Canon
Boy name · #2214 in 2025 · Very rare
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. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Canon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Canon in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Canon is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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
State-level data for Canon is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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.
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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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very 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.