Kien first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kien has been for the last 42 years (from 1982 to 2023) 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 42 years of data, Kien is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 13 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kien.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 13 0
2022 15 0
2021 21 0
2020 14 0
2019 20 0
2018 15 0
2017 16 0
2016 21 0
2015 18 0
2014 17 0
2013 21 0
2012 15 0
2011 16 0
2010 20 0
2009 22 0
2008 19 0
2007 13 0
2006 10 0
2005 14 0
2004 25 0
2003 18 0
2002 14 0
2001 12 0
2000 7 0
1999 9 0
1998 7 0
1997 7 0
1996 10 0
1994 8 0
1993 8 0
1992 6 0
1991 8 0
1989 6 0
1985 7 0
1984 6 0
1983 6 0
1982 6 0

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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"Kien first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kien-meaning-and-history/.

"Kien first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kien-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 May, 2025

Kien first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/kien-meaning-and-history/.

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