UK boy's name
Cane
A masculine name derived from the Latin word "canna", meaning reed or cane.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cane is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cane popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2870, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 7 births.
This profile covers 37 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1997 to 2006. 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 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 37 living people in the UK are called Cane. 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 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cane ranked #2870 for boys in England and Wales in 2006, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 7 boys were registered as Cane.
- • About 37 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cane as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2870
2006
Births in 2006
5
Latest year
Peak year
1997
7 births
Estimated living
37
2026
Meaning
What does Cane mean?
The name Cane is of Latin origin, derived from the word "canna," which means "reed" or "cane." It is believed to have originated during the Roman era, possibly as a surname or nickname given to individuals who worked with reeds or lived near areas abundant with cane plants.
In ancient Rome, the name Cane may have been associated with the god Priapus, who was often depicted carrying a staff or cane made of reed. This connection could have contributed to the popularity of the name among Roman families.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cane can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a Roman soldier named Gaius Cane during his account of the Second Punic War (218-201 BC).
During the Middle Ages, the name Cane gained some popularity in certain regions of Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. It was often used as a diminutive form of the name Canasius or Canetius, which were derived from the Latin word "canna."
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Cane della Scala (1291-1329) ruled as the Lord of Verona, Italy. He was a prominent member of the Della Scala family and played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of his time.
Another historical figure bearing the name Cane was Cane Gusmano (1439-1503), an Italian jurist and legal scholar from Bologna. He was known for his contributions to the study of Roman law and authored several influential works on the subject.
In the realm of literature, the name Cane is associated with the Italian poet and writer Guido Cane (1824-1914), who was born in Piedmont. He is best known for his collection of poetic works titled "Poesie" (1886), which explored themes of nature and human emotions.
During the Renaissance period, the name Cane was occasionally used in artistic circles. One notable example is Cane da Pesaro (1459-1528), an Italian painter and architect from the Marche region, who was renowned for his frescoes and architectural designs.
While the name Cane has roots in ancient Roman culture, it has been adopted and used across various European regions over the centuries, appearing in historical records, literary works, and among notable figures from different eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cane over time
The chart below shows babies named Cane registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2006. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cane, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2006, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cane by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cane 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 | #2842 | 20 | 5 |
| 1990s | #1941 | 17 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Cane
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Cane: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cane in the UK right now?
In 2006, Cane was ranked #2870 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Cane most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 7 babies registered as Cane in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cane?
A masculine name derived from the Latin word "canna", meaning reed or cane.
How many people are called Cane in the UK?
A total of 37 babies have been registered as Cane across the 8 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.