Christopher is a male given name of English origin. It means "bearer of Christ" and is composed of the elements "Christos," which is Greek for "Christ," and "ferō," which is Latin for "to bear, to carry." The name Christopher has been popular throughout history, particularly in the Middle Ages when it was used by several European monarchs. It was also the name of one of the Twelve Apostles in the New Testament of the Bible. Today, Christopher remains a popular choice for parents looking for a strong and meaningful name for their sons. Some famous bearers of the name include Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer who discovered America; Christopher Reeve, the American actor known for playing Superman; and Christopher Nolan, the British film director responsible for films such as "Inception" and "The Dark Knight Trilogy.
The given statistics illustrate the popularity of the name Christopher over several years in the United States during the late 20th century. The data shows that there were periods where the name was quite popular, and others where it was less so.
From 1958 to 1961, the name Christopher was fairly uncommon, with only five babies named Christopher each year. However, from 1968 to 1972, its popularity began to rise significantly, with a peak of nine births in 1972. This period saw an increase in the number of parents choosing this name for their newborn sons.
After a slight dip between 1973 and 1975 (with only eight births in 1975), the popularity of the name Christopher remained consistent throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, with an average of six births per year during these decades.
Overall, according to the provided statistics, a total of 88 babies were named Christopher in the United States from 1958 to 1987. This demonstrates that while the name's popularity fluctuated over time, it remained a common choice for parents throughout this period.