Kristian

Kristian is a masculine given name, a variant of Christian. It derives from the Latin Christianus, meaning “follower of Christ.” The form Kristian is widely used in Northern and Central Europe and is common in Scandinavian languages, including Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, as well as in Finnish and Estonian contexts. In many languages the name appears with local spellings such as Christian, Kristjan, or Kristiano, reflecting regional pronunciation and orthography. Over time, Kristian has become established as a distinct given name in its own right.

Variants include Christian, Kristjan, and Kristiano, depending on language and tradition. The name is typically masculine, though feminine forms exist in some cultures through related names such as Kristiana or Kristine derived from Christian. In modern times, Kristian remains popular in many European countries and has been adopted in other regions through migration and cultural exchange. It is sometimes shortened to Kris as a nickname.

Notable people named Kristian include Kristian Kostov, a Bulgarian-Russian singer who represented Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017; Kristian Nairn, a Scottish actor and DJ known for portraying Hodor in Game of Thrones; Kristian Bush, an American musician and member of the country duo Sugarland; and Kristian Matsson, a Swedish singer-songwriter known for performing as The Tallest Man on Earth.