Cavan vs Iain

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Cavan

Boy #4,288 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"little gentle one (variant of Kevin)"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish American British

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,288
Total SSA Count
25
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Cav

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Cavan →

Iain

Boy #4,295 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"God is gracious"

Origin: Hebrew via Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Scottish Irish British Gaelic

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,295
Total SSA Count
25
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Iain →

Popularity Comparison

Cavan Rank #4,288
Iain Rank #4,295

Cavan is more popular, ranked #4288 vs #4295 for Iain.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Cavan ___

  • Cavan James
  • Cavan Patrick
  • Cavan Finn
  • Cavan Liam
  • Cavan Declan
  • Cavan Sean

Iain ___

  • Iain Fraser
  • Iain Alasdair
  • Iain Ross
  • Iain Duncan
  • Iain James
  • Iain Malcolm

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Cavan

Declan Finn Siobhan Maeve Conor

If you choose Iain

Ewan Finlay Hamish Calum Fiona

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cavan or Iain more popular?

Cavan is more popular, ranked #4288 compared to Iain at #4295 in the United States.

What do Cavan and Iain mean?

Cavan means "little gentle one (variant of Kevin)" (Irish Gaelic origin). Iain means "God is gracious" (Hebrew via Gaelic origin).

Are Cavan and Iain boy or girl names?

Cavan is primarily a boy name. Iain is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Cavan ← Full profile: Iain Browse all baby names