Cain

Cain is the biblical name of the first son of Adam and Eve. In Genesis, his name is connected through wordplay with acquiring or obtaining, although its original etymology is not securely settled. Suggestions such as “spear” also occur in discussions of the Hebrew form. Cain's best-known association is the story in which he kills his brother Abel.

That narrative is a significant part of how many people will hear the name, so it deserves consideration alongside its short, forceful sound. Caine offers a spelling alternative, while Kane can have a separate surname history and should not automatically be assigned Cain's origin. For families drawn to one-syllable biblical names, Cain is memorable but carries a more difficult story than many comparable choices.