Christopher
Say it: KRIS-ta-fer
BoyMeans bearer of Christ11 letters3 syllables
#121
in Ireland (2025)
#126 with spellings combined
45
babies in 2025
#13
best rank (1990)
14,157
babies since 1964
Down 40
10-year rank change
Christopher through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45 | #126 |
| 2024 | 49 | #114 |
| 2023 | 52 | #114 |
| 2022 | 69 | #92 |
| 2021 | 54 | #119 |
| 2020 | 63 | #98 |
| 2019 | 83 | #86 |
| 2018 | 90 | #78 |
| 2017 | 78 | #92 |
| 2016 | 77 | #93 |
| 2015 | 87 | #86 |
| 2014 | 114 | #72 |
| 2013 | 112 | #71 |
| 2012 | 105 | #75 |
| 2011 | 117 | #69 |
| 2010 | 116 | #69 |
| 2009 | 143 | #61 |
| 2008 | 149 | #61 |
| 2007 | 130 | #61 |
| 2006 | 144 | #53 |
| 2005 | 132 | #60 |
| 2004 | 142 | #53 |
| 2003 | 138 | #46 |
| 2002 | 150 | #47 |
| 2001 | 174 | #42 |
| 2000 | 159 | #43 |
| 1999 | 186 | #40 |
| 1998 | 167 | #41 |
| 1997 | 293 | #30 |
| 1996 | 324 | #26 |
| 1995 | 342 | #23 |
| 1994 | 351 | #21 |
| 1993 | 377 | #18 |
| 1992 | 404 | #17 |
| 1991 | 421 | #18 |
| 1990 | 522 | #13 |
| 1989 | 475 | #16 |
| 1988 | 457 | #16 |
| 1987 | 457 | #17 |
| 1986 | 442 | #17 |
| 1985 | 424 | #18 |
| 1984 | 434 | #17 |
| 1983 | 430 | #23 |
| 1982 | 376 | #28 |
| 1981 | 276 | #40 |
| 1980 | 255 | #48 |
| 1979 | 249 | #44 |
| 1978 | 206 | #52 |
| 1977 | 225 | #46 |
| 1976 | 215 | #47 |
| 1975 | 223 | #46 |
| 1974 | 268 | #37 |
| 1973 | 251 | #39 |
| 1972 | 229 | #43 |
| 1971 | 268 | #34 |
| 1970 | 221 | #39 |
| 1969 | 243 | #33 |
| 1968 | 266 | #29 |
| 1967 | 269 | #30 |
| 1966 | 280 | #28 |
| 1965 | 270 | #28 |
| 1964 | 289 | #27 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Christopher mean?
Bearer of Christ
Greek Christophoros, from Christos (Christ) and pherein (to carry), through Latin.
Say it right
KRIStafer
The story of Christopher
Christopher comes from the Greek Christophoros, “carrier of Christ”, made from Christos and a verb meaning to carry. It reached English through Latin.
The name is best known through Saint Christopher, a martyr about whom very little is historically certain. Legend says he carried people across a river, and one night bore a child who turned out to be Christ. That story made him the patron of travellers, and Saint Christopher medals still hang in many cars. In Ireland the name is often shortened to Christy, as with the singer Christy Moore.
Christopher was a steady favourite in Ireland through the 1960s and 1970s and climbed higher in the 1980s. Its busiest year was 1990, when 522 boys got the name and it reached number 13. It has eased back since, to number 126 in 2025. In Northern Ireland it made the top 10 in 1998, in 10th place.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Christopher (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Christopher
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
ChristianNicholasTimothyJonathan
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
ChrisChristyKit
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher | 45 | 14,157 |
In Northern Ireland
#185 in 2025 with 11 babies. Best rank #10 (1998); 1,845 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.