"If Jesus was a common Jewish name in the first century, Christ certainly was not. In fact, Christ isn't even a name (as if Jesus inherited it from His parents, Joseph and Mary Christ). Christ is a title, or more accurately, the title. Many of us are so used to putting 'Jesus' next to 'Christ' that we scarecely know what we are saying. But first-century Jews would have known. 'Christ' means annointed; it is simply the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word 'Messiah.'

That's why there is so much discussion in the Gospels about 'the Christ,' where He comes from and what He is like and whose Son He will be. Peter's confession, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Matt. 16:16), was so momentous because Peter was sating what was far from obvious to everyone else; namely, that this wonder-working son of a carpenter, this teacher who ate with sinners, this man who said such strange and powerful things, was the long-awaited Messiah - the bringer of a new kingdom, the deliverer of God's people, and the savior of the world." Kevin DeYoung. The Good News We Almost Forgot. 67.

Question 31 - Why is He called "Christ," meaning "anointed"?

Answer - Because He has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of His body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by His Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom He has won for us.

Question 32 - But why are you called a Christian?

Answer - Because by faith I am a member of Christ and so I share in His anointing. I am anointed to confess His name, to present myself to Him as a living sacrifice of thanks, to strive with a good conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and afterwards to reign with Christ over all creation for all eternity.