NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Canan

A feminine name meaning "rose flower" in Turkish.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Canan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Canan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3998, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 6 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1998 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Canan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2002 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Canan ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 6 girls were registered as Canan.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Canan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3998

2001

Births in 2001

3

Latest year

Peak year

1998

6 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Canan mean?

The name Canan has its origins in the Turkish language, where it is a variant of the more common name Canan. The name itself is derived from the Persian word "cân," which means "life" or "soul." It is believed to have been introduced to the Turkish culture during the Ottoman Empire's reign, which lasted from the 13th to the early 20th century.

In Turkish culture, the name Canan is traditionally associated with beauty, grace, and charm. It is often given to girls as a way to express a wish for them to have a vibrant and joyful life. The name has been in use for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures throughout history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Canan can be found in the works of the renowned 13th-century Persian poet, Rumi. In his poetry, Rumi often used the name Canan as a symbolic representation of the divine beloved or the soul's longing for spiritual union.

In the 16th century, Canan was the name of a famous Ottoman princess, the daughter of Sultan Selim II. She was known for her intelligence, artistic talents, and philanthropic endeavors, and her name became associated with cultural refinement and nobility.

Another prominent figure who bore the name Canan was Canan Arifoglu (1917-1999), a Turkish painter and writer. She was a pioneering figure in the modern art scene of Turkey and was renowned for her vivid and expressive paintings that captured the essence of Turkish culture.

In the world of literature, Canan Tan (1936-2011) was a celebrated Turkish novelist and short story writer. Her works explored themes of love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships, and she was widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Turkish literature.

The name Canan has also been borne by several notable figures in the field of music. Canan Ergüder (1938-2013) was a renowned Turkish singer and actress, known for her powerful vocals and captivating stage presence. She was a beloved cultural icon in Turkey and helped to popularize Turkish folk music on a global scale.

While the name Canan has its roots in Turkish and Persian cultures, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Turkish or Middle Eastern communities. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its beautiful meaning and rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Canan over time

The chart below shows babies named Canan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Canan, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2001, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Canan
02356199819992001

Decades

Canan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Canan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2000s #3998 3 1
1990s #2407 6 1

Related

Names similar to Canan

FAQ

Canan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Canan in the UK right now?

In 2001, Canan was ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Canan most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 6 babies registered as Canan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Canan?

A feminine name meaning "rose flower" in Turkish.

How many people are called Canan in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Canan across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.