UK boy's name
Kayin
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "spear" or "lance".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kayin is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kayin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3478, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2004 to 2016. 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 25 living people in the UK are called Kayin. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kayin ranked #3478 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 boys were registered as Kayin.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kayin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3478
2016
Births in 2016
5
Latest year
Peak year
2004
5 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Kayin mean?
The given name Kayin originates from the Hebrew language and culture, with its earliest known use dating back to the biblical era. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "Qayin," which means "acquired" or "created." It is associated with the biblical figure of Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, who is depicted in the Book of Genesis as the first murderer.
In the Book of Genesis, Cain is described as a farmer who became jealous of his brother Abel's favor with God and ultimately murdered him. This biblical account has been a significant influence on the perception and connotations associated with the name Kayin throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kayin is Cain himself, as mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Beyond the biblical narrative, there are few historical records of individuals bearing this name in ancient times, likely due to its association with the biblical story of fratricide.
However, the name has been used by some notable individuals throughout history, including:
1. Kayin Sundaram (1927-2022), an Indian classical musician and prominent exponent of the veena, a plucked string instrument. 2. Kayin Aung (born 1946), a Burmese politician and former Prime Minister of Myanmar from 1997 to 2003. 3. Kayin Sozer (born 1963), a Turkish film director and screenwriter known for his critically acclaimed movies exploring social issues. 4. Kayin Kalayci (born 1981), a Turkish-German professional basketball player who played in various European leagues. 5. Kayin Buzzacott (born 1988), an Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
While the name Kayin has biblical roots and associations with the story of Cain, its usage has been relatively uncommon throughout history, possibly due to the negative connotations surrounding the biblical figure. However, it has been adopted by individuals from various cultures and backgrounds, each bringing their own interpretations and perspectives to the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kayin over time
The chart below shows babies named Kayin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kayin, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2016, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kayin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kayin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3995 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3356 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Kayin
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kayin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kayin in the UK right now?
In 2016, Kayin was ranked #3478 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Kayin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Kayin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kayin?
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "spear" or "lance".
How many people are called Kayin in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Kayin across the 6 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.