Canton

Canton - A very unique male name

Canton appeared on the charts for the first time in 2004 on position #3776. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Canton and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Canton? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Canton. The baby boy name Canton was given to 5 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3886 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 293,257 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Canton peaked in popularity 11 years ago in 2015 on position 2856.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Canton, 1-5?

Canton is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Canton is currently topping the baby name charts in Missouri at position #883 - and is the least popular in Missouri at position #883.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Canton is where you live.

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Canton origin and meaning

English surname and place name transfer

Uncertain — a transferred surname and place name; Canton was also the historic English name for Guangzhou, China, and a word for a territorial district

Canton has been used as a boy's name in small numbers since 2004, drawn from the surname and from place names — there are Cantons across the US, and Canton was once the English name of Guangzhou. Which source any family intends varies, and the surname's own origin is not settled. It reads as sturdy and geographic.

Origin uncertain

Canton is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Canton, pop culture references for the name Canton and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Canton

We've found the following names that sound similar to Canton, sorted by popularity.

Camden / Camdyn / Camdon / Camdin /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Canton

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Canton a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Canton?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KAN-tun · /ˈkæntən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

None yet — the name first appears in the data in 2004, and its oldest bearers are still young.

Style

SurnamePlace name

Why parents choose it

A solid, place-rooted name with a familiar sound and almost no competition.

Worth knowing

• Expect questions about which Canton — the Ohio city, the Swiss districts, or the old name for Guangzhou.