Girl name
Cana name meaning
“O beloved, O dear one”
Cana means O beloved or O dear one and is used as a feminine name in Türkiye. It comes from Persian cānā, a form of address based on cān, meaning life, soul, or beloved. Its concrete literary association is the affectionate address to a beloved found in Turkish poetry.
What does Cana mean?
O beloved, O dear one
In Turkish: ey sevgili, ey can
Cana derives its meaning from an affectionate address rather than an object or quality. The poetic expression cānā addresses a beloved or cherished being; under this interpretation, the final a belongs to a Persian vocative formation rather than representing a separate Turkish word.
The ending “-na” is a common final sound in names such as Lina, Mina and Alina, not a suffix with one shared meaning. Each name has to be considered individually. More girl names ending in -na →
Origin of the name Cana
Cana probably derives from Persian cānā, a form of address based on cān, ‘life, soul, beloved’. It also occurs as a literary address in Turkish.
How to pronounce Cana
| Syllables | 2 · 4 letters · 4-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /d͡ʒana/ |
Is Cana a girl’s name?
Yes, Cana is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Cana does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 2 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Cana
- Canan♀Beloved
- Canay♀A name combining life and moon imagery
- Canat♀Desire something wholeheartedly
- Cina♀
- Canda♂♀Within the heart
- Canı♀Life
- Cansu♀Water of life
- Candan♂♀Heartfelt, sincere
- Canel♀Dear companion, close friend
- Canane♀Beloved
- Canöz♂♀Life and essence, soul and core
- Cansal♂♀Pertaining to life or the soul
Names with related meanings
- Meryem♀Beloved, loved one
- Mihra♀Sun
- Özlem♀Longing for reunion
- Sevim♀Affection
- Yaren♀Friend, close companion
- Züleyha♀Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
- Bade♀Wine
- Sıla♀A longed-for home
- Zeliha♀Heroine of the Yusuf and Züleyha story
- Buse♀A kiss expressing affection
- Dila♀O heart, O beloved heart
- Mila♀Dear, beloved, lovely
Famous people named Cana
- Cana Aksoy Poyraz
- Cana Yılmaz · b. 1978
FAQ about the name Cana
What is the meaning of Cana?
Cana means “O beloved, O dear one”. Cana probably derives from Persian cānā, a form of address based on cān, ‘life, soul, beloved’. It also occurs as a literary address in Turkish.
Is Cana a girl’s name?
Yes, Cana is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Cana in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Cana nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Cana?
Cana is of Persian origin.
How many syllables does Cana have?
Cana has 2 syllables and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Cana?
Cana does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 2 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named Cana?
Notable people named Cana include Cana Aksoy Poyraz, Cana Yılmaz.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm02754 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake