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

Popularity of Candace by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Candace is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Candace being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 54 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Candace.

The history of the first name Candace

The name Candace has its origins in ancient Greek, tracing back to the Greco-Macedonian conquests of the 4th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "Kandake", which was the title given to the female rulers of the ancient Nubian kingdom of Kush, located in what is now modern-day Sudan. The name is believed to have meant "Queen" or "Royal Woman".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Candace can be found in the biblical book of Acts, which mentions a Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians. This reference dates back to the 1st century AD and suggests that the name was used by the ruling class of the Nubian kingdoms at that time.

In the Middle Ages, the name Candace fell out of popular use in most parts of the world. However, it resurfaced in the 16th century, when it was adopted by some English and Scottish families, likely inspired by the biblical reference.

The first notable bearer of the name Candace in modern times was Candace Parker (born 1986), an American professional basketball player who won two Olympic gold medals and was named the WNBA's Most Valuable Player in 2008 and 2013.

Another famous Candace was Candace Bushnell (born 1958), the American author best known for her novel "Sex and the City", which was later adapted into a popular television series and movies.

In the realm of politics, Candace Owens (born 1989) is a prominent African American conservative commentator and activist, known for her criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement and her support for former President Donald Trump.

Candace Cameron Bure (born 1976) is an American actress, producer, and author, best known for her role as D.J. Tanner on the sitcom "Full House" and its sequel series "Fuller House".

Finally, Candace Parker (born 1991) is an American singer-songwriter and actress, who gained recognition for her role as Amber Moore on the Disney Channel series "A.N.T. Farm".

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 Candace was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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