Kannan
Transliteration of Tamil கண்ணன் (kaṇṇaṉ) and Malayalam കണ്ണൻ (kaṇṇaṉ).
Every Kannan since 1998 — 345 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
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.