Back to explorer

entry

Christopher

/ˈkrɪstəfər/

A masculine name meaning “Christ-bearer”

From Greek, ultimately connected with Hebrew religious terminology christ (anointed one) + Greek phor (bearer).

noun
christ
Ancient Greek
AI-inferred
χριστός (khristós)
“Anointed”; a title for the Messiah
Latin
AI-inferred
Christus
Latin rendering of the Greek title
Old English
AI-inferred
crist
Early English form, attested by about 830
phor
Proto-Indo-European
Verified
*bher-
reconstructed
“To carry; bear,” including bearing children

from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry," also "to bear children." In medieval legend he was a giant (one of the rare...

Ancient Greek
AI-inferred
φέρειν (phérein)
“To carry, bear”
Ecclesiastical Greek
AI-inferred
-φόρος (-phóros)
“Bearer” or “carrier,” as in Χριστόφορος
Church Latin
AI-inferred
-phorus
Latinized form of the Greek bearer element
Combined
Χριστόφορος (Christóphoros)
Greek compound meaning “Christ-bearer”
Church Latin
AI-inferred
Christophorus
Latin form of the personal name
Medieval European languages
AI-inferred
Christopher
English form of a widespread Christian name
Modern English
AI-inferred
Christopher
Common masculine given name
Modern English
Christopher
“

Picture a medieval traveler pinning a small image of Christopher to his clothing before setting out on a dangerous road. The name literally promised a “Christ-bearer,” built from Greek Christós, “anointed,” and phérein, “to carry.” By the Middle Ages, legend recast Christopher as a gigantic but virtuous ferryman who carried travelers across a river—sometimes, famously, a child who grew heavier and heavier until the child revealed himself as Christ. Chaucer’s Yeoman is said to have worn a Christopher medallion, and such objects became protective travel charms. So the name is easy to remember: Christopher is not merely someone connected with Christ; he is, linguistically, the person carrying Christ across the river.

§