The baby name Cannan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkænən/ (KAN-ən).
The baby name Cannan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkænən/ (KAN-ən).
Cannan is Gaelic, Hebrew, Irish, Tamil in Origin.
Cannan is a modern given name with layered origins. It can be seen as a streamlined variant of the Biblical place-name Canaan, from Hebrew Kena‘an, whose meaning is debated but often glossed as “lowland” or “merchant/trader.” It also reflects the transferred use of the Irish/Scottish surname Cannan, an anglicized form of Ó Canannáin, meaning “descendant of Canannán,” a medieval personal name of uncertain sense. The Ó Canannáin were notable chieftains in Tír Chonaill (modern Donegal), and the surname later produced forms like Cannon and Cannan.
As a first name, Cannan has gained traction in the late 20th and early 21st centuries in English-speaking countries, aligning with the trend for brisk, two-syllable, -n ending names and surname-as-given-name style. Related forms and variants include Canaan, Cannon, Canon, and Canan. Usage skews masculine, and the name carries both Biblical resonance and Gaelic heritage.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BW | Boys | 0 | #152 | 3 | 4,685 |
| MO | Boys | 0 | #233 | 2 | 5,842 |
| JO | Boys | 0 | #388 | 2 | 7,057 |
| CL | 0 | #434 | 1 | 6,867 | |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #565 | 1 | 10,162 |
| BO | Boys | 0 | #622 | 1 | 9,244 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #738 | 2 | 17,960 |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #888 | 5 | 7,044 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #981 | 1 | 15,656 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #998 | 4 | 16,906 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #1,033 | 1 | 16,355 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,164 | 15 | 25,619 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,182 | 1 | 25,439 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,234 | 3 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,252 | 3 | 19,440 |
Cannan is popular in 14 countries — most recent births per country:
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