khristos

Khristos, often seen as Christos in Latinized text, is the Greek form of the title and name associated with Jesus in Christian tradition. In Greek, the word Χριστός means “anointed one” and is used to denote the Messiah. In English-language texts, Jesus is usually called Jesus Christ, while Khristos/Christos appears in Greek-language materials and in transliterations that preserve the original sound.

Etymology and usage: Khristos derives from the Hebrew mashiach (messiah) via the Greek Χριστός. In the New Testament and early Christian writings, it functions as a title, identifying Jesus as the Anointed One. The form also lies at the root of several Greek personal names and appears in liturgical phrases across Greek-speaking Christian communities.

Modern usage: In addition to its religious sense, Khristos is a common given name in Greece and among Greek-speaking communities. Variants arise from transliteration or orthographic preferences, with Christos and Khristos representing the same underlying form in Greek.

See also: Christ (title), Christology, and Christos (name).