Canon Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Canon' has Greek origins, meaning 'rule' or 'measuring stick'. It evolved through Latin and Old French into modern English. The term is associated with authority, particularly in religious contexts, and has biblical significance as it refers to the accepted texts of scripture. Its historical usage rose with the establishment of Christian texts, and variants include 'Cannon' and 'Kanon'. Today, it carries connotations of established norms and is linked to notable figures in religious history.
The name Canon is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Canon has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Canon' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8553rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4682nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1702nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1602nd out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 22630th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 28314th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 24576th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Canon' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Canon"
Pronunciation
/ˈkænən/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The word 'Canon' originates from the Greek word 'kanon', meaning 'rule' or 'measuring stick'. It was later adopted into Latin and Old French before entering English.
Meaning
a general rule, law, principle, or criterion
Language Evolution
Greek: κανών (kanon), Latin: canon, Old French: canon, Middle English: canon, Modern English: canon
Biblical Background
Canon refers to the collection of books accepted as genuine scripture, particularly in Christian contexts.
Historical Usage
The term gained popularity during the early Christian church as it was used to denote the authoritative texts of the Bible.
Variants & Derivatives
Cannon, Kanon
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, 'Canon' often refers to its use in literature and media as well as its association with established rules or accepted standards.
Famous People
Canon Andrew White, known as the 'Vicar of Baghdad', Canon John McCullough, a notable figure in the Church of England
Explore More Canon Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Canon"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Canon"
"Canon" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8553rd of 10718 | 14 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4682nd of 16616 | 159 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1702nd of 24088 | 1,263 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1602nd of 23106 | 1,251 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 22630th of 27321 | 11 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 28314th of 35406 | 13 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 24576th of 30306 | 12 |
Regional Popularity of "Canon" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
47.95% 2197th/4582 |
76.12% 3931st/5164 |
20.32% 1486th/7313 |
22.27% 1662nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
68.05% 2711th/3984 |
63.67% 2857th/4487 |
21.39% 1459th/6822 |
26.72% 1677th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Canon" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Canon"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Canon" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.