Christian
Say it: KRIS-chan/ˈkɹɪst͡ʃən/
BoyMeans follower of Christ9 letters2 syllables
#348
in Ireland (2025)
#336 with spellings combined
11
babies in 2025
#86
best rank (2007)
1,617
babies since 1968
Down 172
10-year rank change
Christian through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #336 |
| 2024 | 14 | #279 |
| 2023 | 15 | #280 |
| 2022 | 19 | #242 |
| 2021 | 18 | #249 |
| 2020 | 19 | #245 |
| 2019 | 23 | #220 |
| 2018 | 34 | #168 |
| 2017 | 30 | #195 |
| 2016 | 42 | #149 |
| 2015 | 38 | #164 |
| 2014 | 43 | #151 |
| 2013 | 32 | #192 |
| 2012 | 43 | #156 |
| 2011 | 61 | #121 |
| 2010 | 63 | #114 |
| 2009 | 78 | #97 |
| 2008 | 90 | #88 |
| 2007 | 81 | #86 |
| 2006 | 62 | #99 |
| 2005 | 69 | #92 |
| 2004 | 64 | #93 |
| 2003 | 53 | #103 |
| 2002 | 37 | #123 |
| 2001 | 36 | #126 |
| 2000 | 44 | #109 |
| 1999 | 30 | #128 |
| 1998 | 35 | #114 |
| 1997 | 27 | #143 |
| 1996 | 27 | #145 |
| 1995 | 23 | #147 |
| 1994 | 22 | #149 |
| 1993 | 17 | #173 |
| 1992 | 9 | #210 |
| 1991 | 10 | #201 |
| 1990 | 10 | #203 |
| 1989 | 4 | #278 |
| 1988 | 12 | #179 |
| 1987 | 5 | #249 |
| 1985 | 7 | #218 |
| 1984 | 6 | #234 |
| 1983 | 16 | #164 |
| 1982 | 10 | #205 |
| 1981 | 13 | #186 |
| 1980 | 23 | #146 |
| 1979 | 19 | #158 |
| 1978 | 21 | #154 |
| 1977 | 20 | #153 |
| 1976 | 20 | #154 |
| 1975 | 21 | #150 |
| 1974 | 29 | #128 |
| 1973 | 20 | #157 |
| 1972 | 19 | #151 |
| 1971 | 6 | #242 |
| 1970 | 7 | #219 |
| 1969 | 3 | #291 |
| 1968 | 7 | #197 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Christian mean?
Follower of Christ
From the Latin Christianus (a Christian), from the Greek Christos (Christ, the anointed one).
Say it right
KRISchan
The story of Christian
Christian comes from the Latin Christianus, meaning a follower of Christ, which in turn comes from the Greek Christos, “the anointed one”. It began as a baptismal name among Christians and has been used as a first name since the Middle Ages. It is especially at home in Scandinavia and Germany, and several kings of Denmark have been called Christian.
In English it also has a literary side: Christian is the pilgrim hero of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress.
In Ireland Christian first reached three babies a year in 1968. It was at its most popular in the 2000s, reaching number 86 in 2007, with its biggest year in 2008, when 90 boys were given the name. It has been much quieter since, with 11 boys in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best rank was number 119 in 2005.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Christian (English noun)
- Wikipedia: Christian (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
ChristopherSebastianGabrielNathan
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Chris
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Christian | 11 | 1,617 |
In Northern Ireland
#253 in 2025 with 7 babies. Best rank #119 (2005); 340 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.