The name Kandace is derived from the ancient Greek name Κανδάκη (Kandake), which was the title given to the queen or queen mother of the ancient Nubian Kingdom of Kush, located in what is now Sudan. The Kandakes ruled over the powerful Kingdom of Kush from around the 4th century BC to the 4th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded Kandakes was Amanirenas, who ruled in the 1st century BC and led a rebellion against the invading Roman forces. She was a formidable military leader and is mentioned in ancient Roman historical accounts. Another notable Kandake was Amanishakheto, who ruled in the 1st century AD and is believed to have been the Kandake mentioned in the biblical Acts of the Apostles.

The name Kandace itself is a Hellenized version of the Nubian title Kadake or Kadeketan, which means "the royal woman" or "the mighty woman." It was adopted as a personal name after the fall of the Kingdom of Kush and the subsequent decline of the Kandake title.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kandace was Kandake, an Ethiopian queen who ruled in the 4th century AD and is mentioned in the ancient Greek text "The Ecclesiastical History" by Socrates Scholasticus.

Another notable Kandace was Kandace Holston Woodson (1875-1924), an African American teacher and activist who was one of the first female African American school principals in the United States.

Kandace Clyde (1885-1976) was an American vaudeville performer and actress who appeared in several early Hollywood films in the 1920s and 1930s.

Kandace Krueger (1932-2015) was an American television and stage actress, best known for her recurring role as Olympia Buchanan on the soap opera "One Life to Live."

Kandace Springs (born 1989) is a contemporary American jazz singer and songwriter who has released several acclaimed albums and has performed with notable artists like Gregory Porter and Ghostface Killah.