Keng

♂ Boy

Pronounced KENG /ˈkɛŋ/Medium

Meaning: Keng is a Hmong given name for boys, borne within Hmong communities that resettled in the United States from the mid-nineteen-seventies after the wars in Southeast Asia. As with many Hmong names, precise glosses vary by clan and usage, so it is best presented as a genuine Hmong heritage name rather than assigned a single fixed meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Keng is a Hmong boys' name carried to America by Hmong families after the mid-seventies. A crisp single syllable, it is a genuine heritage name (said 'KENG').

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Origin MediumHmong

MeaningKeng is a Hmong given name for boys, borne within Hmong communities that resettled in the United States from the mid-nineteen-seventies after the wars in Southeast Asia. As with many Hmong names, precise glosses vary by clan and usage, so it is best presented as a genuine Hmong heritage name rather than assigned a single fixed meaning.

U.S. rank (2023)#10263 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1992

Total births (all-time)≈ 504

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

Keng is a Hmong given name whose appearance in the United States tracks Hmong resettlement from the mid-nineteen-seventies onward, following the conflicts in Laos and Vietnam. It is a real heritage name; because Hmong name meanings vary by family and context, we present it honestly as such rather than fixing a single gloss.

It has been rare throughout, given to only a few dozen boys a year at a faint high point around 1992, with a long thin presence reflecting steady community use. Its story is one of migration and heritage rather than fashion.

Did you know? Keng arrives in American records in the later nineteen-seventies - the years when Hmong refugees, allies of the US in Southeast Asia, resettled here in large numbers, bringing their names with them.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Keng (Hmong) — Hmong given name; Hmong-American resettlement post-1975

Variations

KengKeeng

Nicknames

Keng

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Keng…

Tou— another common Hmong given name of the era

Kong— shares Keng's Hmong roots

Blong— shares the -ng ending

Mung— a fellow Hmong choice

Meng— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Keng mean?

Keng is a Hmong given name; as with many Hmong names, its gloss varies by family, so we present it as a genuine heritage name.

How do you pronounce Keng?

It's said KENG /ˈkɛŋ/ - one syllable.

Is Keng a boy or girl name?

Keng is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Keng?

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