UK boy's name
Cris
A diminutive of Christopher, ultimately from the Greek name Χριστοφόρος meaning "bearer of Christ".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cris is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cris popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2007 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Cris. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cris ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 boys were registered as Cris.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cris as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Cris mean?
The name Cris has its origins in the Latin language and is derived from the name Christianus, which means "a Christian" or "follower of Christ." The name Christianus itself is rooted in the Greek word "Christos," meaning "anointed one," which refers to Jesus Christ.
The name Cris emerged as a shortened form of the name Christianus during the Middle Ages in various European regions with strong Christian traditions. It was particularly common in areas where Latin was widely used, such as Italy, Spain, and France.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cris can be found in the writings of the 12th-century Italian philosopher and theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas, who mentions a person named "Cris" in his works.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Cris. One of the most famous was Cris Velasco (1923-2014), a renowned Mexican painter and muralist known for his vibrant depictions of indigenous Mexican culture and traditions.
Another notable figure was Cris Aravan (1892-1973), a Romanian poet and journalist who played a significant role in the cultural and literary movements of his time. His poetry explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience.
In the world of sports, Cris Carter (born 1965) is a former American football player who had a successful career in the National Football League (NFL) and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
Cris Villongas (1955-1995) was a prominent Filipino human rights activist and journalist who fought against the oppressive regime of Ferdinand Marcos. He was killed for his activism and became a symbol of resistance against injustice.
Lastly, Cris Kabongo (born 1992) is a professional basketball player from the Democratic Republic of Congo who has played in various leagues around the world, including the NBA G League and leagues in France and Greece.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Cris throughout history, highlighting its diverse cultural and geographical roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cris over time
The chart below shows babies named Cris registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cris, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cris by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cris was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4383 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Cris
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Cris: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cris in the UK right now?
In 2020, Cris was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cris most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Cris in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cris?
A diminutive of Christopher, ultimately from the Greek name Χριστοφόρος meaning "bearer of Christ".
How many people are called Cris in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Cris across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.