A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Canary since 1900
Babies named Canary per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Canary's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 32 |
| 1910s | 98 |
| 1920s | 108 |
| 1930s | 51 |
| 1940s | 38 |
| 1950s | 51 |
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 22 |
Meaning & origin
The name Canary is an avian-inspired rarity, first recorded in U.S. birth data in 1900, when it ranked 13,208th. It reached its peak popularity in 1901, possibly reflecting a brief Victorian interest in nature names. After decades of obscurity, the name has been gradually rising in usage since 2017, suggesting a modern revival of vintage and bird-related names. While Canary has no strong association with any particular state or region, its gentle sound and sunny imagery appeal to parents seeking an unusual, nature-connected name. The name continues to be exceedingly rare, with only a handful of bearers each year.
Canary is derived from the name of the Canary Islands, which comes from Latin 'Canariae Insulae' ('Islands of Dogs') due to the presence of large dogs. The bird was named after the islands, and the name has been used as a given name in English since the 19th century, likely inspired by the bird's cheerful color and song.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cana, Nary
Variants: Canarie
Sibling names for Canary
Names that share Canary's style, for a brother or sister.
