Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1982

Nicanor

Meaning From Ancient Greek Nικάνωρ (Nikánōr) Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

From Ancient Greek Nικάνωρ (Nikánōr)

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Nicanor
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1982
20 babies
All-time total
787
#5,962 all-time among boys
First recorded
1913
in Social Security records

Nicanor popularity over time

787 babies have been named Nicanor since 1913, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1981Boys

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 18 2 – #3,121
1920s 41 4 +128% #3,640
1930s 33 3 -20% #2,787
1940s 48 5 +45% #2,565
1950s 57 6 +19% #2,282
1960s 73 7 +28% #2,397
1970s 94 9 +29% #2,762
1980s 117 12 +24% #2,489
1990s 110 11 -6% #3,772
2000s 111 11 +1% #4,849
2010s 54 5 -51% #8,635
2020s (to 2025) 31 5 -4% #8,137

The story of Nicanor

Nicanor is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1913, 787 American babies have been named Nicanor. Its peak came in 1982, when 20 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Nicanor stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nicanor?

The median living Nicanor is about 37 years old; half are between 23 and 53. An estimated 600 people named Nicanor are alive in the United States today.

median 37 020406080100

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

Nicanor year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 7 #10,485
2022 10 #8,137
2021 8 #9,434
2020 6 #11,578
2019 – –
2018 7 #10,421
2017 9 #8,635
2016 8 #9,429
2015 6 #11,686
2014 8 #9,375
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 8 #9,361
2010 8 #9,418
2009 9 #8,790
2008 10 #8,113
2007 9 #8,711
2006 12 #6,783
2005 14 #5,793
2004 11 #6,843
2003 6 #10,491
2002 16 #4,849
2001 12 #5,916
2000 12 #5,808
1995 12 #5,026
1990 6 #7,814
1985 9 #4,581
1980 12 #3,553
1975 11 #3,373
1970 7 #4,111
1965 6 #3,810
1960 13 #2,397
1955 7 #3,410
1950 5 #4,044
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 7 #3,640
1920 5 #4,767
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Nicanor

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Nicanor Parra Nicanor Parra Chilean poet and physicist (1914–2018) Contemporary
  2. 2 Nicanor Duarte Nicanor Duarte President of Paraguay from 2003 to 2008 b. 1956 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Nicanor the Deacon Nicanor the Deacon Early Christian saint and one of the Seven Deacons 1–76 · Antiquity
  4. 4 Nicanor de Carvalho Brazilian football manager (1947–2018) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nicanor?

The median living Nicanor is about 37 years old. Half of all living Nicanors are between 23 and 53 years old.

How many people named Nicanor are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Nicanor are alive in the United States, based on 787 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Nicanor mean?

From Ancient Greek Nικάνωρ (Nikánōr)

How popular is the name Nicanor in 2025?

Nicanor did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Nicanor?

787 babies have been named Nicanor in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nicanor most popular?

Nicanor peaked in 1982, when 20 newborns received the name.

Is Nicanor a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nicanor rising or falling?

Nicanor is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Nicanor?

Well-known people named Nicanor include Nicanor Parra (writer), Nicanor Duarte (politician), Nicanor the Deacon (religious figure).

Names like Nicanor

Names that sound and feel close to Nicanor: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Nicanor with similar names → More names starting with N →