Kris is a unisex name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Kris means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Kris across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Kris has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Kris is a unisex name of Greek origin meaning “follower of Christ”. A short form of Kristopher or Kristina.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 27,971 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 278 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 977 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 19 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 52 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Kris per year, United States (1937 to 2025). United States peaked in 1965 (1,387/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1981 (70/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (20/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1982 (5/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2008 (4/yr).
Kris has been a fairly common baby name in the United States. It was most common in 1965, when it ranked #408 nationally (given to 1,387 babies that year).
Chris · Karissa · Crissy · Cris · Krissy · Carisa · Karis · Karisa
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