Christian
Boy name · #96 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Christian? In official American birth records, Christian has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 3,641 baby boys were named Christian, placing it at #96 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #43, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 494 boys born in 2025 was named Christian.
The 145-year story
Christian first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 43 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 16,059 boys were named Christian — good for #22 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Christian per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Christian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Christian in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Christian is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Christian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Christian is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Christian is most common in DE (4.4 per 1,000), MS (4.2 per 1,000), CT (3.8 per 1,000), RI (3.5 per 1,000), TX (3.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Christian is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Christian
Statistically, parents drawn to Christian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cristian, Ian, Adrian, Cameron, and Damian.
CristianIanAdrianCameronDamianJordanNathanDylan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Christian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,641 | #96 |
| 2024 | 4,272 | #77 |
| 2023 | 4,158 | #77 |
| 2022 | 4,486 | #73 |
| 2021 | 4,636 | #71 |
| 2020 | 5,104 | #62 |
| 2019 | 5,781 | #57 |
| 2018 | 6,582 | #54 |
| 2017 | 7,025 | #52 |
| 2016 | 7,674 | #46 |
| 2015 | 8,220 | #43 |
| 2014 | 8,480 | #42 |
| 2013 | 9,352 | #35 |
| 2012 | 9,640 | #33 |
| 2011 | 10,334 | #30 |
| 2010 | 11,110 | #29 |
| 2009 | 12,657 | #23 |
| 2008 | 13,069 | #23 |
| 2007 | 14,063 | #22 |
| 2006 | 14,487 | #21 |
| 2005 | 14,210 | #22 |
| 2004 | 13,926 | #24 |
| 2003 | 13,908 | #25 |
| 2002 | 14,597 | #24 |
| 2001 | 15,457 | #24 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Christian?
In official American birth records, the name Christian first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 43 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Christian a popular boy name?
Christian ranked #96 among boys in 2025 with 3,641 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #43.
When was the name Christian most popular?
Christian peaked in 2000, when 16,059 American boys received the name (ranked #22 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Christian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 494 newborn American boys was named Christian. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.