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Is Christopher boring?

45 replies

MyMN · Today 02:18

I've loved the name Christopher for years and am finally getting the chance to use it. Unfortunately, I saw one woman say that she knows 40 Christophers, Johns, etc. and would never consider using basic names like those for her own kids. (This was in a comment section where she was receiving criticism for naming her kids Rowdy, Arrow, and Dixie.) Seeing that discouraged me. I'm not someone who wants to give their child a super uncommon name. I actually like very traditional names, but I also don't want to pick a name that everyone will secretly be thinking is bland and boring.

OP posts:
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IsoldeWagner · Today 07:40

Paaseitjes · Today 07:35

It might be less bad these days, but my brother is never ever the only Chris in the room. Are you OK with him going through life known by his surname or Chris Initial? Is a nice name, but my brother chose something more unusual for his kids. My name is similar, but slightly less bad.

I teach 7 teenage boys called Alfie.
I teach multiples of Noah, Albie and Ollie.
I can't remember the last time we had a Christopher.

Paaseitjes · Today 07:46

IsoldeWagner · Today 07:40

I teach 7 teenage boys called Alfie.
I teach multiples of Noah, Albie and Ollie.
I can't remember the last time we had a Christopher.

The last round of Alfies are dead though. A baby born now will spend 10 years in the work place with all the dozens 90s Chris's, so will probably have the extra insult of being known as young Chris.

IsoldeWagner · Today 07:47

Paaseitjes · Today 07:46

The last round of Alfies are dead though. A baby born now will spend 10 years in the work place with all the dozens 90s Chris's, so will probably have the extra insult of being known as young Chris.

An insult? Strange way of looking at a nice name.

notthatoldchestnut · Today 07:53

I love it, but then, I have a Christopher so I would say that 🤣
I can also confirm there are no other Christopher’s in the school so I don’t think you need to worry about it being a common name used by multiple

Clockbook · Today 08:27

I really like Christopher and I don’t think it’s common at all amongst <18. I am however far less keen on Chris as a nickname. Kit is nice though if you could make it stick.

user1492757084 · Today 08:58

No, Christopher is handsome.

Eenameenadeeka · Today 09:34

I don't think so. I definitely don't think he'd be in a room full of them among his peers, my eldest is a teen and I don't think I've heard of a child named Christopher in any of his schooling or.any of my younger children either. I know lots my age but no children.

user2848502016 · Today 09:42

No it’s lovely, not boring.
I don’t know many young Christophers so I think it actually won’t seem super common for a baby

sesquipedalian · Today 09:53

OP, the person who knows loads of Christophers and Johns probably doesn’t know many young children called by those names. Apparently Christopher reached peak popularity in the eighties, but is now outside the top 100 names. Christopher is a lovely name, and he can be Chris or Kit - I wouldn’t hesitate.

Tillow4ever · Today 09:56

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · Today 07:05

Great name.

One of THE best boys names imo.
Christopher and Alexander are definitely top 5 names for me.

diff league to John / Peter/ Paul which are somewhat dullsville.

I also think its not commonly used anymore. Lots of Leo Harrison Freddie Oscar Archie etc... where i am

This made me chuckle - my eldest two are Christopher and Alexander! So I agree with you.

Gagamama2 · Today 09:57

Christopher is a beautiful name. I don’t think it is at all common for babies or younger children these days, I don’t know any little Christophers or Chris’.

It was very popular when I was at school (born early 80s). But as Chris. I don’t know anyone who used the full version Christopher which is much nicer IMO. So I’d be wary of that. If you weren’t keen on it being shortened to Chris then you could consider Christoph which reduces it by a syllable and makes it much less likely to be made into Chris

Spidey66 · Today 10:02

I like it and there are lots of nicknames for it.

Twasasurprise · Today 10:02

notthatoldchestnut · Today 07:53

I love it, but then, I have a Christopher so I would say that 🤣
I can also confirm there are no other Christopher’s in the school so I don’t think you need to worry about it being a common name used by multiple

Same here. In 3 schools from Yr R - Yr11, there has only been one other Christopher, who was several years above.

andana · Today 10:11

I like it, it’s a classic. He’s lots of options for nicknames too. A few of the names that used to be a bit more common are coming back which is nice - we’ve a baby Matthew (Mattie) and a Daniel (Danny) in our group of friends this year!

thornbury · Today 10:12

I think it's great. I went to school with several in the 70s/80s and I've also taught several myself.

ApricotTulip · Today 10:15

It's a good name. There won't be many of his age which is a positive.

PistachioTiramisu · Today 10:17

A lovely name - strong and masculine.

HipsterHighStreet · Today 10:20

sesquipedalian · Today 09:53

OP, the person who knows loads of Christophers and Johns probably doesn’t know many young children called by those names. Apparently Christopher reached peak popularity in the eighties, but is now outside the top 100 names. Christopher is a lovely name, and he can be Chris or Kit - I wouldn’t hesitate.

I would be willing to bet good money that that person has not even MET more than two Johns under the age of 5.

I feel sorry for Rowdy, who is going to spend his life being asked, cautiously, “Is that a family name?”

HippeePrincess · Today 10:27

It’s a bit 70’s and 80’s for me, I don’t think it’s stood the test of time for a classic name like say Alexander, William, George and Henry have.

CheeseWisely · Today 10:30

Nobody that named a child Rowdy gets to have an opinion on the names other people choose.

As it happens we know so many Christophers that DH and I joke that we won’t be accepting any more people in our life named Chris because it’s too confusing already, but they’re all in their 40s and upwards. I can’t remember the last time I met a young Christopher / Chris / Kit so it’s unlikely they’ll have tons in their peer group.

If you’ve loved it for years then use it OP, it’s a fine name.

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