Fun Facts About the Name Channing
- More than 11 thousand babies named Channing: U.S. records list 11,238 babies given the name Channing from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 3,942 girls received the name Channing - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Channing Mean?
Channing is an English name meaning "people of Cana," formed from the Old English personal name Cana plus the suffix -ingas, which marks a group of people - typically the family, followers, or dependents of a particular man. The meaning of the personal name Cana itself is uncertain; the element may be an Old English word, but no settled sense for it is established. This Old English Cana is not the same as the biblical place-name Cana of Galilee, which comes from a different language and tradition, so the two should not be linked. Channing is originally a surname rather than a descriptive word, and its sense is best understood as "the family or people of Cana" rather than a virtue or quality.
Channing Name History & Origins
Channing began as an English surname built on the common Old English pattern in which a personal name plus -ingas named a body of people - literally the followers of a man called Cana. Such group names were passed down as family names, and in some cases they also attached to places. The surname is found in England, and families bearing it were present in colonial New England.
In the United States the name is closely tied to the Channing family of Newport, Rhode Island, and Boston. William Ellery Channing (1780 - 1842), born in Newport, was a Unitarian preacher and writer and a leading religious voice in New England. His son, also named William Ellery Channing (1818 - 1901), was a poet connected with the Transcendentalist circle of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. The family name was reused as a given name, and Channing became established as a masculine first name in America. It has also been used as a given name for women; the actress Stockard Channing, born Susan Stockard, uses Channing, a family surname, as part of her professional name.
How Popular is the Name Channing?
Channing recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2012. Its best rank was #515 in 2012.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,136 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 2024 | #2,849 | 58 | 0.0036% |
| 2023 | #2,622 | 67 | 0.0042% |
| 2022 | #2,144 | 89 | 0.0054% |
| 2021 | #2,367 | 76 | 0.0046% |
| 2020 | #1,886 | 102 | 0.0063% |
| 2019 | #1,975 | 98 | 0.0058% |
| 2018 | #2,364 | 77 | 0.0045% |
| 2017 | #2,227 | 85 | 0.0049% |
| 2016 | #2,035 | 97 | 0.0055% |
| 2015 | #1,758 | 119 | 0.0067% |
| 2014 | #1,694 | 124 | 0.0069% |
| 2013 | #1,605 | 134 | 0.0076% |
| 2012 | #1,366 | 171 | 0.0097% |
| 2011 | #1,499 | 149 | 0.0085% |
| 2010 | #1,191 | 204 | 0.0115% |
| 2009 | #2,035 | 101 | 0.0055% |
| 2008 | #2,543 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2007 | #2,437 | 77 | 0.0040% |
| 2006 | #2,463 | 75 | 0.0039% |
| 2005 | #2,349 | 76 | 0.0041% |
| 2004 | #3,008 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 2003 | #2,961 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 2002 | #2,718 | 56 | 0.0031% |
| 2001 | #2,603 | 58 | 0.0032% |
| 2000 | #2,378 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 1999 | #2,316 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 1998 | #2,433 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 1997 | #2,288 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 1996 | #2,320 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 1995 | #1,940 | 71 | 0.0040% |
| 1994 | #1,626 | 93 | 0.0052% |
| 1993 | #1,951 | 72 | 0.0040% |
| 1992 | #1,645 | 92 | 0.0050% |
| 1991 | #1,878 | 75 | 0.0040% |
| 1990 | #2,054 | 65 | 0.0034% |
| 1989 | #1,688 | 81 | 0.0044% |
| 1988 | #1,212 | 124 | 0.0070% |
| 1987 | #591 | 330 | 0.0190% |
| 1986 | #1,639 | 72 | 0.0042% |
| 1985 | #2,663 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1984 | #4,511 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #3,835 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1982 | #5,590 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #4,767 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1980 | #3,524 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1979 | #4,068 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #3,523 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1977 | #4,462 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #4,660 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #4,626 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #7,003 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #6,166 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #4,823 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #7,511 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #4,756 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,772 | 91 | 0.0053% |
| 2024 | #1,696 | 98 | 0.0057% |
| 2023 | #1,727 | 96 | 0.0056% |
| 2022 | #1,563 | 113 | 0.0065% |
| 2021 | #1,546 | 113 | 0.0065% |
| 2020 | #1,354 | 131 | 0.0076% |
| 2019 | #1,178 | 164 | 0.0091% |
| 2018 | #1,037 | 196 | 0.0108% |
| 2017 | #917 | 232 | 0.0125% |
| 2016 | #831 | 273 | 0.0144% |
| 2015 | #781 | 300 | 0.0157% |
| 2014 | #692 | 361 | 0.0188% |
| 2013 | #557 | 471 | 0.0249% |
| 2012 | #515 | 512 | 0.0270% |
| 2011 | #672 | 352 | 0.0185% |
| 2010 | #645 | 373 | 0.0194% |
| 2009 | #1,118 | 165 | 0.0083% |
| 2008 | #1,337 | 129 | 0.0063% |
| 2007 | #1,458 | 110 | 0.0053% |
| 2006 | #2,226 | 57 | 0.0028% |
| 2005 | #2,134 | 57 | 0.0029% |
| 2004 | #2,649 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 2003 | #2,316 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 2002 | #2,159 | 49 | 0.0025% |
| 2001 | #1,748 | 65 | 0.0033% |
| 2000 | #2,054 | 49 | 0.0025% |
| 1999 | #1,999 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 1998 | #1,704 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 1997 | #1,796 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 1996 | #1,710 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 1995 | #1,806 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 1994 | #1,276 | 84 | 0.0043% |
| 1993 | #1,218 | 86 | 0.0044% |
| 1992 | #888 | 142 | 0.0071% |
| 1991 | #983 | 119 | 0.0059% |
| 1990 | #951 | 119 | 0.0058% |
| 1989 | #967 | 111 | 0.0055% |
| 1988 | #945 | 104 | 0.0054% |
| 1987 | #884 | 112 | 0.0060% |
| 1986 | #867 | 110 | 0.0060% |
| 1985 | #799 | 124 | 0.0067% |
| 1984 | #1,134 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 1983 | #1,830 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1982 | #1,657 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1981 | #2,213 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1980 | #1,571 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1979 | #1,490 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1978 | #1,573 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1977 | #1,675 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1976 | #1,509 | 36 | 0.0023% |
| 1975 | #1,412 | 39 | 0.0025% |
| 1974 | #1,230 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 1973 | #1,357 | 38 | 0.0024% |
| 1972 | #1,180 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 1971 | #1,110 | 54 | 0.0031% |
| 1970 | #1,223 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 1969 | #1,154 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1968 | #1,342 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1967 | #1,415 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1966 | #1,514 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1965 | #2,388 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #1,438 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1963 | #2,051 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #2,050 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #1,962 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #2,905 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #2,556 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #2,531 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #3,055 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #2,177 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #3,006 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #2,771 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #2,110 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,166 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #3,110 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,606 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #2,636 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #2,385 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #1,963 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #2,594 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #2,090 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #2,744 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1941 | #2,692 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,533 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1938 | #2,911 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1936 | #3,205 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #2,412 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #3,757 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #2,115 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1932 | #2,013 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #2,118 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,321 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1929 | #2,803 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1928 | #2,288 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1927 | #2,314 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1926 | #2,214 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1925 | #2,210 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,251 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1923 | #2,353 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #3,584 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #2,169 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1920 | #2,152 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1919 | #2,532 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #2,723 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #3,275 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1916 | #3,571 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #2,203 | 12 | 0.0014% |
| 1912 | #2,612 | 5 | 0.0012% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Channing
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with C
How the Name Channing Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Channing's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Channing's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.