Cha

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Cha

Pronounced CHAH /ˈtʃɑː/Low

Meaning: Cha is used both as a Hmong clan and given name and as a Korean surname; the two routes are distinct, and this record may reflect either heritage.Low

In 30 seconds: Cha is both a Hmong clan and given name and a Korean surname. It appeared for United States boys in the early nineteen-eighties amid Hmong and East Asian immigration (said CHAH).

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowHmong, Korean

MeaningCha is used both as a Hmong clan and given name and as a Korean surname; the two routes are distinct, and this record may reflect either heritage.

U.S. rank (2006)#9732 ↘ Falling

2006 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1991

Total births (all-time)≈ 253

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cha entered United States records with the arrival of Hmong refugee families and other East Asian immigrants after the mid nineteen-seventies. Its small peak came around 1991.

It was never common, given to only a couple dozen boys a year at most, and its use is tied closely to immigrant communities. It reads clearly as a heritage name rather than a mainstream trend.

Did you know? The name sits in two traditions at once: Cha is one of the recognized Hmong clan names, and it is also a common Korean family name, so its bearers may come from either background.

Overall data confidence 35%

References - Cha — Hmong clan/given name and Korean surname; both routes noted honestly; immigration context

Variations

ChahChaiChar

Nicknames

Chachi

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cha…

Kai— a short East Asian boy's name of similar shape

Tou— a common Hmong boy's name of the era

Chee— a similarly popular pick

Chong— a fellow Korean choice

Jae— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Cha

By themerare heritage korean hmong

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cha mean?

It is used both as a Hmong clan and given name and as a Korean surname.

How do you pronounce Cha?

It's said CHAH /ˈtʃɑː/, one syllable.

Is Cha a boy or girl name?

Cha is recorded here as a boy's name.

How popular is Cha?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only a couple dozen boys a year at its peak in the early nineteen-nineties.