At a Glance
- Meaning
- Named for a legendary ship's pilot in Greek myth; also the name of a bright southern star
- Origin
- Greek, via Latin (astronomical/mythological name)
- Pronunciation
- kuh-NOH-pus
Canopus is a Greek, via Latin (astronomical/mythological name) name meaning “named for a legendary ship's pilot in Greek myth; also the name of a bright southern star”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Canopus
Meaning: Named for a legendary ship's pilot in Greek myth; also the name of a bright southern star.
Origin: Greek, via Latin (astronomical/mythological name).
A common claim: Canopus means 'navigator' Actually: The word itself doesn't translate to 'navigator'; the association comes only from a myth about a character named Canopus who happened to be a ship's pilot.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Canopus
kuh-NOH-pusIPA /kəˈnoʊpəs/
Popularity of Canopus
Canopus doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Canopus
- 200+ Dazzling Whimsical Girls Names You Definitely Haven’t Heard
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Similar Names
Calista · Celestine · Bellatrix · Citlali · Astrid · Cordelia
