Gao

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Gao

Pronounced GOW /ˈɡaʊ/Medium

Meaning: Gao is a Hmong given name used for girls, borne within Hmong communities that resettled in the United States from the mid-nineteen-seventies. It is written here in romanized Hmong only; while the same syllable exists as a Chinese surname, the use recorded here is the Hmong given name. Meanings vary by family, so it is presented as a genuine heritage name.Low

In 30 seconds: Gao is a Hmong girls' name, carried to America by Hmong families after the mid-seventies. A single bright syllable, it is a genuine heritage name (said 'GOW').

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Origin MediumHmong

MeaningGao is a Hmong given name used for girls, borne within Hmong communities that resettled in the United States from the mid-nineteen-seventies. It is written here in romanized Hmong only; while the same syllable exists as a Chinese surname, the use recorded here is the Hmong given name. Meanings vary by family, so it is presented as a genuine heritage name.

U.S. rank (2008)#18451 ↘ Falling

2008 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1989

Total births (all-time)≈ 375

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

Gao is a Hmong given name for girls whose American appearance follows Hmong resettlement from the mid-nineteen-seventies, after the wars in Southeast Asia. It is presented in romanized Hmong; because Hmong name meanings depend on family and context, we treat it honestly as a heritage name rather than fixing a single gloss.

It has been rare throughout, given to only a few dozen girls a year at a faint high point around 1989, with a long thin presence reflecting steady community use. Its story is one of migration and heritage rather than trend.

Did you know? Gao is a Hmong given name written in romanized form; the same sound is also a common Chinese surname, but the American records here reflect its use as a Hmong girl's name brought by refugee families.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Gao (Hmong) — Hmong given name (also a Chinese surname); Hmong-American use, romanization only

Variations

GaoKao

Nicknames

Gao

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If you like Gao…

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Gao mean?

Gao is a Hmong given name for girls; as meanings vary by family, we present it as a genuine heritage name.

How do you pronounce Gao?

It's said GOW /ˈɡaʊ/ - one syllable, rhyming with 'now'.

Is Gao a boy or girl name?

Gao is used here as a girl's name.

How popular is Gao?

Gao has always been rare in the US, used chiefly by Hmong-American families since the later seventies.