UK boy's name
Cheng
A Chinese given name meaning accomplished, prosperous, or successful.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cheng is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cheng popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 9 births.
This profile covers 68 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2005 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 68 living people in the UK are called Cheng. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cheng ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 9 boys were registered as Cheng.
- • About 68 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cheng as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4702
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
9 births
Estimated living
68
2026
Meaning
What does Cheng mean?
The name Cheng is of Chinese origin, derived from the Mandarin Chinese language. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the 3rd century BC during the Qin Dynasty, where it was used to denote a person's occupation or rank.
One of the earliest recorded appearances of the name Cheng can be found in the ancient Chinese text, the Analects of Confucius, where it was used to refer to a person's moral integrity and virtue. In this context, the name Cheng was associated with qualities such as sincerity, honesty, and righteousness.
Throughout China's imperial history, the name Cheng was often bestowed upon individuals who held prominent positions or achieved significant accomplishments. For instance, Cheng Hao (1032-1085) was a renowned Neo-Confucian philosopher and poet during the Song Dynasty, known for his influential work on the concept of "principle" (li) and its relationship to human nature.
Another notable figure with the name Cheng was Cheng Yi (1033-1107), a contemporary of Cheng Hao and a fellow Neo-Confucian thinker. Cheng Yi is recognized for his contributions to the development of the Confucian school of thought known as the "Cheng-Zhu" school, which emphasized the importance of self-cultivation and moral cultivation.
In more recent history, Cheng Siwei (born 1935) is a prominent Chinese politician and economist who served as the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 1998 to 2008. He played a significant role in shaping China's economic reforms and policies during the late 20th century.
Cheng Naishan (1546-1642) was a renowned Chinese landscape painter and calligrapher during the Ming Dynasty. His works, which often depicted nature scenes with a profound sense of tranquility and harmony, are highly regarded and have influenced generations of artists.
It's worth noting that while the name Cheng is predominantly of Chinese origin, it has also been adopted and used in other cultures and languages over time, particularly in areas with strong Chinese cultural influences or communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cheng over time
The chart below shows babies named Cheng registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cheng, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cheng by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cheng was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3396 | 38 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2811 | 30 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Cheng
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Cheng: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cheng in the UK right now?
In 2019, Cheng was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cheng most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 9 babies registered as Cheng in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cheng?
A Chinese given name meaning accomplished, prosperous, or successful.
How many people are called Cheng in the UK?
A total of 68 babies have been registered as Cheng across the 12 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.