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:
To his exacting teen and preteen audience, “the Danish person,” as they disobligingly christen him, looks like the houseguest from hell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
There is no reason to christen your freshly cleaned kitchen with a sink full of dishes.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026
The Principality has rarely been the place for England to experiment or christen new talent.
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 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
“I christen thee Biggs, Biggs, Biggs Canal--” Spender was on his feet, over the fire, and alongside Biggs before anyone moved.
From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury
Mr. Marriott christens this era “the new Dark Ages,” but the amount of reading that he admits takes place negates his notion of a “post-literate” society.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
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
The editor of The Albion thus christens, while he translates, the following lively narrative, culled from the varied columns of the Courrier des Etats Unis.
From The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 2, January, 1851 by Various
The next day the men found “large footprints” outside their dwelling, in a gorge thereafter christened Ape Canyon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
As part of FIFA’s efforts to keep the focus on its partners, stadiums have been christened with neutral, location-specific names that show up even on Apple and Google Maps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
The hero was never named in the book, but the character was christened Harry Palmer for the film and played by Michael Caine.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 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 Enola Gay dropped its payload, the uranium bomb christened Little Boy.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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
Of course, race has played an equally important role in Davis’ work as gender, if christening herself after the activist Angela Davis when she was a teenager wasn’t enough of a clue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025
Known for her iconic one liners, Doris is well quoted by fans of the series - particularly when she refused to make the salad for Neil the Baby's christening.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2025
They took custody just after the baby was born, christening the little girl Sarah Frances Newby.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025
Thyon’s nickname, “the golden godson,” was with him from his christening, and perhaps it ordained his path.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
