Canaan
Canaan: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkeɪnən/ · /ˈkeɪneɪən/
Meaning and origin of Canaan
- A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.
Etymology
Taken (at least as early as Wycliffe's Bible, 1382-1395, which has Chanaan) from Ecclesiastical Latin Chanaān, from Ancient Greek Χαναάν (Khanaán), expanded from Χνᾶ (Khnâ), from Biblical Hebrew כְּנַעַן (kanáʕan). The first vowel shifted from /aː/ to /eɪ/ in the Great Vowel Shift; at least as early as Milton (1660s), the word could already be pronounced with two syllables, though at least as late as the 1880s it could also be pronounced with three, /ˈkeɪ.nə.æn/.
How popular is Canaan?
Since 1880, 324 girls and 5,843 boys in the U.S. have been named Canaan (5% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #6701 in 2010. Its highest rank for boys was #671 in 2016. In 2025, 218 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Canaan
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Canaan
Sister and brother names that share Canaan's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Canaan FAQ
What does the name Canaan mean?
A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin. Taken (at least as early as Wycliffe's Bible, 1382-1395, which has Chanaan) from Ecclesiastical Latin Chanaān, from Ancient Greek Χαναάν (Khanaán), expanded from Χνᾶ (Khnâ), from Biblical Hebrew כְּנַעַן (kanáʕan). The first vowel shifted from /aː/ to /eɪ/ in the Great Vowel Shift; at least as early as Milton (1660s), the word could already be pronounced with two syllables, though at least as late as the 1880s it could also be pronounced with three, /ˈkeɪ.nə.æn/.
What is the origin of the name Canaan?
Canaan is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Canaan?
Since 1880, 324 girls and 5,843 boys in the U.S. have been named Canaan (5% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #6701 in 2010. Its highest rank for boys was #671 in 2016. In 2025, 218 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Canaan a boy or girl name?
Canaan is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 324 girls and 5,843 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.