UK boy's name
Kriss
An alternate spelling of the English name Chris, derived from Christopher meaning "Christ-bearer".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kriss is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kriss popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 37 living people in the UK are called Kriss. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kriss ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 boys were registered as Kriss.
- • Kriss ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2008.
- • About 37 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kriss as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
37
2026
Meaning
What does Kriss mean?
The name Kriss is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic tribes that inhabited the Scandinavian regions during the Viking Age, between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "kriss," which means "curl" or "twist," likely referring to a person with curly or twisted hair.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kriss can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of historical narratives from the 13th and 14th centuries. In the Saga of the Greenlanders, there is a character named Kriss Sölvason, who is described as a skilled navigator and explorer. This suggests that the name was in use among the Norse people during the Viking era.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kriss. One of the most famous was Kriss Kringle, a legendary figure associated with the Christmas tradition in many parts of Europe and North America. While the exact origins of this figure are unclear, the name Kriss Kringle has been used to refer to Santa Claus or Father Christmas since at least the 17th century.
Another notable Kriss was Kriss Kardell (1879-1964), a Swedish artist and illustrator who was celebrated for his woodcut prints and book illustrations. He is particularly known for his depictions of Swedish folklore and rural life.
In the realm of sports, Kriss Akabusi (born 1958) is a former British track and field athlete who won a gold medal in the 4x400 meter relay at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics. He is also known for his philanthropic work and advocacy for youth education.
Kriss Reveille (born 1986) is an American model and television personality who gained fame as the winner of the reality show "The Amazing Race" in 2009. She has since appeared in various television shows and worked as a host and correspondent.
Finally, Kriss Donald (1986-2004) was a Scottish teenager who was tragically murdered in a racially motivated attack in Glasgow, Scotland. His case received widespread attention and sparked discussions about racial intolerance and hate crimes in the United Kingdom.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kriss over time
The chart below shows babies named Kriss registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kriss, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kriss by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kriss 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3085 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2882 | 6 | 2 |
Geography
Where Kriss is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kriss. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Kriss ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2008.
Across the UK
Kriss in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#638 in 2008
7 years of NRS records, 23 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kriss
-
Kriss Donald
student
British student (1988–2004)
1988-2004
-
Kriss Akabusi
television presenter; athletics competitor
British athlete
1958-
-
Kriss Ellis-Stansfield
actor; film director; film producer
British actor, producer and director
Related
Names similar to Kriss
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kriss: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kriss in the UK right now?
In 2013, Kriss was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kriss most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Kriss in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kriss?
An alternate spelling of the English name Chris, derived from Christopher meaning "Christ-bearer".
How many people are called Kriss in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Kriss across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 23 more in Scotland.
Where is Kriss most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kriss ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #638 in 2008. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.