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Home › Baby Names Directory › Canon

Canon

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAN-ohn /ˈkæn.oʊn/Medium

Meaning: CanonMedium

In 30 seconds: Canon is an English word name, taken straight from the vocabulary term rather than from a traditional given name.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningCanon
U.S. rank (2025)#2211 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births64 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,751

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201919712025

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

The data here gives only the word itself as the meaning, so the honest account is that Canon is used as a name for its English-word associations. The word can suggest a church official, an established body of accepted works, or a rule or standard. Without further verified etymology in the record, there is little more to claim about it as a personal name.

Canon has a firm, single-stress sound that fits the run of modern surname-style and word names given to boys. There are no recorded variations or nicknames in this record.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Canon is 'canon', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name - Canon — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Canon…

Cannon— the double-'n' spelling that reads as the same word name aloud
Carson— matches the crisp, two-syllable English word-and-surname feel
Camden— another contemporary boy's name with the same hard-C opening
Cashton— shares the -on ending
Camron— shares the -on ending

Explore names like Canon

By themeenglish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Canon mean?

Canon is usually explained as meaning 'canon' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Canon?

It's commonly said KAN-ohn /ˈkæn.oʊn/.

Is Canon a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Canon is used as a boy name.

How popular is Canon?

In 2024, Canon ranked #1916 in the U.S. for boys, with 82 births recorded.

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