Kano

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAH-noh /ˈkɑ.noʊ/Medium

Meaning: Variously a Japanese surname (a noted school of painters), a Nigerian place-name (the city of Kano), and a modern coinage; no single fixed root; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A Japanese surname; a Nigerian place; a modern name: Kano. Crisp, modern, and warm (said 'KAH-noh').

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Origin LowJapanese, American

MeaningVariously a Japanese surname (a noted school of painters), a Nigerian place-name (the city of Kano), and a modern coinage; no single fixed root; routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#7472 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births11 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 222

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

Kano is variously a Japanese surname (the Kano school of painters), a Nigerian place-name (the city of Kano), and a modern coinage (no single fixed root; routes layered, which we note). A crisp, modern name (said 'KAH-noh').

In the U.S. it registers thinly. Rare, a-surname-and-a-place at the root, and modern.

Did you know? Kano is variously a Japanese surname (a noted school of painters), a Nigerian place-name (the city of Kano), and a modern coinage — a crisp, modern name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'KAH-noh').

Overall data confidence 32%

References — Kano — place/surname; routes layered

Variations

KannoKanoh

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Kano…

Kenji— a fellow Japanese boys' name

Kane— a sound-neighbor K- boys' name

Reno— echoes that soft -no sound

Kiano— lands in the same popularity range

Kaito— shares Kano's Japanese roots

Explore names like Kano

By themeuncertain place-name japanese

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kano mean?

Kano is variously a Japanese surname, a Nigerian place-name, and a modern coinage; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Kano?

It's said KAH-noh /ˈkɑ.noʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kano a boy or girl name?

Kano is a boy's name.

How popular is Kano?

Kano is a very rare name in the U.S.