Canon
Boy name · #2214 in 2025 · Uniqueness 86/100
Canon is currently the #2214 boy name in the United States — 64 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1767, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,125 boys born in 2025 was named Canon.
The 54-year story
Canon first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 129 boys were named Canon — good for #1380 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Canon per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Canon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Canon in class?
Canon scores 86 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Canon will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Canon is most common
Geography matters for names, and Canon is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Canons were TX (10), CA (6), AL (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Canon
Statistically, parents drawn to Canon tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cannon, Kanon, Gannon, Canyon, and Avion.
CannonKanonGannonCanyonAvionCaisonArionKylon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Canon | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | #2207 |
| 2024 | 82 | #1921 |
| 2023 | 86 | #1851 |
| 2022 | 112 | #1574 |
| 2021 | 98 | #1678 |
| 2020 | 114 | #1489 |
| 2019 | 129 | #1380 |
| 2018 | 115 | #1498 |
| 2017 | 113 | #1488 |
| 2016 | 89 | #1739 |
| 2015 | 86 | #1767 |
| 2014 | 127 | #1348 |
| 2013 | 100 | #1563 |
| 2012 | 117 | #1419 |
| 2011 | 120 | #1385 |
| 2010 | 108 | #1503 |
| 2009 | 106 | #1546 |
| 2008 | 109 | #1494 |
| 2007 | 99 | #1576 |
| 2006 | 104 | #1467 |
| 2005 | 87 | #1584 |
| 2004 | 79 | #1629 |
| 2003 | 79 | #1591 |
| 2002 | 61 | #1851 |
| 2001 | 36 | #2618 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Canon a popular boy name?
Canon ranked #2214 among boys in 2025 with 64 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1767.
When was the name Canon most popular?
Canon peaked in 2019, when 129 American boys received the name (ranked #1380 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Canon?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,125 newborn American boys was named Canon. It scores 86/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.