Cauã

♂ Boy

Pronounced kah-OO-ah

Meaning: hawk, falcon

In 30 seconds: Old Tupi name from kaûã meaning hawk or falcon — a popular given name in Brazil today, rooted in the Tupi people's reverence for birds of prey.

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Origin Tupi

Meaninghawk, falcon

U.S. rank (2023)#12543 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2006

Total births (all-time)≈ 11

History & Origin

Cauã derives from Old Tupi kaûã, the word for hawk or falcon, used by the Tupi people of coastal Brazil during the 16th–18th centuries. Old Tupi (Tupinambá) was one of the most widely spoken coastal languages of Brazil and formed the basis of the colonial trade language Língua Geral. In Tupi culture, birds of prey embodied keen vision, swiftness, and strength. Cauã remains a living masculine given name in Brazil and ranked 17th among the most popular male names nationally in 2010, reflecting the strong resurgence of Indigenous naming traditions in contemporary Brazilian culture.

Did you know? Cauã is the etymological doublet of acauã, the Tupi name for the Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) — the same root with a prefix dropped over centuries of use.

Cauã — Wiktionary (Old Tupi kaûã) — Confirms etymology from Old Tupi kaûã = hawk/falcon; doublet of acauã (Laughing Falcon)Cauã — Behind the Name — Confirms Old Tupi origin, meaning hawk/falcon, and 2010 Brazilian popularity ranking

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If you like Cauã…

Guaraci— Old Tupi name meaning sun — another widely used Tupi given name in Brazil from the same cultural tradition

Jandaia— Tupi bird name — the jandaia parakeet — from the same coastal Brazilian Indigenous tradition

Juriti— Old Tupi name meaning turtledove, from the same bird-name tradition

Iracema— Old Tupi name meaning lips of honey, from the same Tupinambá linguistic heritage

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Frequently Asked

What does Cauã mean?

Cauã comes from the Old Tupi word kaûã, meaning hawk or falcon. It shares its root with acauã, the Tupi name for the Laughing Falcon, a native Brazilian bird.

How do you pronounce Cauã?

kow-AHN — two syllables, with a nasal final vowel (the ã). The tilde is important to the pronunciation.

Is Cauã a popular name?

Yes — Cauã is a popular masculine given name in Brazil, ranking 17th nationally in 2010 as part of a broader resurgence of Indigenous Tupi names.

Is Cauã a boy or girl name?

Cauã is traditionally a masculine name in Brazilian usage.