Cain
Boy name · Hebrew · Irish · Welsh
Meaningacquired · Hebrew
- US rank
- #1,141
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #727 in 2014
185 babies were named Cain in the US in 2025. It has dropped 249 places in five years.
Nicknames & spellings
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1910–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Cain you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 9,234 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Cain, 185 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Cain would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryCain first shows up in US birth records in 1910, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 115 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2014, when it reached #727.
- TrendCain has slipped 249 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,141. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedCain is most popular in Louisiana, where it ranks #591, followed by Kentucky (#708) and Ohio (#710). It's in the top 1,000 in 8 states.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Cain means “acquired”. Our records link it to Hebrew, Irish and Welsh roots.
About the name Cain
Cain is a boy name of Hebrew, Irish and Welsh origin meaning “acquired”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with C and ending in “-ain”. US birth records list Cain for boys from 1910 to 2025, in 89 of those 116 years. Its best year was 2014, when it ranked #727 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,141, with 185 babies.
Origin:Hebrew namesIrish namesWelsh names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 7.0 | 143,885 boys |
| 1920s | 4.7 | 214,133 boys |
| 1930s | 3.3 | 303,951 boys |
| 1940s | 0.9 | 1,052,632 boys |
| 1950s | 1.9 | 520,833 boys |
| 1960s | 3.9 | 259,740 boys |
| 1970s | 16 | 63,331 boys |
| 1980s | 21 | 48,497 boys |
| 1990s | 54 | 18,430 boys |
| 2000s | 74 | 13,477 boys |
| 2010s | 150 | 6,683 boys |
| 2020s | 136 | 7,368 boys |
Other spellings of Cain
More Hebrew boy names
- Unisex name: Noah · rest, comfort
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: Elijah · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Levi · joined, attached
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Cain
What does the name Cain mean?
Cain means “acquired” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Cain?
Cain has Hebrew, Irish, Welsh roots in our records. Other Hebrew names include Noah, James, Elijah.
Is Cain a boy or girl name?
Cain is a boy name.
How popular is the name Cain?
Cain ranked #1,141 for US boys in 2025, given to 185 babies. Its best year was 2014 (#727).