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Kane

Boy name · 381 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kane: 381 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 20 births in 1998.

Of Irish and Welsh origin, Kane derives from the Gaelic *cathán* meaning "little warrior" or "battle," though it also has a separate root in the Welsh *cain*, meaning "handsome" or "bright." The name is most famously borne by the Biblical figure Cain, though the spelling Kane is often preferred to distance from that association. Modern bearers include the actor Kane Hodder, famed for playing the horror icon Jason Voorhees, and Scottish street artist Kane, known for his striking murals across Glasgow. Places sharing the name's root include Cain's Hill in Dumfries and Galloway, though directly named locations are rare. A notable variant is the Irish surname Ó Catháin, anglicised as O'Kane, and interestingly, the name has seen a steady rise in Scottish popularity since the 1990s, perhaps influenced by its strong, single-syllable sound.