Total births
1,024
Boys' name · since 1981
Cainan
Cainan has 1,024 recorded births since 1981 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2016 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #3313
- among boys today
- 1,024
- born since 1981
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Cainan is the #3313 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,024 recorded since 1981.
Social Security Administration records show Cainan recorded 1,024 times among boys since 1981, holding rank #3313 nationally today, ahead of 77% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1981 to 2025.
- #3313 among boys today
- 1,024 born since 1981
- 2010s peak decade
- 77% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Cainan is currently the #3313 boys' name in America, more common than 77% of boys - 1,024 born since 1981, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3313
- among boys today
- 1,024
- born since 1981
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
Cainan vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3313
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 77% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Cainan was born in this single decade.
2016
Single peak year
47 babies were named Cainan in 2016 - its busiest year on record.
How Cainan compares
1,024 Top 30% higher than 70% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Cainan's all-time total is 179% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Cainan | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,024 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 47 | 23 | 22,252 |
Cainan's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Cainan's SSA record in two at 2004 and the more recent half accounts for 71% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 29%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1985, with only 6 births recorded -- set against the 2016 peak of 47, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Cainan at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2016
Current rank
#3,313
Active since
1981
Cainan popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1981–2025
- Peak year (2016)
- 47
- Annual births at peak, across 45 years of records
Cainan by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Cainan's strongest decade.
338 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Cainan births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 52
1980s
52 births
- 1990s
1990s
141 births
- 2000s
2000s
309 births
- 2010s
2010s
338 births
- 2020s
2020s
184 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 338 births (33% of all-time use).
How Cainan compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Cainan's total volume
Cainan vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Cainan by state
Where Cainan concentrates geographically, total births since 1981
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 11 | 1.1% |
| #2 | California | | 7 | 0.7% |
| #3 | Indiana | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #4 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 5 | 0.5% |
Texas share of Cainan's total US births 1.1%
Even split
11 of 1,024 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Cainan? ▼
1,024 babies have been named Cainan since 1981. It currently ranks #3313 among boys. The peak year was 2016 with 47 births.
When was Cainan most popular? ▼
Cainan was most popular in the 2010s decade with 338 total births. The single peak year was 2016.
Where is Cainan most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Cainan are Texas (11 births), California (7 births), Indiana (5 births).
How long has the name Cainan been used? ▼
Cainan has been recorded in Social Security data since 1981, spanning 45 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Cainan? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Caiden, Cairo, Cain, Caius, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Cainan's data
- Cainan's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (338 total births) through the 2020s (184) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Cainans (11 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Cainan
Nearby Names Like Cainan
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Cainan
Caiden Boy
#546 23,341 births
Cairo Boy
#355 9,415 births
Cain Boy
#981 7,628 births
Caius Boy
#1060 2,329 births
Caine Boy
#2272 2,104 births
Compare Cainan side by side: Cainan vs Caiden Cainan vs Cairo Cainan vs Cain
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Cainan
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1981–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Cainan: #3313 Boys' Name - 1,024 Births, Peak 2016." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/cainan. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Cainan draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.