I’m wondering if most people would know how to pronounce [name_m]Canaan[/name_m] if they saw it. It’s most commonly seen in the Bible. It’s the only name SO and I both like, so we’re definitely leaning toward it. SO wants to spell it [name_m]Kanaan[/name_m] so we can call him [name_m]Kane[/name_m] and still keep the same pronunciation. (I know, most of Nameberry hates different spellings).
We like [name_m]Canaan[/name_m]/[name_m]Kanaan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], would that combo work? Last name is 2 syllables and rhymes with Bible.
I actually like [name_m]Canaan[/name_m]. You could spell it with a C and still call him [name_m]Cane[/name_m]/[name_m]Cain[/name_m].
I think it is well enough known to be prounounced correctly. Something like “cay-nuhn”. It isn’t too hard. I do agree with @l_e_d2009 that you could keep the proper spelling and call him [name_m]Cane[/name_m]/[name_m]Cain[/name_m]. [name_m]Canaan[/name_m] looks clean and interesting. [name_m]Kanaan[/name_m] looks trendy.
[name_m]Canaan[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] “Bible” is handsome.
Thank you for the input ladies, I do personally like [name_m]Canaan[/name_m] better but my fiance is insistent on the K. I might have to lose this battle and just settle for falling into the trendy crowd. Thanks again!
Kaanan is cute, and the nn [name_m]Kane[/name_m] fits perfectly with it. I don’t have a problem with it.
Also it doesn’t sound like a girls name at all if that’s what you were thinking.
I think the name is just fine, although I have to admit that I’m a little confused by the need to spell the name and nickname the same. Isn’t [name_f]Kate[/name_f] a nickname for [name_f]Catherine[/name_f]? [name_m]Kane[/name_m] can be a nickname for [name_m]Canaan[/name_m]. My hesitation with the nickname would actually center around the fact that, since [name_m]Canaan[/name_m] is a Biblical word, the nickname seems to refer to another Biblical name: [name_m]Cain[/name_m], the murderer. The spelling wouldn’t matter to me as much as the reference to that guy would. Although the K spelling would diminish the connection on paper, most people aren’t going to see it spelled, and it still sounds exactly the same as [name_m]Cain[/name_m].
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I grew up with a boy with this name, though they spelled it Kainon. No one ever had trouble with pronunciation or had any negative associations with the name. I think this name, regardless of how it is spelled, is 100% usable. Best of luck!!
I’m not at all familiar with the bible, and I’m used to ‘aa’ having a long ah sound, so I assumed it was pronounced Kah-nahn. Obviously I’m wrong, it sounds nice pronounced properly, but I don’t like the [name_m]Canaan[/name_m] or [name_m]Kanaan[/name_m] spellings.
I would spell it [name_m]Canaan[/name_m] pronounced “[name_u]KAY[/name_u]-nun.” It’s currently at #666 in the US, so I would imagine it’s somewhat familiar to most.
[name_m]Canaan[/name_m] is great!
Perhaps you and hubby can ask a handful of people to spell [name_m]Canaan[/name_m] and then spell the nn [name_m]Cane[/name_m]/[name_m]Kane[/name_m]. That might help your husband figure out which spelling is better and more intuitive for the child to carry throughout their life.
We have a [name_m]Kanaan[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m]! “[name_m]Canaan[/name_m]” was the name I wanted and my husband would only agree to it if we spelled it with a “K.”
We love the name, but even close family and friends have a hard time remembering how to spell it. And yes, he has been called “Ka-non” on many occasions (especially at the doctor’s office for some reason). We still love it and decided he just has a name he will have to correct people on.