New Zealand is choosing a new government in a national election that concludes Saturday. But one outcome is already known: The next prime minister will be a man named Chris.

The leaders of the nation's two biggest political parties bear that name. Center-right National is helmed by Christopher Luxon , who has been prime minister since the 2023 election, when his party ousted center-left Labour , led by Chris Hipkins .

Both leaders in the “battle of the Chrises” are, according to most opinion polls, fairly unpopular with voters.

The ascension of political Chrises is linked to the popularity of the name Christopher for New Zealand children until the mid-1980s, peaking in 1968 when nearly 800 babies were given the name, according to government data.…