A name carries a great deal of meaning. What is the significance of Chanoch’s name that Kayin selected it over any number of similarly appropriate names? Also, why did he use the same name that he gave to his son for his first city? The Koheles Yitzchak relates a novel explanation for the use of this name, in the name of a Gadol Echod.
In retrospect, Kayin was distressed over his reprehensible act of killing Hevel. He asked himself how someone of his stature and nobility could kill his brother in cold blood? Where did he get that burning passion to strike out again and again with the express desire to kill his brother? It is suggested that Kayin realized the value of human life too late. His level of compassion for, and sensitivity to, others practically did not exist. Why? The answer lies in the name he gave his son — Chanoch — a derivative of chinuch, education. Kayin realized that his lack of feeling for others resulted from a lack of education in his upbringing. His parents had not imbued him with the proper middos, moral characteristics, to be able to relate to others. Consequently, under duress, he lost his sense of value and killed his brother.
To prevent a recurrence of this problem in the next generation, he named his son Chanoch, to emphasize the importance of an education. Without the proper chinuch structured individually for each child, he might end up raising a potential monster. Education which focuses upon character development and cognitive knowledge is an integral component in the development of a human being. Why did he name his city Chanoch? Kayin was communicating another valuable lesson — education is necessary everywhere one goes, not just at home. Parents must make sure that wherever their children go, they will be educated in the Torah way.
We may add another idea. Kayin sought to underscore the critical significance of a proper environment for one’s education. The parents can and must provide a suitable educational climate at home, but what happens when their child leaves? They must arrange for him to be placed in a proper environment, which will cultivate and enhance, enrich and embody the education he has received at home. A vital component of Kayin’s penance was to ensure that his tragic mistake would not be repeated by others. Emphasizing the need for a proper education was his way of placing focus on the root of the problem.
