Sung first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Sung has been for the last 38 years (from 1974 to 2011) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Sung

Of Korean origin, meaning "obey" or "illustrious, eminent."

Popularity of Sung by gender

Based on the last 38 years of data, Sung is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 90% of people named Sung being male.

For the most recent data in 2011, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Sung.

It's also interesting to see that despite Sung being historically a mostly male name, the most recent data from 2011 shows a shift in the trend, with more female babies being named Sung.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby girls were named Sung in 2011, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2011 0 6
2006 5 0
2004 5 0
2003 7 0
2001 7 0
1999 10 0
1998 9 0
1997 6 0
1996 15 0
1995 14 0
1994 12 0
1993 11 7
1992 17 0
1991 19 0
1990 17 0
1989 19 5
1988 11 0
1987 15 0
1986 14 0
1985 7 7
1984 22 0
1983 16 0
1982 11 8
1981 15 5
1980 9 0
1979 11 0
1978 7 0
1977 12 0
1976 16 0
1975 7 0
1974 7 0

The history of the first name Sung

The name Sung has its origins in the Korean language and culture. It is a variation of the Sino-Korean word 성 (seong), which means "to become" or "to accomplish." The name can also be interpreted as "victorious" or "prosperous."

In ancient Korean history, the name Sung was often given to boys with the hope that they would become successful and accomplish great things in their lives. It was a name that carried aspirations for a prosperous and victorious future.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sung can be found in the Samguk Sagi, a historical record of the Three Kingdoms period in ancient Korea (37 BCE - 935 CE). The text mentions a king named Sung Huibaek, who ruled the kingdom of Silla from 540 to 576 CE.

Throughout Korean history, several notable figures have borne the name Sung. One of the most famous was Sung Si-yeol (1607-1689), a renowned scholar and philosopher during the Joseon Dynasty. He was known for his contributions to Neo-Confucian thought and his writings on ethics and morality.

Another prominent figure was Sung Yun-bong (1835-1922), a Korean independence activist and religious leader who played a significant role in the resistance against Japanese occupation in the early 20th century.

In the field of literature, Sung Hyun (1920-1986) was a celebrated Korean novelist and short story writer, known for his works that explored the human condition and the struggles of ordinary people.

Sung Chang-hyun (1939-2008) was a renowned Korean film director and screenwriter, recognized for his contributions to the Korean New Wave cinema movement in the 1980s.

Sung Shi-kyung (born 1972) is a contemporary Korean singer-songwriter and actor, known for his soulful voice and poetic lyrics, making him one of the most popular artists in the Korean music industry.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Sung, showcasing its rich cultural significance and the diverse accomplishments associated with it.

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 Sung was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Sung first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/sung-meaning-and-history/.

"Sung first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/sung-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 9 June, 2025

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

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