Candace
Primarily a girl's name with 84,888 recorded births. Also given to 159 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Ancient Greek.
Candace is a girl's and boy's baby name of Greek origin, believed to derive from the ancient Ethiopian royal title Kandake, meaning 'queen' or 'ruler of children.' It appears in the New Testament as the title of an Ethiopian queen whose treasurer was baptized by Philip the Apostle.
Candace enjoyed its greatest popularity in the United States from the 1950s through the 1980s, evoking a polished, confident femininity. It remains an elegant choice with genuine historical depth.
EtymologyShow more
Candace first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1882. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Without a confirmed origin classification, Candace may have arrived through family tradition, creative coinage, or cultural channels not yet documented in standard naming references.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Candace was #817 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3648, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 295 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 989 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 2,925 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 11,517 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 25,169 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 12,671 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 9,873 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 14,251 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 6,715 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 146 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 135 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 112 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 27 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 36 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 27 | — |
The Story of Candace
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1982, Candace is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Candace are most likely born between 1972 and 1992.
How rare is Candace?
Only about 1 in every 85,714 babies born in 2024 was named Candace — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1882, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1980s with 25,169 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Candace by the numbers
- Enough Candaces to fill 1.2 football stadiums
- More Candaces than the population of a small U.S. town
- Meeting one Candace per day would take 232.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(128 years, 1882–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42 | #3648 |
| 2023 | 54 | #3049 |
| 2022 | 66 | #2638 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2681 |
| 2020 | 69 | #2505 |
| 2019 | 60 | #2787 |
| 2018 | 64 | #2689 |
| 2017 | 77 | #2362 |
| 2016 | 101 | #1974 |
| 2015 | 92 | #2104 |
| 2014 | 121 | #1730 |
| 2013 | 99 | #1977 |
| 2012 | 101 | #1942 |
| 2011 | 141 | #1555 |
| 2010 | 133 | #1624 |
| 2009 | 198 | #1246 |
| 2008 | 217 | #1180 |
| 2007 | 254 | #1038 |
| 2006 | 249 | #1028 |
| 2005 | 269 | #926 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Candace as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Candace has also been given to 159 boys in the U.S. since 1949.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Candace a boy's or girl's name?
When was Candace most popular?
How popular is the name Candace?
Can Candace be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1882–2024