The first name Cain
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “craftsman”.
Pronounced /keɪn/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Cain means “craftsman” in Hebrew.
From Hebrew קַיִן (Káyin, “craftsman”), present since Old English.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 25 boys were named Cain, making it the 1,153rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2001, with 191 births (#184).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Cain with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Cain at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 185 boys born in the United States were named Cain, the 1,142nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2014, when 330 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Cain
1 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Cain VelasquezAmerican mixed martial artist, born 1982
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Cain mean?
- Cain means “craftsman” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Cain?
- From Hebrew קַיִן (Káyin, “craftsman”), present since Old English.
- How popular is the name Cain?
- In 2025, 25 boys born in England and Wales were named Cain, ranking 1,153rd. Its peak was 2001, with 191 births.
- Is Cain a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 7,628 US babies named Cain since 1880 were boys.
- When was Cain most popular?
- 2014 in the United States, when 330 babies were named Cain, its highest rank at 727th.
- How do you pronounce Cain?
- Cain is /keɪn/, one syllable.
- Is Cain also a surname?
- Yes. Cain is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.