Kris
“Bearer of Christ”
American origin · Unisex name
#3947US 2023
28Births / yr
↓Falling
27.7kAll-time births
📅 Since 194000.06% of births at peak
How to pronounce Kris
kris(english)
/kris(english)/ · · 1 syllable
“Bearer of Christ”
American origin · Unisex name
What does Kris mean and where does it come from?
Kris is a diminutive of the name Kristine or Kristine, relating to the Greek word 'Christos' meaning 'Christ'. Its use as a standalone name emerged during the 20th century. While commonly recognized as a male name, it has become popular for females as well, reflecting a trend for gender-neutral name
Cultural significance
Kris has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in American-speaking communities, where it reflects values of bearer of christ.
Peak popularity
Reached #277 in 1965 — currently #3947 in the US.
What middle names flow best with Kris?
Kris works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
Kris Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Kris Rose
Floral · soft ending
Kris Mae
Sweet · timeless
Kris Claire
French influence · crisp
Kris Jane
Literary · strong
Kris Skye
Modern · airy feel
How popular is Kris right now?
Falling — down 505 spots — currently #3947 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
The story of Kris
Kris entered American naming records in 1940 and has been in use for over 84 years. A total of 27,731 babies have received this name. Once ranked #3485 in 1940, the name has become less common in recent years, sitting at #3947 in 2023. Kris is used for both genders: 49% female and 51% male.
Names that peaked alongside Kris in 1965:
Kris by decade
| Decade | Births | |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 11 | |
| 1940s | 925 | |
| 1950s | 5,523 | |
| 1960s ★ | 11,309 | |
| 1970s | 5,692 | |
| 1980s | 1,644 | |
| 1990s | 881 | |
| 2000s | 866 | |
| 2010s | 803 | |
| 2020s | 77 |
What are good nicknames for Kris?
DUTCH
Tineke
ENGLISH
Kiki
NORWEGIAN
Kjersti
BULGARIAN
Kristiyan
What names sound and feel like Kris?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Kris also consider these
How is Kris written in other languages?
Gender variants of Kris
Kristiyan BULGARIANKristijan CROATIANKrsto CROATIANCarsten DANISHChristen DANISHChrister DANISHChristian DANISHKarsten DANISHKresten DANISHKristen DANISHKristian DANISHChris DUTCHChristiaan DUTCHChris ENGLISHChristian ENGLISHKristjan ESTONIANKristian FINNISHChristian FRENCHChristian GERMANKrisztián HUNGARIANKristján ICELANDICCristiano ITALIANChristianus LATE ROMANKristiāns LATVIANKristijonas LITHUANIANCarsten LOW GERMANKarsten LOW GERMANHristijan MACEDONIANKristijan MACEDONIANChristen NORWEGIANChristian NORWEGIANKarsten NORWEGIANKristen NORWEGIANKristian NORWEGIANKrystian POLISHKrystyn POLISHCristiano PORTUGUESECristi ROMANIANCristian ROMANIANKristijan SERBIANKristijan SLOVENEKristjan SLOVENECristián SPANISHChrister SWEDISHChristian SWEDISHKrister SWEDISHKristian SWEDISHKistiñe 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 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 THEOLOGYKistiñe 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 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 Kris
What does the name Kris mean?
Kris means "Bearer of Christ" — a name rooted in American 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 Kris?
Kris is currently a distinctive and less common name as a baby name in the US and is becoming rarer and more distinctive, making it a unique choice that stands out.
What is the cultural origin of Kris?
Kris originates from American tradition. American names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How does Kris sound with different last names?
As a one-syllable name, Kris flows best with last names of two or three syllables. Avoid last names ending in the same sound as Kris ends, as this can create an unwanted rhyme. Test by saying the full name out loud several times.
Is Kris a common or rare name?
Kris is a distinctive choice that balances familiarity with individuality. It strikes a balance between standing out and fitting in.
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