Canopus: Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: 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) – 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

Phonetic: kuh-NOH-pus   IPA: /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

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