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

Nickname For: Christian and Christopher

Popularity: The name Kris ranked 634th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

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.

Meaning: Its source is Christiana, a Latin name meaning "Christ's follower."

Languages: This girl's name is used in German and English.

Nickname For: Kristen and Kristina

Compound Forms: Krisandra and Krislynn

Popularity: The name Kris ranked 833rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: The influence of religion on names is evident throughout the world. For example, it is a tenet of Islam that the best names either refer to attributes of Allah or are derived from hamida, an Arabic word meaning ''praise.'' Names used on the Indian subcontinent often refer to the deities of Hinduism.

Though Christiana's direct refererence to Christianity is exceptional, names with ties to the West's predominant religion are far from unusual. Many Hebrew-derived names reflect Christianity's Jewish heritage. Greek- and Latin-derived names witness the church's early development in the Mediterranean basin. Finally, many Germanic and Gaelic names honor saints who spread Christianity throughout northern Europe.