Caine Boy

Popularity: #884 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAYN //keɪn//

Origin: Hebrew; Irish

Meaning: Hebrew: possession; Irish: warrior

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Caine has its roots in the Hebrew name Qayin (קַיִן), which is believed to mean "spear" or "to acquire." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, where Cain is the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, known for the biblical story of his fratricide against his brother Abel. The name was later transliterated into Greek as Kain (Καϊν) and subsequently into Latin as Cainus, which then influenced its adoption into Old French as Cain.

The transition into English occurred through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it was incorporated into the vernacular as Caine or Cain. Throughout history, the figure of Cain has been significant in various religious and literary contexts.

In Judeo-Christian tradition, Cain is often associated with themes of jealousy, sin, and punishment, which have been explored in numerous theological discussions and artistic representations. The story of Cain and Abel has been a subject of interpretation and moral teaching, influencing literature and art from the medieval period onward.

The name has also appeared in various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version published in 1611, which helped solidify its presence in English-speaking cultures. Culturally, the name Caine carries connotations of conflict and moral complexity, reflecting the narrative of its biblical namesake.

In literature and folklore, Cain has been depicted as a symbol of the outcast or the flawed human condition, resonating through works of various authors and artists over the centuries. The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as Caino or Caine, which have been used in different cultural contexts, though the original form remains the most recognized.

Fictional characters named Caine

The following list of fictional characters named Caine is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Caine is a fictional character from the video game series Fear & Hunger. He is a prominent antagonist known for his ruthless nature and powerful abilities in the game's dark, survival-horror setting.

Caine is a fictional character from the comic book series The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. He is one of the first murderers in history and serves as a recurring character in the series, often depicted in a complex relationship with his brother Abel.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Caine, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Caine. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Caine was first seen in the United States in 1968.

Caine has ranked as high as #3875 nationally, which occurred in 2008, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Caine has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Caine is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Caine was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Caine.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 54 54
2024 63 63
2023 87 87
2022 76 76
2021 64 64
2020 75 75
2019 78 78
2018 59 59
2017 64 64
2016 53 53
2015 60 60
2014 62 62
2013 64 64
2012 49 49
2011 48 48
2010 46 46
2009 71 71
2008 89 89
2007 59 59
2006 44 44
2005 37 37
2004 33 33
2003 33 33
2002 43 43
2001 51 51
2000 45 45
1999 42 42
1998 44 44
1997 42 42
1996 47 47
1995 48 48
1994 58 58
1993 30 30
1992 17 17
1991 6 6
1990 10 10
1989 11 11
1988 11 11
1987 10 10
1986 6 6
1985 14 14
1984 10 10
1983 8 8
1982 9 9
1981 15 15
1980 9 9
1979 13 13
1978 6 6
1977 11 11
1976 13 13
1975 12 12
1974 35 35
1973 44 44
1972 5 5
1971 6 6
1968 5 5

Top States for Caine (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 8
100%