Christian
Boy name · #96 in 2025 · Uniqueness 50/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Christian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Christian in class?
Christian scores 50 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Christian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Christian is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Christians were TX (560), CA (508), FL (240), NY (188), GA (159). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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.
CristianIanAdrianCameronDamianJordanNathanFabian
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
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. It scores 50/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.