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Christiaan

Christiaan is a masculine given name of Dutch origin. It is the Dutch form of Christian, from the Latin Christianus, meaning “a follower of Christ.” The given name ultimately derives from the Greek Khristianos.

In the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders), the name has been in use since the early modern period

Notable individuals named Christiaan include Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695), a Dutch physicist, mathematician, and astronomer who made

Variants and related forms include Christian (English) and Cristiano (Italian/Portuguese). The name is commonly shortened to

and
remains
part
of
the
traditional
repertoire
of
Dutch
names.
It
is
also
common
among
Afrikaans-speaking
communities
in
South
Africa,
reflecting
the
historical
influence
of
Dutch
settlers.
Today
it
continues
to
be
used,
with
varying
popularity
across
regions
and
generations.
significant
contributions
to
optics
and
the
study
of
Saturn’s
rings;
Christiaan
Barnard
(1922–2001),
a
South
African
cardiac
surgeon
who
led
the
first
successful
human
heart
transplant;
and
Christiaan
de
Wet
(1844–1922),
a
Boer
general
and
statesman
known
for
his
role
in
the
Second
Boer
War.
Chris
in
English-speaking
contexts.
As
a
Dutch
name,
Christiaan
is
primarily
used
in
the
Netherlands,
Flanders,
and
Afrikaans-speaking
communities,
where
it
continues
to
be
part
of
the
naming
tradition.