Kongmong
Ancient Korean masculine name meaning "radiant sun".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Kongmong. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kongmong today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kongmong births was 1995 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kongmong. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kongmong. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1995
7 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
1995 SSA rank
#7,439
Tracked since 1995
Popularity
Kongmong: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kongmong by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kongmong during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kongmong
The given name Kongmong has its roots in the Korean language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. This name is derived from the combination of the words "kong" meaning "wide" or "vast," and "mong" meaning "dream" or "vision." Thus, the name Kongmong carries the meaning of a grand or expansive dream or vision.
In Korean history, the name Kongmong is closely associated with the legendary scholar and inventor Jang Yeong-sil, also known as Jang Kongmong, who lived during the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392 CE). He is renowned for his contributions to various fields, including astronomy, mathematics, and engineering. Jang Kongmong's achievements were documented in the historical record "Samguk Sagi" (History of the Three Kingdoms).
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kongmong can be found in the Korean classic novel "The Dream of the Nine Clouds," written during the Goryeo dynasty. The protagonist, a young scholar named Kongmong, embarks on a journey filled with dreams and visions, reflecting the symbolic meaning of the name.
Throughout Korean history, several notable figures have borne the name Kongmong. One such individual was Yi Kongmong (1554-1610), a prominent scholar and official during the Joseon dynasty. He was known for his contributions to Confucian philosophy and his criticism of corrupt practices within the government.
Another historical figure with this name was Hong Kongmong (1644-1716), a renowned scholar and poet of the late Joseon dynasty. His literary works, including poetry collections and essays, have been widely studied and appreciated for their depth and elegance.
In the 19th century, Jang Kongmong (1829-1899) was a prominent educator and calligrapher who played a significant role in the development of modern Korean education. He established one of the first private academies in Seoul, which aimed to promote traditional Korean culture and values.
While the name Kongmong has been more commonly used in Korea throughout history, it has also been adopted in other East Asian cultures, reflecting the cultural exchange and influence within the region. However, the name's origin and primary association remain deeply rooted in Korean culture and language.
People
Kongmong + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kongmong as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kongmong: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kongmong?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kongmong going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Kongmong a common name?
We classify Kongmong as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kongmong most popular?
The single biggest year for Kongmong was 1995, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kongmong is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kongmong in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kongmong a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kongmong in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Kongmong still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kongmong in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kongmong can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Kongmong?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.