A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Crist since 1914
Babies named Crist per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2000, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Crist's real moment was 1916.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 34 |
| 1920s | 59 |
| 1930s | 60 |
| 1940s | 53 |
| 1950s | 98 |
| 1960s | 97 |
| 1970s | 89 |
| 1980s | 68 |
| 1990s | 76 |
| 2000s | 97 |
| 2010s | 83 |
| 2020s | 52 |
Meaning & origin
Crist is a concise and strong name that emerged as a given name in the United States around 1914, reaching its peak popularity in 1916. After a long decline, it has been on a slow but steady upward trajectory since 1988. In 2025, Crist ranked 6,446 with a frequency of 1 in 131,390 male births, reflecting its rarity. The name is closely tied to the more common Christopher, yet it stands apart with a crisp, singular sound. Its trajectory suggests a modest revival, especially appealing to those seeking a short, traditional name with religious undertones.
Crist is typically a short form or variant of Christopher, derived from the Greek name Christophoros, composed of Christos (Christ) and phero (to bear). As an independent given name, its use in English-speaking countries can be traced to the early 20th century, often as a surname transferred to the forename slot or as a direct borrowing of the Spanish/Portuguese Cristo.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cris, Chris, Cristy
Sibling names for Crist
Names that share Crist's style, for a brother or sister.
