Kaine is a modern spelling of Kane, which comes from the Irish surname Ó Catháin and is usually explained as "little battle" or "warrior", from the Gaelic cath, "battle". The added letter sets it apart from the biblical Cain and gives it the look of names like Blaine and Paine. In the United States Kaine has stayed just outside the top 1000, with its best year at number 1014 in 2017 and a rank of 1432 in 2025.