Can
A unisex given name from Vietnamese.
Every Can since 1970 — 554 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Can
Can is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,276 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1970, 554 American babies have been named Can. Its peak came in 2018, when 30 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Can stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Can year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #7,276 |
| 2024 | 24 | #4,340 |
| 2023 | 20 | #4,908 |
| 2022 | 19 | #5,052 |
| 2021 | 16 | #5,600 |
| 2020 | 10 | #7,610 |
| 2019 | 27 | #3,908 |
| 2018 | 30 | #3,616 |
| 2017 | 24 | #4,243 |
| 2016 | 28 | #3,790 |
| 2015 | 19 | #4,913 |
| 2014 | 13 | #6,357 |
| 2013 | 11 | #7,107 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5,284 |
| 2011 | 18 | #5,008 |
| 2010 | 16 | #5,519 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8,403 |
| 2008 | 18 | #5,093 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8,284 |
| 2006 | 11 | #6,983 |
| 2005 | 9 | #7,725 |
| 2004 | 20 | #4,286 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6,317 |
| 2002 | 13 | #5,440 |
| 2001 | 12 | #5,723 |
| 2000 | 9 | #6,925 |
| 1995 | 8 | #6,478 |
| 1990 | 8 | #5,904 |
| 1985 | 5 | #6,667 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | 5 | #4,807 |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Can
- Can Yaman Actor · b. 1989
- Can Dündar Writer · b. 1961
- Can Bonomo Singer · b. 1987
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Can mean?
A unisex given name from Vietnamese.
How popular is the name Can in 2025?
Can ranked #7,276 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Can?
554 babies have been named Can in the United States since 1970, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Can most popular?
Can peaked in 2018, when 30 newborns received the name.
Is Can a boy or girl name?
Can is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Can rising or falling?
Can is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Can?
Well-known people named Can include Can Yaman (actor), Can Dündar (writer), Can Bonomo (singer).