Kana
Primarily a girl's name of Japanese origin with 860 recorded births. Also given to 18 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Japanese.
Kana is a girl's and boy's baby name of Japanese origin, from the Japanese, combining characters such as ka (flower, fragrance, beauty) and na (greens, beautiful) or many other combinations, meaning 'beautiful' or 'fragrant flower' — a name whose exact meaning depends on the kanji chosen by the family.
With nearly 860 recorded births, Kana is a clean, two-syllable Japanese feminine name with the warmth and simplicity that makes Japanese names appealing across cultures. In Japan, Kana is also the word for the two phonetic writing systems (hiragana and katakana) that underlie all Japanese literacy — giving the name an additional connection to language itself. As a given name, Kana is accessible, beautiful, and carries genuine Japanese cultural heritage.
EtymologyShow more
Kana is built from 4 letters and two syllables — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Japanese naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Kana creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kana was #5846 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6254, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 88 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 157 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 215 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 191 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 112 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 79 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 12 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 6 | — |
The Story of Kana
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2006, Kana is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Kana are most likely born between 1996 and 2016.
How rare is Kana?
Only about 1 in every 189,474 babies born in 2024 was named Kana — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1956, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 215 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Kana by the numbers
- Would fill 18 school buses
- Meeting one Kana per day would take 2.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(58 years, 1956–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | #6254 |
| 2023 | 12 | #8714 |
| 2022 | 17 | #6837 |
| 2021 | 15 | #7443 |
| 2020 | 25 | #5088 |
| 2019 | 19 | #6290 |
| 2018 | 14 | #7948 |
| 2017 | 15 | #7637 |
| 2016 | 19 | #6540 |
| 2015 | 11 | #9794 |
| 2014 | 15 | #7862 |
| 2013 | 18 | #6875 |
| 2012 | 19 | #6724 |
| 2011 | 12 | #9430 |
| 2010 | 15 | #8077 |
| 2009 | 27 | #5297 |
| 2008 | 20 | #6685 |
| 2007 | 20 | #6689 |
| 2006 | 27 | #5161 |
| 2005 | 13 | #8582 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Kana as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Kana has also been given to 18 boys in the U.S. since 2005.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kana a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kana most popular?
How popular is the name Kana?
Can Kana be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1956–2024