Nicanor Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: nee-kah-nor /niːˈkænɔːr/
Origin: Greek; Spanish
Meaning: Greek: victorious; Spanish: the victorious one
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Nicanor has its roots in the ancient Greek language, derived from the elements 'nike,' meaning 'victory,' and 'anēr,' meaning 'man.' Thus, the literal translation of Nicanor can be understood as 'victorious man.' The name was adopted into Latin as 'Nicanorus' before making its way into various languages, including English, primarily through the influence of Hellenistic culture and the spread of Christianity in the early centuries of the Common Era. Historically, Nicanor appears in several significant contexts.
One notable figure bearing this name is Nicanor of Alexandria, who is mentioned in the New Testament as one of the seven deacons appointed by the apostles to oversee the distribution of food and aid to the early Christian community, as recorded in the Book of Acts in the first century. Additionally, the name is associated with Nicanor, a general in the Seleucid army during the Maccabean Revolt, who is mentioned in the Jewish texts of the second century BCE, highlighting its presence in both Christian and Jewish historical narratives.
Culturally, the name Nicanor has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing strength and triumph due to its etymological roots. It has appeared in literature and religious texts, reinforcing its significance through the ages.
The name's enduring quality can also be seen in its diminutive form, Nicky, which, while more modern, reflects the name's adaptability and continued resonance across cultures. Overall, Nicanor embodies a rich historical tapestry, linking ancient Greek heritage with pivotal moments in religious history.
Famous people named Nicanor
In this section, you will find notable people named Nicanor. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Nicanor who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Nicanor who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Nicanor Parra was a poet and mathematician best known for his anti-poetry and works such as Poemas y Antipoemas and Sermones y prédicas del Cristo de Elqui.
Nicanor Zabaleta was a harpist best known for his performances and recordings that popularized the harp in classical music.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Nicanor, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Nicanor. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Nicanor was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Nicanor has ranked as high as #1129 nationally, which occurred in 1982, and has been most popular in California, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Nicanor has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Nicanor is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Nicanor was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Nicanor (2006)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Nicanor.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 1999 | 12 |
| 1998 | 9 |
| 1997 | 12 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1994 | 9 |
| 1993 | 17 |
| 1992 | 13 |
| 1991 | 14 |
| 1990 | 6 |
| 1989 | 13 |
| 1988 | 10 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1986 | 11 |
| 1985 | 9 |
| 1984 | 12 |
| 1983 | 5 |
| 1982 | 20 |
| 1981 | 19 |
| 1980 | 12 |
| 1979 | 8 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1977 | 12 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1975 | 11 |
| 1974 | 14 |
| 1973 | 6 |
| 1972 | 12 |
| 1971 | 9 |
| 1970 | 7 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1968 | 8 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1966 | 6 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1964 | 6 |
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1962 | 9 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1960 | 13 |
| 1959 | 5 |
| 1957 | 8 |
| 1955 | 7 |
| 1954 | 13 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1952 | 8 |
| 1951 | 6 |
| 1950 | 5 |
| 1949 | 8 |
| 1948 | 10 |
| 1947 | 5 |
| 1946 | 5 |
| 1944 | 7 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1941 | 8 |
| 1938 | 6 |
| 1936 | 8 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1933 | 7 |
| 1931 | 7 |
| 1929 | 6 |
| 1927 | 6 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 7 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1921 | 6 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1918 | 6 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1913 | 5 |