Kanye
Kanye is a Yoruba, Igbo and Swahili name. In Yoruba culture, the name means "next in line". In Igbo culture, the name means "let's give". The name or word Kanye can also be derived from Bantu languages indigenous to the Swahili people of Eastern Africa, meaning "only one".
Meaning & Origin of Kanye
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kanye is a Yoruba, Igbo and Swahili name. In Yoruba culture, the name means "next in line". In Igbo culture, the name means "let's give". The name or word Kanye can also be derived from Bantu languages indigenous to the Swahili people of Eastern Africa, meaning "only one".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Kanye
Kanye first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2002, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 509 Kanyes were born — ranking #486 that year. As of 2026, Kanye ranks #5,498 for baby boys with 17 births, rising sharply (+48% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Kanyes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Kanye
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Kanye West (officially known as Ye, born 1977), American rapper, singer, musician, record producer.
- Kanye Udoh (born 2002), American football running back for the Arizona State Sun Devils .
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Kanye
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kanye 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 Kanye
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About the name Kanye
Kanye is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2002 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Kanye's peak popularity came in 2004 when it ranked #486. Use the chart and map above to compare Kanye's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2004 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.