Kandace

Meaning & origin

Kandace is a modern respelling of the biblical title Candace, which appeared in the New Testament as a designation for an Ethiopian queen. The name first entered U.S. birth records in 1945, but it was not until the 1960s and 1970s that the spelling with K saw consistent usage. The name's peak popularity came in 1988, when it achieved its highest rank of 1,808, reflecting a broader trend for names beginning with K during that era. Since 1989, however, its usage has steadily declined; as of 2025 it ranks 11,932, with a one-in-229,610 frequency among newborn girls. The top states for Kandace are not concentrated in any region, as the name has always been spread thinly across the country. Variants such as Candace and Candice have remained more common, but Kandace represents a distinctively American take on an ancient title.

Kandace is a modern respelling of Candace, a name of uncertain origin that became known through the New Testament as a title for queens of Ethiopia (Candace). The spelling with K emerged in the mid-20th century in the United States, likely influenced by the similar phonetic pattern of other K-starting names.