UK boy's name
Cayne
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly Celtic or Old English.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cayne is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cayne popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3134, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Cayne. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cayne ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 boys were registered as Cayne.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cayne as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3134
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Cayne mean?
The name Cayne is believed to have originated from the Old English word "cyne," which means "bold" or "brave." This name was particularly popular among the Anglo-Saxon tribes that inhabited parts of present-day England during the early medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cayne can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Caine" in this historical document, referring to a landowner in the county of Gloucestershire.
In the 12th century, a French monk named Cayne de Lille gained recognition for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy. He is credited with contributing to the intellectual and religious discourse of his time, and his writings remain influential in certain academic circles to this day.
During the Renaissance period, Cayne Merrick, an English playwright and poet, rose to prominence in the literary circles of Elizabethan England. Born in 1568, Merrick's works often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, earning him a place among the notable writers of his era.
In the 19th century, Cayne Pritchard, a Welsh entrepreneur and industrialist, made significant contributions to the development of the coal mining industry in South Wales. His innovative mining techniques and business acumen helped shape the economic landscape of the region during the Industrial Revolution.
Another notable figure bearing the name Cayne was Sir Cayne Edgerton, a British diplomat and statesman who served as the Ambassador to France in the early 20th century. Born in 1872, Edgerton played a crucial role in fostering diplomatic relations between the two nations during a period of political tension and upheaval.
While the name Cayne may have originated from Old English roots, its use has transcended geographical boundaries and cultural contexts over the centuries. The individuals mentioned above represent just a few examples of the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with this name throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cayne over time
The chart below shows babies named Cayne registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cayne, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2001, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cayne by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cayne was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3134 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2903 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Cayne
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Cayne: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cayne in the UK right now?
In 2001, Cayne was ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cayne most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Cayne in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cayne?
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly Celtic or Old English.
How many people are called Cayne in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Cayne across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.