Kien first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kien has been for the last 43 years (from 1982 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kien

An uncommon Vietnamese unisex name meaning "firm" or "persevering".

Popularity of Kien by gender

Based on the last 43 years of data, Kien is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 26 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kien.

YearMale CountFemale Count
2024260
2023130
2022150
2021210
2020140
2019200
2018150
2017160
2016210
2015180
2014170
2013210
2012150
2011160
2010200
2009220
2008190
2007130
2006100
2005140
2004250
2003180
2002140
2001120
200070
199990
199870
199770
1996100
199480
199380
199260
199180
198960
198570
198460
198360
198260

The history of the first name Kien

The name Kien has its origins in the Vietnamese language and culture. It is a male given name that dates back several centuries. In Vietnamese, the name is derived from the word "kien" which means "firm" or "steadfast."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kien can be found in the Annals of Dai Viet, a historical text that chronicles the history of Vietnam from the 11th to the 15th century. The text mentions a notable figure named Kien Trung, who was a military commander and government official during the Tran dynasty in the 13th century.

Another historical figure with the name Kien was Kien Giang, a Vietnamese prince and military leader who lived in the 18th century. He is known for his role in defending the southern regions of Vietnam against the Siamese invasion during the Tay Son rebellion.

In the realm of literature, the name Kien is associated with Nguyen Du, a renowned Vietnamese poet and scholar from the early 19th century. His epic poem "The Tale of Kieu" is considered a masterpiece of Vietnamese literature and features characters with the name Kien.

Kien Hoa was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and writer who lived in the 17th century. He is famous for his contributions to the development of the Vietnamese writing system and his efforts in promoting Buddhism in Vietnam.

Moving to more modern times, Kien Giang is also the name of a province in southern Vietnam, named after the historical figure mentioned earlier. This region has a rich cultural heritage and is known for its diverse landscapes and ethnic communities.

It is worth noting that while the name Kien has its roots in Vietnamese culture, it has also been adopted by other Southeast Asian communities, particularly in Cambodia and Laos, due to cultural and linguistic connections.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kien was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kien, please contact us.

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