Kristof

Meaning of Kristof

Kristof, a masculine forename, derives etymologically from the Greek compound Christophoros (from christos “anointed” + pherein “to bear”) and constitutes a regional variant of Christopher attested most prominently in Hungarian and select Central and Northern European onomastic traditions. In Hungarian phonology it is realized as /krihstof/, marked by a voiceless plosive onset, a reduced mid‐central vowel in the first syllable, and a terminal voiceless labiodental fricative, reflecting minimal orthographic and phonemic divergence from its proto‐form. Semantically, Kristof retains the literal sense of “bearer of Christ,” invoking its historical association with Saint Christopher, patron saint of travelers, and by extension implying connotations of guardianship and purposeful transit. Within the United States, Social Security Administration birth‐registration data confirm its status as relatively uncommon: the highest reported occurrence is seventeen newborns in 2001 (ranked 809th), with six occurrences in 2024 (ranked 918th), a pattern that underscores its technical precision and distinctive appeal in contemporary Anglo‐American naming conventions.