Declining since 2018, #1,425 for boys today.
Popularity of Kaine since 1973
Babies named Kaine per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 62 |
| 1980s | 72 |
| 1990s | 487 |
| 2000s | 744 |
| 2010s | 1,329 |
| 2020s | 927 |
Meaning & origin
Kaine entered U.S. naming records in 1973, and by 2025 it held a rank of 1425, with about 1 in 13,556 boys receiving the name. Its peak popularity came in 2017, after which it has been on a steady decline. The name has seen strongest usage in Maryland, Arizona, and Tennessee. As a modern variant of Kane or Cain, Kaine fits into the broader trend of concise, consonant-heavy names that have become popular in recent decades.
Kaine is generally considered a variant spelling of Kane, an Anglicized form of the Welsh name Cian, meaning 'ancient' or 'enduring', or from the Irish name Cathán, meaning 'warrior'. Alternatively, it may be a modern respelling of the biblical name Cain, associated with the figure in Genesis. The use of Kaine as a given name rose in the United States starting in the 1970s, influenced by the fashion for surnames and short, strong-sounding names.
Where Kaine is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kai
Sibling names for Kaine
Names that share Kaine's style, for a brother or sister.
