Kayin
Primarily a boy's name of Yoruba origin with 540 recorded births. Also given to 82 girls.
Meaning & Origin
Alternative spelling of Cain.
Kayin is a boy's and girl's baby name of Yoruba origin, meaning 'celebrated child' or 'long-awaited child,' from the Yoruba àkáyìn. It is also a spelling variant of Cain, from the Hebrew Qayin meaning 'acquired' or 'spear,' the firstborn son of Adam and Eve in Genesis.
Kayin's Yoruba meaning gives it a joyful, celebratory interpretation that stands apart from the biblical Cain's fraught legacy — a child who was waited for, hoped for, and whose arrival calls for celebration. In Yoruba naming tradition, the circumstances of a child's birth are often embedded directly in their name.
EtymologyShow more
Kayin appeared in SSA records in 1977, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Yoruba roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Kayin’s 540 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kayin has 31+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1977.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 39 | #8168 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 154 | #6223 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 261 | #3687 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 79 | #5215 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 7 | #4869 | — |
The Story of Kayin
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2001, Kayin is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Kayin are most likely born between 1991 and 2011.
How rare is Kayin?
With 540 total births on record, Kayin remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1977, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 261 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Kayin by the numbers
- Would fill 11 school buses
- Meeting one Kayin per day would take 1.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(31 years, 1977–2023)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11 | #7517 |
| 2022 | 11 | #7505 |
| 2021 | 9 | #8512 |
| 2020 | 8 | #9136 |
| 2019 | 10 | #7934 |
| 2018 | 11 | #7372 |
| 2017 | 17 | #5407 |
| 2016 | 23 | #4400 |
| 2015 | 8 | #9165 |
| 2014 | 10 | #7854 |
| 2013 | 18 | #5074 |
| 2012 | 23 | #4325 |
| 2011 | 16 | #5561 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5141 |
| 2009 | 24 | #4218 |
| 2008 | 31 | #3530 |
| 2007 | 27 | #3844 |
| 2006 | 25 | #3945 |
| 2005 | 28 | #3492 |
| 2004 | 30 | #3250 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Kayin as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Kayin has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 82 births since 2001.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kayin a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kayin most popular?
How popular is the name Kayin?
Can Kayin be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1977–2023