Find out how popular the first name Konan has been for the last 32 years (from 1992 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Konan by gender

Based on the last 32 years of data, Konan is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 18 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Konan.

The history of the first name Konan

The given name Konan has its origins in the Japanese language. The earliest recorded use of this name dates back to the late 6th century AD, during the Asuka period of ancient Japanese history.

Konan is derived from the Japanese words "ko" meaning "child" or "little" and "nan" meaning "patience" or "perseverance". Thus, the name Konan can be interpreted to mean "little patience" or "persevering child".

One of the earliest known historical figures with this name was Konan, a Japanese Buddhist monk who lived from 628 to 710 AD. He is credited with introducing the Buddhist teachings of the Hosso school to Japan.

Another notable figure was Konan, a Japanese waka poet who lived during the early Heian period in the 9th century AD. Her poems are included in the famous imperial anthology of Japanese poetry, the Kokinshu.

In the 12th century, there was a Japanese samurai warrior named Konan who served under the powerful Minamoto clan during the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans.

During the Edo period of Japanese history, from the 17th to 19th centuries, there was a Konan who was a renowned swordsmith and master of the Japanese sword-making tradition.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the name Konan was Konan Narahari Nayar, an Indian playwright, poet, and social reformer who lived from 1858 to 1917. He played a significant role in the renaissance of Malayalam literature and the social reform movements in the Indian state of Kerala.

While the name Konan has its roots in Japan, it has been used in various cultures and regions over the centuries, each with its unique interpretation and significance.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!