A
masculine name from the
ecclesiastical Greek christos, "the
anointed" or "
Christ" +
pherein, "to
bear." It was later combined into the
ecclesiastical Greek Christophoros, which literally means "
bearing
Christ."
The name was popular among early Christians, conscious of the fact that they were metaphorically bearing Christ in their hearts. A later, over-literal interpretation of the name gave rise to the legend of a saint who actually bore the Christchild over a stream; he is regarded as the patron of travellers.