Christine

Christina, Christine (f) Gaelic Cairistiona. Feminine
forms of Christian, a name which has recently begun to
be fashionable again in English-speaking countries.
(Christian has been used for boys and girls in Scotland,
elsewhere it is usually male.)

Christina was the usual Scottish form of the name in the past, but this has now been overtaken by Christine. The form of the name popularised by John Bunyan in his Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) was Christiana, and this is also used occasionally in Scotland. Yet another form favoured by Scottish parents is the Scandinavian Kirsten, found also as Kirsteen, Kirstan, Kirstine, Kristin and Kristine. The pet forms Chris, Chrissie, Christy, Kirsty, Kirstie, Kris and
Kristy are occasionally given as independent names.

In the Orkneys Teenie is a diminutive form. Tina is more
generally used in Scotland. Of these forms, Christy
(Christie) may reflect the use of the Scottish surnames,
which relate to ancestors who were named Christian or
Cristinus. In R. L. Stevenson’s Weir of Hermiston occurs the passage: ‘Miss Kirstie,’ he began. ‘Miss Christina, if you please, Mr Weir,’ she interrupted. ‘I canna bear the contraction.’ ‘You forget it has a friendly sound for me.’

Both Christina and Christine were predominantly Scottish
and Irish names in the nineteenth century and the first
part of the present century. By 1950, however, Christine
had swept through the U.S.A. and Canada. It was also
the 3rd most frequently used girls’ name in England and Wales. Since that time both forms of the name have
been going out of fashion in Scotland and elsewhere,
while Christian as a boys’ name gains ground.

Return To Scottish Christian Names