Canon
Boy name · #2214 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Canon? In official American birth records, Canon has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
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: Official national birth records.
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.
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
How old is the name Canon?
In official American birth records, the name Canon first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
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: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.