christen
Americanverb (used with object)
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christens,
present (3rd person singular)
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christened,
past participle, past
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christening
present participle
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to receive into the Christian church by baptism; baptize.
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to give a name to at baptism.
They christened her Mary.
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to name and dedicate.
to christen a ship.
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to make use of for the first time.
verb
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to give a Christian name to in baptism as a sign of incorporation into a Christian Church
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another word for baptize
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to give a name to (anything), esp with some ceremony
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informal to use for the first time
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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christensimple
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christenssimple
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have christenedperfect
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has christenedperfect
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am christeningprogressive
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are christeningprogressive
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is christeningprogressive
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have been christeningperfect progressive
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has been christeningperfect progressive
Past
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christenedsimple
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had christenedperfect
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was christeningprogressive
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were christeningprogressive
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had been christeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of christen
before 900; Middle English cristenen, Old English cristnian, derivative of cristen Christian
Explanation
To christen a person is to name them, especially in a church baptism ceremony. Your parents may have christened you after a great-grandparent, giving you the same first name. Even if you were christened "Tom Smith" at birth, your friends might give you a nickname, christening you "Pickles" and referring to you that way for the rest of your life. Objects can be christened too: "I hereby christen this car Scooby Doo the Subaru!" When it happens as part of a religious ceremony, being christened means being officially admitted to a Christian church — and the word's Old English root literally means "make Christian."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
There is no reason to christen your freshly cleaned kitchen with a sink full of dishes.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026
Maris pulled similar stunts often enough for her family to christen them her “dance-abouts.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025
“It was way too soon to christen Arch Manning as a quarterback that could lead a team to a national championship,” Kanell added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025
These commitments are important, as they give Kennedy something to wad up and christen his wastebasket with when he steps into his new office.
From Slate ● Feb. 8, 2025
After breakfast I ran up to my room with the three younger boys on my heels debating what to christen our new charge.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Camus’ The Plague is set in Oran, and with this connection in mind he christens his new series of unflinching depictions of massacre.
From Slate ● Jun. 6, 2025
There are lighter modern flourishes too - the father in one family christens his van Beyoncé, smartphones play a big part in the plot, and the soundtrack features Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2024
At the end of the season Carmy, Sydney and Marcus reclaim the cannoli with a savory creation Marcus christens The Michael.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2023
David Zwirner christens its L.A. space with an exhibition from Njideka Akunyili Crosby, featuring new and recent works in the artist’s first solo exhibition with the gallery.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2023
The character doll is Baby Willy, and can never be anything else, unless imagination, exasperated and baffled, christens him Silly Billy in the moment of furious projection across the nursery floor.
From Wings and the Child or, the Building of Magic Cities by E. (Edith) Nesbit
He lists a particular genus of moths christened Eucosoma bobana followed by E. cocana, E. dodana, E. fofana and so on, in singalong fashion for 23 more variations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
While it is still being rented out regularly to tenants, 7 ½ West End Court has now been christened “The Born to Run House” by Springsteen’s fans.
From Salon ● Mar. 4, 2026
The newly christened John Williams Stage and the special Dudamel programming will pay tribute to two towering Bowl icons during a major moment of change for the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026
No wonder then, that he was christened 'The Beckham of the Baize'.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026
She was christened Mary Katherine, a name which has fallen more and more into disuse, as—for reasons best known to themselves—the Corcorans have chosen to give her the nickname “Bunny.”
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
They enact for their confused rescuer the story of the forgotten fairy at the christening, the curse and the spindle—and then go back to sleep.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Bitcoin had risen nine out of the previous 11 Octobers before this year, according to Dow Jones Market Data, leading to some bulls christening the month “Uptober.”
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
I’d recently treated myself to a deep red nonstick Bundt pan and this recipe became its christening.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2025
And pretty quickly thereafter, some slamming winter rains did their own kind of christening and Prospect Bar got washed away, to be replaced almost at once by the even more grandly named Eldoradoville.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2025
Our Cuban neighbor, Mrs. Ruiz, was hosting her large extended family in the yard next door after a Sunday christening.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
