Is Kanoa a boy's or girl's name?

Kanoa is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 11 recorded births.

When was Kanoa most popular?

Kanoa reached its peak popularity in 2010 with 47 births that year. It is currently ranked #4128 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Kanoa?

Kanoa is currently ranked #4128 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 844 babies since 1971.

Kanoa

An uncommon Hawaiian pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsHawaiianRising fast Also a pet name

#4128▼ 1211in 2024

Meaning & Origin

a male or (sometimes) female given name from Hawaiian

Kanoa is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hawaiian origin meaning 'the free one' or 'freedom.' It captures the open, generous spirit of Hawaiian culture — the feeling of wind over the ocean, of space and liberation that defines island life.

As Hawaiian names have gained broader popularity beyond the islands, Kanoa has found admirers who love its melodic, vowel-rich sound and its beautifully simple meaning. It is a name that sounds like the ocean — free, warm, and expansive.

Compare Kanoa with another name

Popularity Over Time

Kanoa was #3944 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #4128, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kanoa
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	142	#4030	▼
2010s	300	#3769	▲
2000s	268	#3878	▲
1990s	87	#5994	▲
1980s	26	#6357	▲
1970s	21	#4489	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(40 years, 1971–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kanoa
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	26	#4128	-17 (-39.5%)
2023	43	#2917	+21 (95.5%)
2022	22	#4625	-10 (-31.3%)
2021	32	#3539	+13 (68.4%)
2020	19	#4939	-4 (-17.4%)
2019	23	#4410	+1 (4.5%)
2018	22	#4539	-6 (-21.4%)
2017	28	#3841	-2 (-6.7%)
2016	30	#3645	+10 (50.0%)
2015	20	#4805	-9 (-31.0%)
2014	29	#3658	+4 (16.0%)
2013	25	#4013	-6 (-19.4%)
2012	31	#3488	-14 (-31.1%)
2011	45	#2686	-2 (-4.3%)
2010	47	#2607	+14 (42.4%)
2009	33	#3371	-6 (-15.4%)
2008	39	#3039	-3 (-7.1%)
2007	42	#2843	+23 (121.1%)
2006	19	#4778	-14 (-42.4%)
2005	33	#3126	+10 (43.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Kanoa as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Kanoa has also been given to 11 girls in the U.S. since 2021.

#16374

Current rank

Total births

2021

Peak year

Compare Kanoa as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Kanoa be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Kanoa is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #4128. As a girl's name, it ranks #16374.

Kanoa has two lives

Kanoa, the baby name

#4128boys

844 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1971–2024) · Methodology