Total births
3,827
Unisex name · since 1972
Canyon
Canyon has 3,827 recorded births since 1972 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2021 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #1427
- among boys today
- 3,827
- born since 1972
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 90%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Canyon is the #1427 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 3,827 recorded since 1972.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Canyon has been recorded 3,827 times among boys since 1972, currently ranked #1427 nationally and more common than 90% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1972 to 2025.
- #1427 among boys today
- 3,827 born since 1972
- 2000s peak decade
- 90% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Canyon is currently the #1427 unisex name in America, more common than 90% of boys - 3,827 born since 1972, peaking in the 2000s.
- #1427
- among boys today
- 3,827
- born since 1972
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 90%
- more common than other boys
Canyon vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1427
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 90% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Canyon was born in this single decade.
2021
Single peak year
167 babies were named Canyon in 2021 - its busiest year on record.
How Canyon compares
3,827 Top 14% higher than 86% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Canyon's all-time total is 10x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Canyon | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,827 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 167 | 23 | 22,252 |
Canyon's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Canyon splits its recorded history at 2001: 82% of all births land in the more recent half, 18% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1975 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2021 peak of 167 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Canyon at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2021
Current rank
#1,427
Active since
1972
Canyon popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1972–2025
- Peak year (2021)
- 167
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Canyon popularity over time - girls
259 total births recorded since 1996 (Canyon as girls' name)
Canyon by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Canyon's strongest decade.
1,301 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Canyon births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 39
1970s
39 births
- 1980s 50
1980s
50 births
- 1990s 505
1990s
505 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,301 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,130 births
- 2020s
2020s
802 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,301 births (34% of all-time use).
How Canyon compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Canyon's total volume
Canyon vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Canyon by state
Where Canyon concentrates geographically, total births since 1972
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 494 | 12.9% |
| #2 | Utah | | 358 | 9.4% |
| #3 | California | | 296 | 7.7% |
| #4 | Arizona | | 94 | 2.5% |
| #5 | Florida | | 82 | 2.1% |
| #6 | Oklahoma | | 75 | 2.0% |
| #7 | Washington | | 67 | 1.8% |
| #8 | Missouri | | 53 | 1.4% |
Texas share of Canyon's total US births 12.9%
Even split
494 of 3,827 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 23 reporting states.
Canyon appears in 23 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Canyon? ▼
Since 1972, Social Security records show 3,827 babies named Canyon. Today it holds rank #1427 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2021, with 167 births.
When was Canyon most popular? ▼
Canyon was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,301 total births. The single peak year was 2021.
Where is Canyon most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Canyon are Texas (494 births), Utah (358 births), California (296 births).
Is Canyon a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Canyon is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,827 births, and as a girl's name it has 259 births.
How long has the name Canyon been used? ▼
Canyon has been recorded in Social Security data since 1972, spanning 54 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Canyon? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Cannon, Canaan, Canon, Candelario, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Canyon's data
- Canyon's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (1,301 total births) through the 2020s (802) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Canyons (494 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Canyon
Nearby Names Like Canyon
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Canyon
Cannon Boy
#763 10,978 births
Canaan Boy
#1084 5,843 births
Canon Boy
#1927 2,751 births
Candelario Boy
2,319 births
Candido Boy
#8997 2,087 births
Compare Canyon side by side: Canyon vs Cannon Canyon vs Canaan Canyon vs Canon
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Canyon
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1972–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Canyon: #1427 Unisex Name - 3,827 Births, Peak 2021." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/canyon. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Canyon draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.