A male name. Latin Christianus ‘a Christian’. The name is found from about 1200, but has never been common in this country. See further under Christian, Christiana (f.).

A female name. f. of Latin christianus ‘christian’. The common noun and adjective christian are found in English only from the 16th C, after the Renaissance, the earlier word being the Old English christen. The name Christian, however, together with its Latin form Christiana (occ Christiania) are found from the end of the 12th C, and are rather commoner than Christine (q.v.) which is derived from the Old English christen. Promptorium Parvulorum 1450 gives Kyrstyan or Kristyan as the English for Christiana, and Kirsty is still used as a pet-name in Scotland. Christian was still common in the 17th C, but Christiana is now more usual, and Christine is commoner than either. The surnames Christian, Christie, Christy, Christison are among those derived from it. It is sometimes abbreviated to Chrissy or Chris.

Christiana Curia Regis Rolls 1199, Feudal Aids 1285, 1303, The Coventry Leet Book 1424. Cristiane Poll Tax of West Riding of Yorkshire 1379 1379. Christian The Coventry Leet Book 1424, Chester 1562.

(Now rarely, though originally, f). Direct from Latin Christianus, a follower of Christ, but certainly suggested, as a font-name, by Christian in its f. use: what with both Christian and Christina, the women were having it too much their own way! As m., it was rendered much more popular by being used for the hero of Bunyan’s great allegory.

A male and female name signifying a member of Christ.

Greek (masculine) - Follower of Christ.

Meaning: derivative of Christ (one like the anointed).

A Greek name, meaning: One who follows Christ's teachings.