The mountain's name honors Conrad Kain (1883–1934), an eminent mountain guide in British Columbia's Purcell Mountains. He is credited with more than 60 first ascents in the Rockies and Purcells, including first ascents of the 3 highest peaks of the Canadian Rockies; and Howser Spire and Bugaboo Spire in the Bugaboos. The mountain's toponym was published in "A Climber's Guide to the Interior Ranges of British Columbia" by J.M. Thorington in 1947, and it was officially adopted on November 15, 1962, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
