Christoffer – Name Meaning
The name Christoffer is a boy’s name of Scandinavian origin meaning “bearing Christ”. It is derived from the Greek name Christopher, which is composed of the elements Christos (Christ) and pherein (to bear). The name was popularized by the 4th century saint who carried Jesus across a river.
History and Origin
The name Christoffer has been in use since at least the Middle Ages. It was popularized by the 4th century saint Christopher, who was said to have carried Jesus across a river. The story of Saint Christopher became popular throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, and his name was adopted as a given name in many countries. In Scandinavia, it was spelled Kristoffer or Kristoffersen.
The name Christoffer has been used in Scandinavia since at least the 16th century. It is still quite popular in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark today. In Finland, it is spelled Kristoffer.
Popularity
Christoffer is a fairly popular name in Scandinavia. In Norway, it ranked as the 11th most popular male name in 2018. In Sweden, it ranked as the 15th most popular male name in 2019. In Denmark, it ranked as the 24th most popular male name in 2019.
In other parts of Europe, Christoffer is not as common. It does not appear on any of the top 100 lists for England and Wales or Scotland. However, it does appear on some of the top 100 lists for other European countries such as Austria and Switzerland.
Famous People Named Christoffer
There are several famous people named Christoffer, including:
- Christoffer Boe, Danish film director
- Christoffer Nelwan, Swedish actor
- Christoffer Svae, Norwegian footballer
Variations of the Name
The name Christoffer can be shortened to Chris or Christy. Other variations include: Cristofer, Kristofer, Kristofferson, Kristoforo, and Kristofersson.