Christopher vs Mark
Christopher and Markcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2001, Christopher was ranked #36 and Mark #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2000, Christopher was ranked #44 and Mark #89 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #121 and Mark #99 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #127 and Mark #169 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #239 and Mark #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #204 and Mark #277 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #311 and Mark #286 among boys in Norway.
Christopher and Mark over time
Christopher and Mark appear together in 6 published lists, across 288 years of shared records. Christopher held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Mark in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Mark reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Christopher in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2024, Mark moved ahead of Christopher in Northern Ireland · Boys — #153 and #232 the year before became #239 and #177.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Christopher and Mark changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #239 and #177.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Christopher and Mark averaged 16.6 places apart, ending at #36 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Mark were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1952 to 2001, ending at #36 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys73 shared years, 1950–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Mark in 13.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Mark #211 in 1970.
The order changed in 2024: Mark moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #340 and #371; by 2024 that had become #444 and #265.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #311, Mark #286.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Mark in 58.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Mark #7 in 1974.
The order changed in 2023: Mark moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #90 and #121; by 2023 that had become #110 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #121, Mark #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1952–2001
Christopher held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Mark in 24.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Mark #2 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Christopher #36, Mark #90.
New Zealand · Boys46 shared years, 1954–2000
Christopher held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Mark in 23.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Mark #2 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Christopher #44, Mark #89.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mark in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #204, Mark #277.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Mark in 9.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Mark #12 in 1999.
The order changed in 2024: Mark moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #153 and #232; by 2024 that had become #239 and #177.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #239, Mark #177.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Christopher | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. | A form of the Latin name Marcus used in several languages. Saint Mark authored the second Gospel and is patron saint of Venice. |
| Origin | Greek | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | /ˈmɑɹk/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 58/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin, while Mark is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Mark.
- Christopher's recorded meaning differs from Mark's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Mark
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #362 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2001
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1960 (recorded 1952–2001).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys