Given name & surname · also Ethiopian
Candace
“a queen”·“one who is white and glowing”
Candace is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a queen” and “one who is white and glowing”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Original Ancient GreekΚανδάκη
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a queen” and “one who is white and glowing”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
How it developed
In English usage, Candace developed from Κανδάκη.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Candace appears in Acts 8:27.
From biblical name research
Candace through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 85,097
- 159 boys · 84,938 girls
- Most popular year
- 1982
- 2,859 babies
- 2025
- 50
- #3,173 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 50 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,173 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,848 in 1982. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 73,527 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Candace’s family of names
In English usage, Candace has an affectionate form in Candy. In English usage, Candace developed from the Ancient Greek form Κανδάκη. In English usage, Candace has a related form in Candice.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Candace
- Candace Cameron BureAmerican actress, producer, author, and talk show panelist, as well as star on "Full House" (born 1976)
- Candace OwensAmerican political commentator (born 1989)
- Candace BushnellAmerican authorborn 1958
- Candace ParkerAmerican basketball player (born 1986)
- Candace ChapmanCanadian soccer playerborn 1983
- Candace WheelerAmerican interior designer (1827–1923)
- Candace PertAmerican neuroscientist (1946-2013)
- Candace HillAmerican athletics competitorborn 1999
- Candace CrawfordCanadian alpine skierborn 1994
Characters named Candace: Candace Flynn (the animated television show Phineas and Ferb).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Candace, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Cleopatra
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Caesaria
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Kandice
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Caitríona
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls