The name "Chris" is often short for Christine, and in my case, "Christopher". It is derived from the Greek word "Christos," which means "anointed one" or "messiah". Christopher means "bearing Christ" or “follower of Christ” which is a reference from the story of Saint Christopher. According to Christian Legend, Saint Christopher carried the Christ child across a river (Whelehan, 2025). As a Christian myself, this religious association that my name has provides my name with a sense of importance and a stronger meaning than just a label, as I am very passionate about my faith. Because of this religious association with the name "Chris", it is at no surprise that many families, including mine, have chosen this name for generations, believing that it is both powerful and full of positive religious roots. Families, including mine, choose this name for their children hoping that they will follow a religious path in life, because of the name's history and meaning.

One thing I really like about my name is how common it is. I have multiple friends with the same name as me, which makes me feel a sense of community. For boys currently in 2025, the name Chris is the 774th most popular name in United States births, and for girls in 2025, Chris is the 7696th most popular name in United States births (Whelehan, 2025). Given this, my name is much more commonly used for boys, but I have also met multiple girls with my name as well, which helps me feel an even bigger sense of community within my name. According to My Name Stats, “This name is in the 99th percentile, this means that nearly 0% of all the first names are more popular.” (My Name Stats, n.d) This just goes to show how popular my name really is. Sharing a name with so many people is cool because it feels like I have a shared identity with everyone I meet named Chris, even with something as simple as the same name. 

In conclusion, my name "Chris" carries historical and religious roots, although it still remains a flexible and widely-used name in today’s society, for mostly boys but still girls. My name has not only shaped my personal identity but also has connected me to a larger global community. My name’s popularity highlights the ways in which names can evolve over time, and how names can have a deeper meaning than just a label. No matter what my name says on official documents, “Chris” will always be my name. 

Works Cited

Whelehan, Avril. "Chris - Baby Name Meaning." The Bump, 2025, www.thebump.com/b/chris-baby-name. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

"Chris – Baby Name Meaning." My Name Stats, www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/C/CH/CHRIS/index.html. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

DeBlock, Chris. Selfie of Your Name. 29 Jan. 2025. Author's personal collection.