Canyon
A canyon, gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency to cut through underlying surfaces, eventually wearing away rock layers as sediments are removed downstream.
Meaning & Origin of Canyon
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A canyon, gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency to cut through underlying surfaces, eventually wearing away rock layers as sediments are removed downstream.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Canyon
As a girl name
Canyon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1996, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2015, when 18 Canyons were born — ranking #6,720 that year. As of 2026, Canyon ranks #8,688 for girls with 10 births, holding steady (+0%). In total, more than 270 Canyons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Canyon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1972, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 167 Canyons were born — ranking #1,175 that year. As of 2026, Canyon ranks #1,410 for boys with 132 births, gradually rising (+7%). In total, more than 4K Canyons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Where is Canyon most common?
Predicted country distribution based on naming patterns globally.
- United States47%
- Malaysia19%
- Thailand15%
- Israel11%
- New Zealand9%
Source: Nationalize.io . Probabilities are global naming-pattern estimates, not strict counts.
Names that sound like Canyon
Phonetically similar names — useful when Canyon is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Canyon
What does the name Canyon mean?
How popular is Canyon in 2026?
When was Canyon most popular?
In which U.S. states is Canyon most popular?
Is Canyon a unisex name?
What names go well with Canyon?
About the name Canyon
Canyon is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1972 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Canyon's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #1,001. Use the chart and map above to compare Canyon's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.