The name stems from Canna, a one-time tributary of the River Taff which ran between Llandaff Fields and Riverside. The bridge is believed to have stood near the junction of what, today, are Teilo Street and Cathedral Road. The area was formerly home to the Welsh studios of TWW; the BBC's Broadcasting House is still nearby in Llandaff.
The suburb has become increasingly affluent from the early 1990s onwards.
Pontcanna is a hugely popular area for flats within Cardiff. Located on the edge of Cardiff City Centre it gives easy access to the centre for professionals, as well as easy access via the Gabalfa roundabout to the A48M.
Pontcanna is very popular with flats, partly due to the majestic beauty of the larger buildings as seen on Cathedral Road, many of which have been converted into flats.