Meaning: Its source is Kristophoros, a Greek name meaning "Christ carrier."

This name is usually spelled with an accent -- Cristóbal.

Languages: This boy's name is used in Spanish.

Nicknames: Cristo

Popularity: The name Cristobal ranked 895th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 1095th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: According to Christian legend, St. Christopher carried the child Jesus across a river on his shoulders. This legend may have evolved from the name itself.

Some authorities intepret its meaning as ''Christ within'' -- that is, carried within the heart of the believer.