Canaan
How to say it: KAY-nun · /ˈkeɪnən/
Biblical place name; ancient Hebrew name for the Promised Land region, possibly meaning 'lowland' or 'land of purple dye'.
Canaan was the 568th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 212 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to slip to #608 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #568 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 212 |
| Share of births | 1 in 6,849 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −4% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #608 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 0 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Almost all Canaan use falls in recent decades, peaking in the 2020s. Holding that peak now, it is expected to slip.
What goes with it
Firm and resonant in two syllables, it carries biblical gravity. Zion shares that ground.
Nicknames
- Can
- Kane
Honouring a Canaan in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Canaan is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Canaan
- Canaan Banana (1936–2003)1st President of Zimbabwe
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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