Christopher

A male given name from Ancient Greek.

Proper noun

  1. A male given name from Ancient Greek.
    • Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son, of Burtonheath; by birth a pedlar, by education a card-maker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? - c. 1590–1592 (date written), William...
    • - - - a baby, which also happened to fall due, was baptized "Paul" ( for the church ) "Christopher" ( because St. Christopher had to do with rivers and ferries ), the Rector strenuously resisting the parents' desire to...
    • A similar impulse sometimes accompanies my reading of the work of Christopher F. Rufo, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and one of the most gifted conservative polemicists of his generation. - 2023 February 10,...
  2. A surname originating as a patronymic.

Origin

From Late Latin Christophorus, from Koine Greek Χρῑστόφορος (Khrīstóphoros, “carrier of Christ”), from Ancient Greek Χριστός (Khristós, “Christ”) + φόρος (phóros, “carrier, bearer”), from φέρειν (phérein, “to carry, to bear”) + -ος (-os, “-er: forming agent nouns”), from the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the infant Jesus across a river.

Synonyms

Chip Chris Chrissy Christoph Christy Kit Topher

Related

Chip Kester Kit Kristopher

Derived

Chris Chrissy Christie Christoph Christopherson Saint Christopher Saint Christopher and Nevis Topher