Pao
A Taiwanese unisex name meaning "precious" or "treasure."
Name Census estimates that about 290 living Americans carry the first name Pao. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Pao today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pao births was 1991 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pao. 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.
People living today
290
~ 1 in 1,181,912 Americans
Peak year
1991
29 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
1999 SSA rank
#8,477
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Pao: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pao from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 175 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Pao remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pao 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 Pao during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Paos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Minnesota, Wisconsin recorded the most babies named Pao, while Wisconsin, Minnesota, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 52 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Pao
The name Pao has its origins in the Chinese language, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "pao," which means "precious" or "treasure." This name has been widely used across various regions of China for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pao can be found in the historical records of the Han Dynasty, which ruled China from 206 BC to 220 AD. During this period, the name was often given to children as a symbol of their parents' hopes and aspirations for their offspring's future.
In Buddhist scriptures, the name Pao appears in reference to a revered monk who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). This monk, known as Pao An, was renowned for his wisdom and contributions to the spread of Buddhism throughout the region.
Throughout Chinese history, several notable figures have borne the name Pao. One such individual was Pao Chao (999-1062), a prominent statesman and scholar during the Song Dynasty. He was renowned for his literary works and his influential role in shaping the political landscape of his time.
Another famous bearer of the name Pao was Pao Tsung-ho (1892-1944), a celebrated artist and calligrapher from the early 20th century. His works are celebrated for their unique style and contribution to the development of modern Chinese art.
In more recent times, Pao Yu-chang (1918-2012) was a renowned Taiwanese writer and literary critic. He was widely respected for his extensive body of work, which explored various aspects of Taiwanese culture and identity.
While the name Pao has its roots in Chinese culture, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among those with Chinese ancestry or connections to Chinese communities. The name's association with preciousness and value has made it a popular choice for parents seeking a meaningful and culturally significant name for their children.
People
Pao + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pao as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Pao: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pao?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 290 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pao 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 1,181,912 US residents.
Is Pao a common name?
We classify Pao as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 301 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pao most popular?
The single biggest year for Pao was 1991, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pao is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Pao a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pao 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.
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.