Cannen
A feminine name meaning "song" or "melody" of Irish origin.
Name Census estimates that about 197 living Americans carry the first name Cannen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cannen today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cannen births was 2015 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cannen. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
197
~ 1 in 1,739,870 Americans
Peak year
2015
18 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2022 SSA rank
#9,119
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Cannen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cannen from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 101 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cannen by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cannen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cannen
The name Cannen has its origins in ancient Celtic languages, specifically those spoken in regions of modern-day Ireland and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "cainnen," which means "fair-headed" or "fair-haired." This suggests that the name was originally bestowed upon individuals with light-colored hair, a trait valued by the Celts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. It mentions a figure named Cannen mac Tuathail, who lived in the 7th century AD and was a member of the Uí Máine clan. This early reference highlights the name's deep roots in Irish history and culture.
In the 9th century, a renowned Irish scholar and abbot named Cannen of Aghaboe lived and worked at the monastic settlement of Aghaboe in County Laois, Ireland. He was known for his extensive knowledge of religious texts and his contributions to the preservation of Irish literature and culture.
During the 11th century, a Scottish noble named Cannen of Strathbogie held significant landholdings in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His name appears in several historical records, indicating the name's use among the Scottish nobility during that period.
In the 13th century, a Welsh poet and bard named Cannen Llawgoch gained recognition for his poetic works, which celebrated the rich heritage and traditions of Welsh culture. His name is a testament to the name's presence in various Celtic regions.
Fast-forwarding to the 16th century, Cannen O'Malley, an Irish chieftain and seafarer, became renowned for his exploits on the high seas. He led a fleet of galleys and was known for his daring raids and naval battles against English and Spanish ships.
These examples illustrate the name's deep-rooted presence in Celtic cultures, spanning various regions and historical periods. While the name's popularity may have fluctuated over time, its enduring legacy serves as a reminder of the rich cultural tapestry woven by the ancient Celts.
People
Cannen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cannen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cannen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cannen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 197 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cannen going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,739,870 US residents.
Is Cannen a common name?
We classify Cannen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 199 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cannen most popular?
The single biggest year for Cannen was 2015, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cannen is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cannen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cannen in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.