Canek

♂ Boy

Pronounced kah-NEK

Meaning: serpent star; black serpent (can = serpent or sky, ek' = star or black) — royal title of the Itza Maya kings of Petén

In 30 seconds: Itza Maya royal title combining can (serpent or sky) and ek' (star or black) — borne by every king of the last independent Maya state until Spain conquered it in 1697.

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Origin Maya

Meaningserpent star; black serpent (can = serpent or sky, ek' = star or black) — royal title of the Itza Maya kings of Petén

U.S. rank (2024)#12599 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 61

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kan Ek' (Canek) was the dynastic title of all Itza Maya kings who ruled from Nojpetén on Lake Petén Itzá in present-day Guatemala. The Itza maintained the last independent Maya state, finally conquered by Spain only in 1697. In Classic Maya, can means serpent or sky and ek' means star or black, yielding readings of "serpent star," "black serpent," or "sky star" — all linguistically valid. A second bearer, Jacinto Canek, claimed Itza royal descent in 1761 and led a rebellion in Yucatán before his execution that December.

Did you know? Kan Ek' was the dynastic title of every Itza Maya king at Nojpetén, attested in hieroglyphic inscriptions from at least 766 CE — making it one of the longest-documented Maya royal names.

Kan Ek' — Wikipedia — Documents the Itza dynastic title, its dual lineage structure, and hieroglyphic attestation from 766 CEJacinto Canek — Wikipedia — Documents the 1761 Yucatec rebel who adopted the name claiming Itza royal descent

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Frequently Asked

What does Canek mean?

Canek combines the Maya elements can (serpent or sky) and ek' (star or black). Valid translations include serpent star, black serpent, and sky star — all grounded in documented Maya vocabulary.

How do you pronounce Canek?

kah-NEK — two syllables, stress on the second. The Classic Maya form Kan Ek' includes a glottal stop after the k.

What culture is Canek from?

Canek is an Itza Maya name from the Petén region of present-day Guatemala. The Itza were the last pre-Columbian Maya state, conquered by Spain in 1697.

Is Canek a boy or girl name?

Canek is a masculine name — it was the title of Itza kings, all male rulers.