Canaan
Canaan is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Lowlands or land of purple.
Origin and history
Canaan is a biblical place name referring to the ancient region in the Levant, often translated as 'land of purple' or 'lowlands'. It gained usage in the United States as a given name due to traditional biblical naming practices. In recent years, it has maintained steady moderate popularity as a distinct male name.
Popularity in the United States
5,843 babies in the United States have been named Canaan since 1880. It ranks #1584 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #936.
States where it is most popular
- TX (12.1 %)
- TN (9.2 %)
- NC (8.2 %)
- GA (7.8 %)
- CA (7.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 82 |
| 1980-1990 | 217 |
| 1990-2000 | 635 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,257 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,346 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,306 |
Famous people named Canaan
- Canaan Smith: Singer, Songwriter
- Canaan Severin: American football player
Fun facts
- The name originates from the Hebrew word Kena'an, associated with the ancient Canaanite civilization known for trading purple dyes.
- Canaan belongs to a popular trend of using historic biblical locations as personal given names.