# Christopher

/ˈkɹɪstəfɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/christopher
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man or boy.

For teachers: A masculine given name, derived from the Greek name Christophoros.

- My friend Christopher usually asks people to call him Chris.
- Christopher is a traditional name that has remained popular in various forms across many European languages for centuries.

### 2. surname

noun · CEFR B2

a family name or last name.

For teachers: A surname of patronymic origin, derived from the given name of an ancestor.

- The author of the book is a woman named Sarah Christopher.
- The legal documents were signed by a Mr. Christopher, who represented the estate during the probate hearings.

## Examples

- My friend Christopher lives in London.
- The teacher called Christopher to the front of the room to collect his award.
- While the name Christopher remains a staple in many English-speaking countries, its popularity has fluctuated significantly across different decades and social classes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.