The Cannaregio Canal, which was the main route into the city until the construction of a railway link to the mainland, gave the district its name (Canal Regio is Italian for Royal Canal).
Cannaregio kanal, mis oli peamine tee linna enne raudteeühenduse ehitamist mandriga, andis linnaosale ka oma nime (Canal Regio tähendab itaalia keeles "Kuninglik kanal").