Declining since 2009, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Khris since 1957
Babies named Khris per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 16 | 0 |
| 1960s | 30 | 56 |
| 1970s | 0 | 15 |
| 1980s | 0 | 16 |
| 1990s | 0 | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 | 115 |
| 2010s | 0 | 98 |
| 2020s | 0 | 42 |
Meaning & origin
Khris is a modern, streamlined spelling of the classic nickname Chris. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1960, a time when creative respellings of common names were gaining popularity. The name reached its peak rank in 2008, when it was used more frequently than in later years. Since 2009, its usage has been declining, reflecting a broader shift away from modified versions of traditional names. Despite its low frequency (about 1 in 341,615 births in 2025), Khris remains a distinctive option for parents seeking an alternative to the standard Chris.
Khris is a modern respelling of Kris or Chris, ultimately derived from the Greek name Christophoros, meaning 'bearing Christ' or 'Christ-bearer'. The name Christopher has been in use since early Christianity, with Saint Christopher being a legendary third-century martyr. The variant Khris emerged in the United States in the mid-20th century as a creative spelling of the familiar nickname.
Sibling names for Khris
Names that share Khris's style, for a brother or sister.
