New Post
Search
HelpHow did Chris/Kris become strictly a boy's name in recent years?
Prior to the 1970s, the name Chris was equally used for both boys (Christopher) and girls (Christine/Christina) while Kris was predominantly a girl's name (Kristin/Kristina/Kristine) but since the 1970s, the vast majority of Chrises/Krises are men due in large part of the rise in Chrissy/Christy?Krissy/Kristi. Thoughts?
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I think strictly isn't accurate at all. I'm a Kristina "Kris" born in the 80s. Actually, I have plenty of nn but I prefer Kris.
I think in my experience, Christopher and Christian were so popular, along with Christina and Kristina, that the girls in my school, me included, just tried to find a name that no one else was using. And the boys had Chris covered. So Tina, Christa, Krissy, Christie, etc. were popular.
I'm not so sure how much the generation today likes masculine nn on girls. Most who like more masculine names will probably choose a boy's name or surname over a feminine name with a masculine nn. Just a thought.
I think in my experience, Christopher and Christian were so popular, along with Christina and Kristina, that the girls in my school, me included, just tried to find a name that no one else was using. And the boys had Chris covered. So Tina, Christa, Krissy, Christie, etc. were popular.
I'm not so sure how much the generation today likes masculine nn on girls. Most who like more masculine names will probably choose a boy's name or surname over a feminine name with a masculine nn. Just a thought.
1
I have a girlfriend - a friend that haps to be a girl - who is formally Kristen - who usually goes by Kris. I play with her name - constantly. She loves it - and affirms & re-affirms that she loves when I do this.
1
My mom's name is Christine (born 1950) and some people call her Chris, but usually Christine. I think she went by Chris a lot more in high school. I had a great aunt Christina (born 1924) who went by Teenie.
I currently have three friends named Christine. One (34) goes by Chris, one (52) goes by Chrisie (not a typo, just a dumb spelling that her mother gave her when she was a baby), and one (30ish) goes by Chrissy. I work with a Christina (25-35 years old, not sure) who goes by Christina or Tina.
I do assume "male" when I just hear the name Chris or read it spelled that way, though. If I saw Kris written, I would be more likely to assume female, I think.
I currently have three friends named Christine. One (34) goes by Chris, one (52) goes by Chrisie (not a typo, just a dumb spelling that her mother gave her when she was a baby), and one (30ish) goes by Chrissy. I work with a Christina (25-35 years old, not sure) who goes by Christina or Tina.
I do assume "male" when I just hear the name Chris or read it spelled that way, though. If I saw Kris written, I would be more likely to assume female, I think.
1
Maybe as a nickname, Chris was about as frequent for both genders in the 70s - but we don't have numbers on nicknames.
I think the continued maleness of Chris isn't because of Chris-girlnames. It's just a continuation of how it's been for more than a century, as far as I can see. It's male Kris, and maybe Kristian and Kristoffer, that was influenced by the K spellings of feminine names.
I think the continued maleness of Chris isn't because of Chris-girlnames. It's just a continuation of how it's been for more than a century, as far as I can see. It's male Kris, and maybe Kristian and Kristoffer, that was influenced by the K spellings of feminine names.
This message was edited 11/3/2018, 8:37 PM
1
Christopher and Christian are still popular names for boys (both are still in the top 100) while Christina / Kristina are out of date. Girls named Christina may still go by Chris, I wouldn't call it "strictly" a boy's name. But there are significantly less of them than there were in the 70s and 80s.
Christina + it's various spellings were a trend and Christopher/Christian could be argued as classics, so "Chris" becomes a classic nickname for boys.
Christina + it's various spellings were a trend and Christopher/Christian could be argued as classics, so "Chris" becomes a classic nickname for boys.
This message was edited 11/3/2018, 4:36 PM
1
Chris names for girls had a massive drop in popularity in the mid seventies in general. I would say the opposite has been my experience, I find women called Christy or Chrissie are older than the girls called Chris.
1