How Many People Are Named Christopher?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Christopher

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 79,277 living people in the United States currently have the first name Christopher. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 169,883 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #32 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~79,277CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)169,883Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#32U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1947 (3,755 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~79,277
Historical Births (SSA)
169,883
All-Time Rank
#32
Historical Peak
1947

Key Insights for Christopher

Estimated Living Bearers
~79,277 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#32
Top 100 All-Time Classic
Historical Peak Year
1947
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
8% Male · 92% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-15%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~9,910 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Christopher

Living Population Model
~79,277

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
169,883

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
150,000

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
64.7 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1947

Highest annual total: 3,755 registrations in 1947.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-15%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Christopher has experienced a 15% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Christopher (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1947 (~3,755 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201014014
201113013
201212012
201311011
201410010
2015909
2016808
2017808
2018808
2019707
2020707
2021707
2022707
2023707
2024606

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
91/100
1960s
62/100
1970s
32/100
1980s
12/100
1990s
3/100
2000s
1/100
2010s
1/100
2020s
1/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Christopher has been predominantly feminine (92% female vs 8% male).

Male: 8% (~13,532 births)Female: 92% (~156,351 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Christopher

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Christopher in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Christopher appeared 150,000 times, ranking #80 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
150,000 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#80
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Christopher Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~9,910 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~9,91012.5%
Texas (TX)~7,2939.2%
Florida (FL)~5,3916.8%
New York (NY)~4,8366.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~3,1714%
Illinois (IL)~3,0923.9%
Ohio (OH)~2,8543.6%
Georgia (GA)~2,6163.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 79,277 people named Christopher are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 64.7 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Christopher: 64.7 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Popular Full-Name Combinations for Christopher

Estimated frequency of common first-name + surname combinations:

Frequently Asked Questions About Christopher

How many people in the U.S. are named Christopher?

Approximately 79,277 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Christopher. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 169,883 birth applications for Christopher between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Christopher?

Christopher ranks #32 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This puts Christopher among the 100 most common first names in American history.

When was the name Christopher most popular in America?

The name Christopher reached its peak historical popularity in 1947, when 3,755 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Christopher?

Christopher has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Christopher?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Christopher has been predominantly feminine (92% female vs 8% male).

Where is the name Christopher most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Christopher resides in California, with approximately 9,910 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Christopher in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Christopher appeared 150,000 times in census returns, ranking #80 in official 2020 returns.

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