Kannan: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	12	1	–	#9,063
2000s	71	7	+492%	#6,633
2010s	147	15	+107%	#4,054
2020s (to 2025)	115	19	+30%	#4,280

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

#9,063

2000s

+492%

#6,633

2010s

147

+107%

#4,054

2020s (to 2025)

115

+30%

#4,280

The story of Kannan

Kannan is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,499 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1998, 345 American babies have been named Kannan. Its peak came in 2018, when 26 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 Kannan stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Kannan?

The median living Kannan is about 8 years old; half are between 4 and 15. An estimated 300 people named Kannan are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Kannan year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	17	#5,499
2024	13	#6,642
2023	25	#4,280
2022	22	#4,625
2021	22	#4,558
2020	16	#5,574
2019	22	#4,559
2018	26	#4,054
2017	20	#4,844
2016	20	#4,864
2015	15	#5,873
2014	11	#7,294
2013	7	#10,197
2012	5	#13,246
2011	11	#7,244
2010	10	#7,866
2009	13	#6,633
2008	6	#11,824
2007	9	#8,576
2006	9	#8,390
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	9	#7,549
2002	6	#10,048
2001	10	#6,712
2000	9	#7,112
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Kannan, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Kannan?

The median living Kannan is about 8 years old. Half of all living Kannans are between 4 and 15 years old.

How many people named Kannan are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Kannan are alive in the United States, based on 345 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Kannan mean?

Transliteration of Tamil கண்ணன் (kaṇṇaṉ) and Malayalam കണ്ണൻ (kaṇṇaṉ).

How popular is the name Kannan in 2025?

Kannan ranked #5,499 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Kannan?

345 babies have been named Kannan in the United States since 1998, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kannan most popular?

Kannan peaked in 2018, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Kannan a boy or girl name?

Kannan is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Kannan rising or falling?

Kannan is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Kannan

Kannan popularity over time

The story of Kannan

How old are people named Kannan?

Kannan year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Kannan