Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Kanary

Kanary

♀ Girl

Pronounced kuh-NAIR-ee /kəˈnɛər.i/Medium

Meaning: A K-spelling of the word Canary. The bird is named for the Canary Islands, and the islands take their name from the Latin Canaria, 'of dogs' — from canis, 'dog' — after the large dogs Roman writers reported there. So the bird is named for an island named for dogs, which is worth knowing.Medium

In 30 seconds: A K-spelling of Canary — the songbird (said 'kuh-NAIR-ee'). The Canary Islands, oddly, were named for dogs.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumAmerican, Latin
MeaningA K-spelling of the word Canary. The bird is named for the Canary Islands, and the islands take their name from the Latin Canaria, 'of dogs' — from canis, 'dog' — after the large dogs Roman writers reported there. So the bird is named for an island named for dogs, which is worth knowing.
U.S. rank (2024)#16372 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 16

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202120202024

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

Kanary respells the word canary, a small yellow songbird named after the Canary Islands. Those islands are called Canaria in Latin, 'of dogs,' from canis — a name given for the big dogs said to live there, not for any bird. The name is a modern, playful word-name, and its route is a nice piece of history worth stating straight (said 'kuh-NAIR-ee').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S. Rare, bright, and unusual.

Did you know? Here is the twist: canaries are named after the Canary Islands, and the islands are named from the Latin canis, 'dog' — Roman writers described large dogs living there. So a bird name traces back, by a long road, to dogs.
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Kanary — Respelling of Canary; islands named from Latin canis, 'dog'

Variations

CanaryKanarieKanari

Nicknames

KannyNariKay

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kanary…

Wren— a like bird name
Lark— a like songbird pick
Birdie— a like bright bird-adjacent name
Dalery— lands in the same popularity range
Victory— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Kanary

By thememodernword-nameplayfulbird

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kanary mean?

Kanary respells Canary, the songbird — named for the Canary Islands, which in turn take their name from the Latin for 'dogs.'

How do you pronounce Kanary?

It's said kuh-NAIR-ee /kəˈnɛər.i/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Kanary a boy or girl name?

Kanary is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kanary?

Kanary is a very rare name for girls in the U.S.

💬 Ask Nia