Cain

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAYN /keɪn/High

Meaning: Spear; or acquisition; from Hebrew Qayin, possibly from qanah (to acquire, to get)Medium

In 30 seconds: A Hebrew name meaning 'spear' or 'acquisition,' most famous as the firstborn son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother Abel. The name carries the weight of humanity's first fratricide, yet also the meaning of the very first human birth.

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Origin MediumHebrew

MeaningSpear; or acquisition; from Hebrew Qayin, possibly from qanah (to acquire, to get)

U.S. rank (2024)#974 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births230 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2014

Total births (all-time)≈ 7,441

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Cain (Hebrew Qayin) is the name of Adam and Eve's firstborn son in Genesis. His murder of Abel is the first homicide in the Bible. The name's etymology may derive from qanah (to acquire) — Eve says she 'acquired' a man. As a given name it has been used despite its dark associations.

Cain has been used as a given name historically in Christian communities. It ranked #974 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? In the Book of Genesis, Eve names her firstborn son Cain saying 'I have gotten a man from the Lord' — the Hebrew word qanah (to acquire) being the folk etymology of the name. So Cain literally means 'I got one' in the first naming event of the Bible.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Cain — Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KaneKayne

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Cain (Genesis) (biblical)
The firstborn son of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis, who murdered his brother Abel — the first homicide in the Abrahamic sacred texts.

If you like Cain…

Abel— Cain's brother in Genesis — named as a pair in scripture

Kane— the phonetic variant of the same name

Seth— Adam and Eve's third son in Genesis, born after Cain and Abel

Enoch— Hebrew patriarch's name from the same early Genesis tradition

Judah— Hebrew tribal name with the same biblical gravitas

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cain mean?

Cain means 'acquisition' from Hebrew qanah (to acquire), or possibly 'spear.' Eve said 'I have gotten a man' when naming him.

How do you pronounce Cain?

It's said KAYN — one syllable, rhyming with 'lane.'

Is Cain a boy or girl name?

Cain is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Cain?

Cain ranked #974 for U.S. boys in 2024.