Find out how popular the first name Canaan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Canaan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Canaan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Canaan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 190 male babies and 9 female babies born with the name Canaan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby girls were named Canaan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Canaan

The name Canaan has its origins in ancient Semitic languages, tracing back to the Hebrew language and biblical times. It is derived from the word "Kna'an" which means "to be humble" or "to bend down." The name was originally associated with the region known as Canaan, an ancient area situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.

In the Hebrew Bible, Canaan is mentioned as the son of Ham and grandson of Noah. The land of Canaan, also referred to as the Promised Land, was the region that God promised to Abraham and his descendants. The name appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, often referring to the inhabitants of the land and their customs.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Canaan was Canaan, the son of Ham and grandson of Noah, who is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. However, the first person in recorded history to bear the name as a personal name was likely Canaan, a Phoenician prince who lived around the 8th century BCE.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Canaan. One of the most prominent was Canaan ben David (1654-1712), a Jewish scholar and philosopher from Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey). He was known for his teachings on Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism.

Another notable figure was Canaan Banana (1936-2003), a Zimbabwean politician and revolutionary who served as the first President of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 after the country gained independence from Britain.

In the realm of literature, Canaan Morse (1801-1865) was an American author and editor who wrote several works on religion and philosophy, including "A New System of Geography" and "The Cerographic Bible."

Canaan Reilly (1825-1891) was an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who served as the first President of Holy Cross College (now the College of the Holy Cross) in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1865 to 1868.

Canaan Smith (born 1981) is a contemporary American country music singer and songwriter, known for hits such as "Love You Like That" and "Bronco."

While the name Canaan has biblical and ancient roots, it has remained a relatively uncommon name throughout history. However, its rich etymology and historical significance have contributed to its enduring presence as a given name across various cultures and time periods.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Canaan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Canaan, please contact us.

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