Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Kaan isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1982. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kaan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 894
- 894 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2018
- 39 babies
- 2025
- 35
- #3,344 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −10%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,344 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 9.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 859 as a first name in 2020; 311 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kaan’s family of names
In Turkish usage, Kaan shares a linguistic root with Hakan. In Greek usage, Kaan as a surname is a transliteration of Κάαν.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kaan
- Kaan AyhanTurkish association football player (born 1994)
- Kaan KairinenFinnish association football playerborn 1998
- Kaan UrgancıoğluTurkish actor (born 1981)
- Kaan Kigen ÖzbilenKenyan-born Turkish long-distance runner (born 1986)
- Kaan KanakTurkish association football player (born 1990)
- Kaan YıldırımTurkish actor (born 1986)
- Kaan TaşanerTurkish actor (born 1979)
- Kaan MüjdeciTurkish film director and producer (born 1980)
- Kaan GürbüzTurkish volleyball player (born 2001)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kaan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kaidan
“a beloved companion”
96% boys · 4% girls
Canyon
“from the footpath” · “from the deep ravine”
92% boys · 8% girls
Kawhi
>99% boys
Kazi
“a hardworking man”
79% boys · 21% girls
Karson
“from the swamp” · “a free man”
95% boys · 5% girls
Kivaan
>99% boys
Kayvon
“a handsome man”
>99% boys
Candan
“a sincere man”
>99% boys