Boy · #10,889 in 2026

Kanish

Kültepe, also known under its ancient name Kaneš or Neša (Nesha), is an archaeological site in Kayseri Province, Turkey. It was already a major settlement at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, but it is world-renowned for its significance at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC.

Current Rank
#10,889
Peak Rank
#10,716 (2014)
Total Babies
17
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2012
First Year
2024
Last Year
2014
Peak Year
#10716
Peak Rank
17
Total Count
3
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kanish

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Kültepe, also known under its ancient name Kaneš or Neša (Nesha), is an archaeological site in Kayseri Province, Turkey. It was already a major settlement at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, but it is world-renowned for its significance at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Kültepe is located about 20 km northeast from the modern city Kayseri . Its ancient name is recorded in Assyrian and Hittite sources. In Assyrian inscriptions from the 20th and the 19th century BC, the city was mentioned as Kaneš (also transcribed as Kanesh); in later Hittite inscriptions, the city was mentioned as Neša (sometimes transcribed as Nesha, Nessa or Nesa. Neša derives from [Ka]neša). The site is divided into two main areas: the circular mound (tepe, höyük) and the lower town to its northeast. The mound was inhabited (with discontinuity) from the Early Bronze Age through the Roman E

The Story of Kanish

Kanish first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2012, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2014, when 6 Kanishs were born — ranking #10,716 that year. As of 2026, Kanish ranks #10,889 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 17 Kanishs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Kanish

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kanish is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Ganesh
  • Coinage
  • Commish
  • Canis
  • Clannish
  • Comish
  • Kanis
  • Komisch
  • Caniche
  • Janish
  • Hanisch
  • Cana

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kanish

What does the name Kanish mean?
Kültepe, also known under its ancient name Kaneš or Neša (Nesha), is an archaeological site in Kayseri Province, Turkey. It was already a major settlement at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, but it is world-renowned for its significance at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC.
How popular is Kanish in 2026?
In 2026, Kanish ranks #10,889 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Kanish most popular?
Kanish reached its peak popularity in 2014, ranking #10,716 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Kanish a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kanish is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kanish?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kanish include Johon, Destery, Daniyel. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Johon
Peak #10716
👦
Destery
Peak #10716
👦
Daniyel
Peak #10716
👦
Eton
Peak #10716
👦
Dalian
Peak #10716
👦
Haaheo
Peak #10716
👦
Brentson
Peak #10716
👦
Farouq
Peak #10716

About the name Kanish

Kanish is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2012 and has accumulated 17 births in the dataset. Kanish's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #10,716. Use the chart and map above to compare Kanish's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.