Tong
A gender-neutral name of Chinese origin meaning "understanding" or "bright".
Name Census estimates that about 297 living Americans carry the first name Tong. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tong today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tong births was 1993 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tong. 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
297
~ 1 in 1,154,055 Americans
Peak year
1993
22 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2019 SSA rank
#13,940
Tracked since 1946
Popularity
Tong: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tong from the 1940s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 147 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
Tong 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 Tong during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tongs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Minnesota, Wisconsin recorded the most babies named Tong, while Wisconsin, Minnesota, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 48 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tong
The given name Tong has its origins in the Chinese language, tracing back to ancient times. It is believed to have derived from the Middle Chinese word "tong," which means "youth" or "young." This linguistic connection suggests that the name was initially given to boys and young men, symbolizing their youthful vitality and energy.
In Chinese culture, names often carry profound meanings and are carefully chosen to reflect desired attributes or blessings for the child. The name Tong might have been bestowed upon newborns with the hope that they would grow up to embody the qualities of youth, such as vigor, curiosity, and the potential for growth and development.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Tong can be traced back to ancient Chinese literature and historical records. One notable example is Tong Zhongshu, a philosopher and official who lived during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). His influential work on Confucian thought and his contributions to the establishment of the Han imperial ideology made him a prominent figure in Chinese history.
Another famous bearer of the name Tong was Tong Guan, a celebrated Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) poet and calligrapher. His literary works and exceptional calligraphic skills earned him recognition as one of the most accomplished artists of his time.
In the realm of traditional Chinese medicine, Tong Xuan Zhi, a renowned physician during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD), made significant contributions to the development of acupuncture and herbal remedies. His writings and teachings had a lasting impact on the practice of traditional Chinese medicine.
Moving forward in history, Tong Shao Yi was a notable figure during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD). He served as a high-ranking military general and played a crucial role in suppressing various rebellions, helping to maintain the stability of the Ming Empire.
In more recent times, the name Tong has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields. For instance, Tong Linge (1915–2012) was a acclaimed Chinese opera singer and actress, renowned for her portrayal of traditional Kunqu opera roles.
While the name Tong has its roots in Chinese culture, it has also been adopted and adapted in other parts of the world, reflecting the global influence and spread of Chinese names and traditions.
People
Tong + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tong as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tong: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tong?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 297 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tong 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 1,154,055 US residents.
Is Tong a common name?
We classify Tong as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 309 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tong most popular?
The single biggest year for Tong was 1993, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tong is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tong a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tong 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.