In Genesis, Shem is named first in the list of Noah’s three sons.
Genesis 5:32 names Noah’s sons as Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The same sequence appears in Genesis 6:10 and is repeated in the account of the Flood and its aftermath. Shem’s position in the list makes his name the answer to this specific wording.
The order of names is not the same as the question of birth order. Genesis does not straightforwardly identify the eldest son simply by placing a name first, and biblical scholars have discussed how the passages describe the brothers’ relative ages. Therefore, “named first” is more precise than asking who was eldest.
Canaan is not one of Noah’s three sons. Genesis identifies Canaan as a son of Ham, which is why that name can appear in related questions about Noah’s family while remaining a different generation.