Christoffer is a Scandinavian name of Norwegian origin. It is derived from the Old Norse name Kristófruson, which is composed of two elements: Kristr (meaning "Christ") and fróðr (meaning "wise"). Thus, Christoffer can be interpreted as meaning "bearing Christ" or "follower of Christ."
The name Christoffer has been popular in Scandinavia for centuries. According to historical records, it was already in use during the Viking Age (793-1066 AD). However, its popularity peaked in Norway during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Some notable figures with the name Christoffer include Christoffer Wilhelm Sigwardt (1754-1824), a Norwegian painter known for his portraits and landscapes, and Christoffer Moltke-Leth (1632-1690), a Danish military officer who played an important role in the Great Northern War.
Today, Christoffer remains a popular name in Norway and other Scandinavian countries. It is often shortened to Kristoffer or Kris, but it can also be spelled with various alternative spellings such as Kristofferus or Kristofferos.
The name Christoffer saw its popularity peak between the late 1970s and mid-1980s, with a significant jump from 13 births in 1976 to 24 in 1979. This trend continued into the early 1980s, reaching a high of 32 births in 1986. However, since then, the number of annual births with this name has been consistently low, with only five births reported in both 2016 and 2020. Overall, there were 728 children named Christoffer from 1968 to 2020.