Kanoa

Kanoa - A very unique male name

Kanoa appeared on the charts for the first time in 1971 on position #1710. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kanoa and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kanoa? 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 Kanoa. The baby boy name Kanoa was given to 7 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3445 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 209,469 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kanoa peaked in popularity 55 years ago in 1971 on position 1710.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kanoa, 1-5?

Kanoa is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kanoa is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #2,098 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,098.

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 Kanoa is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Kanoa origin and meaning

Hawaiian

Hawaiian word name, usually understood as 'the free one'

Kanoa is a Hawaiian word used as a name, built on noa, 'free, released from restriction'. It entered US data in 1971 and peaked in 2010. Its use outside Hawaii is mostly a sound-and-meaning choice by parents drawn to Hawaiian names.

Attested etymology

Kanoa is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Kanoa

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

Kenny / Keegan / Kim / Ken / Kane / Keenan / Kayson / Kason / Kian / Kasen /

---

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 Kanoa

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 Kanoa 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 Kanoa?

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.

---

Pronunciation

kah-NOH-ah · /kəˈnoʊə/
The data table gives 2 syllables; the name is spoken in 3.

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Kainoa — Longer Hawaiian name with a different construction

Famous bearers

None yet — no bearer for this name is documented well enough for us to list, so we show none rather than pad the list.

Style

InternationalNature

Why parents choose it

Kanoa is gentle and open-sounding, with a real Hawaiian word behind it rather than an invented feel.

Worth knowing

• The data table's 2-syllable count does not match the usual 3-syllable pronunciation.