Kris
Boy name · #3197 in 2025 · Very rare
Kris is currently the #3197 boy name in the United States — 37 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2253, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 48,649 boys born in 2025 was named Kris.
The 88-year story
Kris first appears in the Social Security records in 1937, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1962, when 513 boys were named Kris — good for #346 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Kris per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kris against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kris in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kris is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kris will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kris is most common
State-level data for Kris is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kris
Statistically, parents drawn to Kris tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Boris, Kirk, Kerry, Kurt, and Dana.
BorisKirkKerryKurtDanaKenKentMarty
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kris | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | #3181 |
| 2024 | 32 | #3524 |
| 2023 | 28 | #3883 |
| 2022 | 34 | #3412 |
| 2021 | 59 | #2321 |
| 2020 | 65 | #2139 |
| 2019 | 83 | #1823 |
| 2018 | 73 | #1994 |
| 2017 | 74 | #1935 |
| 2016 | 57 | #2305 |
| 2015 | 59 | #2253 |
| 2014 | 63 | #2154 |
| 2013 | 60 | #2182 |
| 2012 | 72 | #1959 |
| 2011 | 55 | #2317 |
| 2010 | 50 | #2467 |
| 2009 | 102 | #1581 |
| 2008 | 80 | #1825 |
| 2007 | 82 | #1781 |
| 2006 | 87 | #1638 |
| 2005 | 73 | #1790 |
| 2004 | 63 | #1934 |
| 2003 | 59 | #1962 |
| 2002 | 72 | #1647 |
| 2001 | 74 | #1600 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kris a popular boy name?
Kris ranked #3197 among boys in 2025 with 37 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2253.
When was the name Kris most popular?
Kris peaked in 1962, when 513 American boys received the name (ranked #346 that year). Since 1962 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kris?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 48,649 newborn American boys was named Kris. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
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.