Yong
An East Asian masculine name of Chinese origin meaning "brave" or "everlasting".
Name Census estimates that about 361 living Americans carry the first name Yong. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 70.8% of registrations being male. The average person named Yong today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yong births was 1946 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yong. 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
- • Yong was once a predominantly female name but has become increasingly popular for boys in recent decades.
People living today
361
~ 1 in 949,458 Americans
Peak year
1946
17 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
2006 SSA rank
#12,017
Tracked since 1936
Gender
Gender distribution for Yong
Yong is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 425 total registrations, 301 (70.8%) were male and 124 (29.2%) were female.
Yong as a male name
- Ranked #12,017 in 2006
- 6 male births in 2006
- Peak: 1993 (13 births)
Yong as a female name
- Ranked #12,052 in 1983
- 5 female births in 1983
- Peak: 1954 (13 births)
Popularity
Yong: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yong from the 1930s through to the 2000s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 97 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Yong remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yong 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 Yong during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yongs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Yong
The name Yong has its origins in the Chinese language and can be traced back to ancient times. It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word 'yong,' which means 'brave' or 'courageous.' This name was particularly prevalent in regions of China where valor and strength were highly valued qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yong can be found in the ancient Chinese text, the Shiji, also known as the Records of the Grand Historian. This historical record, written by Sima Qian around 109 BC, mentions a notable figure named Yong Jing, a military commander during the Qin Dynasty.
Throughout Chinese history, several notable individuals bore the name Yong. One such figure was Yong Zheng, the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, who ruled from 1722 to 1735. He was known for his efforts in strengthening the empire's administration and promoting cultural and economic development.
Another prominent individual was Yong Shu, a renowned Chinese painter and calligrapher who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). His works are celebrated for their delicate brushstrokes and traditional Chinese aesthetics.
In Korean culture, the name Yong is also found, though it is often romanized as 'Young.' One notable bearer of this name was Young Sang, a revered Buddhist monk and scholar who lived during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 AD). He was instrumental in spreading Buddhist teachings throughout the Korean peninsula.
Beyond East Asia, the name Yong has also been found in other cultures, though its origins and meanings may differ. For instance, in certain West African communities, the name Yong is believed to be derived from the Yoruba language and is associated with concepts of strength and resilience.
Throughout history, the name Yong has been borne by various individuals from different cultures and eras, each leaving their mark on their respective societies. From military commanders and emperors to artists and scholars, the name Yong has been carried by individuals who have demonstrated courage, leadership, and a commitment to their respective fields.
People
Yong + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yong as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yong: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yong?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 361 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yong 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 949,458 US residents.
Is Yong a common name?
We classify Yong as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 425 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yong most popular?
The single biggest year for Yong was 1946, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yong is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Yong a male name?
Yes, 70.8% of people registered as Yong 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.