Canna

Rare name of uncertain origin and meaning that first appeared in the 19th century.

One theory derives Canna from the tropical flower of the same name, placing Canna among the many Victorian flower names. If that is true - and in some cases it certainly is -, then the roots of this name lie with Greek kanna "reed".

Another theory, however, considers Canna a borrowing of the name of the Scottish island Canna (Canaigh in Gaelic). The meaning of Canaigh is unclear; some scholars argue that it might be related to an Irish Gaelic word for "wolf-pup", while another group of academics derive the name from a Scottish Gaelic word for "porpoise" and yet another theory believes that, thanks to the island's shape, Canaigh might be related to an Old Norse word for "knee".