Phong
A Vietnamese name meaning "prosperous", "flourishing", or "wealthy".
Name Census estimates that about 979 living Americans carry the first name Phong. It is a predominantly male name (99.5% of registrations). The average person named Phong today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Phong births was 1985 (54 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Phong. 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
979
~ 1 in 350,107 Americans
Peak year
1985
54 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,626
Tracked since 1975
Gender
Gender distribution for Phong
Out of the 1,011 babies given the name Phong since 1880, 99.5% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Phong as a male name
- Ranked #9,626 in 2024
- 8 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1984 (51 births)
Phong as a female name
- Ranked #11,952 in 1985
- 5 female births in 1985
- Peak: 1985 (5 births)
Popularity
Phong: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Phong from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 432 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Phong 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 Phong during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Phongs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Texas, Minnesota recorded the most babies named Phong, while Wisconsin, Louisiana, Minnesota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 66 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Phong
The name Phong has its origins in the Vietnamese language and culture. It is derived from the Vietnamese word "phong," which means "wind" or "breeze." The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times in Vietnam, symbolizing freedom, energy, and vitality.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Phong can be found in the ancient Vietnamese epic poem "The Tale of Kieu," which dates back to the early 19th century. In this literary masterpiece, one of the characters is named Phong, although it is unclear whether this was a first name or a surname.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Phong. One of the most famous was Phong Kha (1892-1964), a Vietnamese teacher and revolutionary who played a significant role in the struggle for independence from French colonial rule. He was a close associate of Ho Chi Minh and served as the Minister of Education in the first government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Another notable figure was Phong Le (1907-1967), a Vietnamese painter and sculptor who is considered one of the pioneers of modern art in Vietnam. His works often depicted scenes from rural life and traditional Vietnamese culture, and he is celebrated for helping to establish a distinct Vietnamese artistic identity.
In the field of literature, Phong Nguyen (1923-2007) was a prominent Vietnamese poet and writer. He is best known for his collection of poems titled "The Bamboo Hut," which explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Phong Nguyen's works were widely acclaimed and helped to shape the literary landscape of Vietnam in the 20th century.
The name Phong has also been borne by several notable athletes. Phong Luu (born 1975) is a Vietnamese-American professional pool player who has won multiple world championships and is regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport's history. Phong Tran (born 1980) is a Vietnamese-American mixed martial artist who has competed in various organizations, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
While the name Phong is primarily associated with Vietnamese culture, it has also been adopted by individuals of other ethnic backgrounds, particularly in Southeast Asia and among the Vietnamese diaspora communities around the world. The name's connection to the natural elements and its symbolic representation of freedom and energy have contributed to its enduring popularity.
People
Phong + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Phong 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
Phong: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Phong?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 979 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Phong 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 350,107 US residents.
Is Phong a common name?
We classify Phong as "Very Rare". It ranks above 90% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,011 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Phong most popular?
The single biggest year for Phong was 1985, when 54 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Phong is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Phong a male name?
Yes, 99.5% of people registered as Phong 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.