The first name Kanye
A boy’s name from Igbo.
Pronounced /ˈkɑnjeɪ/ 1 syllable Male
Meaning and origin
Igbo origin
Evidently from Igbo Kanye, although inspiration from other African languages may have contributed. The verb is a reference to Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Kanye last appeared in the official list in 2021, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2004, with 40 births (#599).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Kanye with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Kanye at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 5 boys born in the United States were named Kanye, the 12,964th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2004, when 509 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Questions
- What does the name Kanye mean?
- Evidently from Igbo Kanye, although inspiration from other African languages may have contributed. The verb is a reference to Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
- What is the origin of the name Kanye?
- Evidently from Igbo Kanye, although inspiration from other African languages may have contributed. The verb is a reference to Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
- How popular is the name Kanye?
- In 2021, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Kanye, ranking 4,789th. Its peak was 2004, with 40 births.
- Is Kanye a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 98% of the 1,428 US babies named Kanye since 1880 were boys.
- When was Kanye most popular?
- 2004 in the United States, when 509 babies were named Kanye, its highest rank at 486th.
- How do you pronounce Kanye?
- Kanye is /ˈkɑnjeɪ/, one syllable.