Chris
Meaning: Its source is Kristophoros, a Greek name meaning "Christ carrier."
Origin: "Kristophoros."
Languages: This boy's name is used in Dutch and English.
Nickname For: Christian and Christopher
Popularity: The name Chris ranked 370th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 96th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.
Narrative: According to Christian legend, St. Christopher carried the child Jesus across a river on his shoulders. This legend may have evolved from the name itself.
Some authorities intepret its meaning as ''Christ within'' -- that is, carried within the heart of the believer.
Arts and Music
- Chris Isaak (born 1956)
American singer and songwriter.
- Musical guest on ''''Saturday Night Live'''' (see list of Musical Guests on ''Saturday Night Live'')
- 1991 MTV Networks award for best video by a male artist, for ''''Wicked Game'''' (see list of Winners of MTV Video Music Awards)
Miscellaneous
- Chris carter (born 1957)
Television writer and director
- 1998 gross earnings: $52 million (see list of Top-paid Stars)
Science and Philosophy
- Chris A. Hadfield (born 1959)
Canadian astronaut.
- Astronaut on Atlantis (1995) (see list of Spaceflight Veterans)
Sports
- Chris Antley
Jockey.
- 1991 Kentucky Derby winner (see list of Jockeys Who Have Won the Kentucky Derby)
- Chris Chambliss
Baseball player.
- 1971 American League Rookie of the Year (see list of American League Rookies of the Year)
- Chris Chelios
Hockey player.
- 1989, 1993, 1996 James Norris Memorial Trophy winner (see list of J. Norris Memorial Trophy Winners)
- Chris Dundee
- Member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (see list of Non-Participant inductees)
- Chris McCarron
Jockey.
- 1987, 1994 Kentucky Derby winner (see list of Jockeys Who Have Won the Kentucky Derby)
- Chris Sabo
Baseball player.
- 1988 National League Rookie of the Year (see list of National League Rookies of the Year)
- Chris Schenkel
- Member of the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame (see list of Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame)
- Member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
- Chris Webber
- 1993-94 National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year (see list of NBA Rookies of the Year)
- Chris Weinke
American Football Player
- 2000 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner (see list of Heisman Trophy Winners)
Stage and Screen
- Chris Bruno
- Actor on soap opera ''''All My Children'''' (see list of Performers on ''All My Children'')
- Chris
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Gregg Edelman (see list of Characters in the film Crimes and Misdemeanors)
- Chris Elliott (born 1960)
American director, producer, writer, actor, and comedian.
- A cast member on ''''Saturday Night Live,'''' from 1994-1995 (see list of Saturday Night Live)
- Chris Farley (born 1964)
American actor and comedian.
- A cast member on ''''Saturday Night Live,'''' from 1990-1995 (see list of Saturday Night Live)
- Chris Kattan
Actor, writer, and comedian.
- A current cast member on ''''Saturday Night Live'''' (see list of Saturday Night Live)
- Chris Marchette
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Andrew Williams (see list of Characters on ''Melrose Place'')
- Chris Mulkey
Actor.
- Portrayed Hank Jennings (see list of Actors on ''Twin Peaks'')
- Chris Rock (born 1966)
American writer, producer, actor, and comedian.
- A cast member on ''''Saturday Night Live,'''' from 1990-1993 (see list of Saturday Night Live)
- Chris Stevens
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by John Corbett (see list of Characters on ''Northern Exposure'')
The Literary World
- Chris Ison
- 1990 Pulitzer Prize winner for Investigative Reporting (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting)
- Chris Nell
Fictional character.
- A police officer in Stephen King''s novel Insomnia (see list of Characters in Insomnia)
Teasing Nicknames:
- Rye Crisp
- Cnrissy Pissy
- Chris-py
- Piss-topher
- Chris-mas
- Chris the Piss
Meaning: Its source is Christiana, a Latin name meaning "Christ's follower."
Origin: "Christiana."
Languages: This girl's name is used in English.
Popularity: The name Chris ranked 528th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.
Narrative: The influence of religion on names is evident throughout the world. For example, it is a tenet of Islam that the best names either refer to attributes of Allah or are derived from hamida, an Arabic word meaning ''praise.'' Names used on the Indian subcontinent often refer to the deities of Hinduism.
Though Christiana's direct refererence to Christianity is exceptional, names with ties to the West's predominant religion are far from unusual. Many Hebrew-derived names reflect Christianity's Jewish heritage. Greek- and Latin-derived names witness the church's early development in the Mediterranean basin. Finally, many Germanic and Gaelic names honor saints who spread Christianity throughout northern Europe.
Sports
- Chris Evert Lloyd
American tennis player.
- 1975-78, 1980, 1982 U.S. Open tennis champion (see list of U.S. Open Tennis Champions)
- 1974, 1976, 1981 Wimbledon tennis champion (see list of Wimbledon Tennis Champions)
- 1974-75, 1979-80, 1983, 1985-86 French Open tennis champion (see list of French Open Tennis Champions)
- 1982, 1984 Australian Open tennis champion (see list of Australian Open Tennis Champions)
- 1976 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year; the first woman to win the honor in a year when a male winner was not also named (see list of Sports Illustrated Sportsmen of the Year)
- 1974-75, 1977, 1980 Associated Press Athlete of the Year (see list of Associated Press Athletes of the Year)
- Chris O'Neil
The only unseeded player to win a women's Grand Slam tennis singles championship.
- 1978 Australian Open tennis champion (see list of Australian Open Tennis Champions)
The Literary World
- Chris Hargensen
Fictional character.
- Carrie''s classmate in Stephen King''s Carrie (see list of Characters in Carrie)
Teasing Nicknames:
- Rye Crisp
- Cnrissy Pissy
- Chris-py
