChristina NORWEGIANChristine NORWEGIANIna NORWEGIANKine NORWEGIANKirsten NORWEGIANKjersti NORWEGIANKjerstin NORWEGIANKristin NORWEGIANKristina NORWEGIANKristine NORWEGIANStina NORWEGIANStine NORWEGIANTine NORWEGIANKrysia POLISHKrystiana POLISHKrystyna POLISHCristiana PORTUGUESECristina PORTUGUESECristina ROMANIANKristina RUSSIANCairistìona SCOTTISHKirsteen SCOTTISHKirstie SCOTTISHKirstin SCOTTISHKirsty SCOTTISHHristina SERBIANKristina SERBIANKristína SLOVAKKristina SLOVENETina SLOVENECristina SPANISHChristin SWEDISHChristina SWEDISHChristine SWEDISHIna SWEDISHKerstin SWEDISHKia SWEDISHKjerstin SWEDISHKristin SWEDISHKristina SWEDISHKristine SWEDISHStina SWEDISHKhrystyna UKRAINIANCrystin WELSHChristos THEOLOGY

Common questions about the name Christian

What does the name Christian mean?
Christian means "means 'follower of Christ' or 'Christian' in English; related to the Latin term 'Christianus'" — a name rooted in English tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Christian?
Christian is currently ranked #77 in the United States as a baby name in the US and is holding steady in popularity, a reliable classic that parents consistently choose.
What is the cultural origin of Christian?
Christian originates from English tradition. English names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Christian?
Christian is a two-syllable name pronounced K R IH1 S CH AH0 N. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
Is Christian more of a girl or boy name?
Christian is a genuinely unisex name used for both boys and girls. The unisex quality makes it particularly versatile for modern families.