Christina
/krɪˈstiːnə/
noun
Origin
Latin
Christianus — Christian; follower of Christ
Overview
Meaning Now
- A female given name derived from the Latin term for a follower of Christ.
Literal older meaning
follower of Christ; anointed one
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Late Latin/Ecclesiastical Latin → English
Earliest form
Christina
Earliest period
Middle Ages
Journey
The name gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Christina of Bolsena, a 3rd-century martyr. It represents a common practice of feminizing masculine Latin religious names to denote piety.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
Χριστός
“Anointed one”
The basis for the Christian term.
- Late Latin
Christianus
“Follower of Christ”
Adjectival form denoting adherence to the religion.
- Medieval Latin
Christina
“Christian woman”
Feminized form of Christianus.
- Early Modern English
Christina
“Female given name”
Became popular through saints' names.
Connections
Word parts
Christ-
root
Christ
-ina
suffix
feminine diminutive or characteristic
Related across languages
French
Christine
Female given name
German
Female given name
Explore next
Related to Christina
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.