NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Hao

A Chinese masculine name meaning "good, prosperous, joyful".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Hao is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Hao popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 21 births.

This profile covers 197 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 207 living people in the UK are called Hao. 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 2023 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Hao ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 21 boys were registered as Hao.
  • Hao ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #592 in 2016.
  • About 207 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hao as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.5% of Hao registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4789

2022

Births in 2022

3

Latest year

Peak year

2011

21 births

Estimated living

207

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Hao

In England and Wales birth records, Hao has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 98.5% of registrations are for boys and 1.5% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

99% boys
Boys197 (98.5%)Girls3 (1.5%)

Hao registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,789 in 2022
  • 3 boys registered in 2022
  • Peak: 2011 (21 births)

Hao registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,598 in 2004
  • 3 girls registered in 2004
  • Peak: 2004 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Hao mean?

The given name Hao has its origins in Chinese culture, with the name being a transliteration of the Chinese word "好" (hǎo), which means "good" or "excellent" in Mandarin Chinese. This name has been used in China for centuries, with records of its usage dating back to ancient times.

One of the earliest known references to the name Hao can be found in the Classic of Poetry (Shijing), which is one of the oldest existing collections of Chinese poetry, dating back to the early Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BC). In this text, the name Hao appears in several poems, often used as a term of praise or admiration.

Throughout Chinese history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Hao. One of the earliest was Hao Jing, a renowned scholar and calligrapher who lived during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). He is known for his contributions to the study of the Chinese classic texts and for his skilled calligraphy.

Another famous figure was Hao Chunchen, a prominent military general and strategist during the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127 AD). He played a crucial role in defending the Song Empire against the Liao and Western Xia kingdoms, and his tactics and strategies were widely studied and emulated by future generations of military leaders.

In the realm of literature, Hao Qiuren, a poet and scholar from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD), left a lasting legacy. He was renowned for his mastery of classical Chinese poetry and his contributions to the development of the ci poetry form.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912 AD), Hao Yulin was a highly respected scholar and official who served as a Grand Secretary, one of the highest positions in the imperial government. He was known for his integrity, diligence, and dedication to the principles of Confucianism.

More recently, Hao Ping, a prominent Chinese philosopher and thinker of the 20th century, made significant contributions to the study of Chinese culture and the interpretation of classical texts. His works explored the relationship between traditional Chinese thought and modern ideologies, and he played a vital role in the intellectual discourse of his time.

While these are just a few examples, the name Hao has been borne by numerous individuals throughout Chinese history, each leaving their mark in various fields such as literature, philosophy, military strategy, and governance. The name's association with excellence and virtue has made it a respected and enduring choice for parents in Chinese culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Hao over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Hao in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Hao, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 21 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
05111621199620092022

Decades

Hao by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hao 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
2020s #4390 7 2
2010s #2145 111 9
2000s #2018 76 8
1990s #2863 3 1

Geography

Where Hao is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Hao. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Hao ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #592 in 2016.

Scotland
4

Across the UK

Hao in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#592 in 2016

3 years of NRS records, 11 total registered

Related

Names similar to Hao

FAQ

Hao: questions and answers

How popular is the name Hao in the UK right now?

In 2022, Hao was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Hao most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 21 babies registered as Hao in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Hao?

A Chinese masculine name meaning "good, prosperous, joyful".

How many people are called Hao in the UK?

A total of 197 babies have been registered as Hao across the 20 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland.

Where is Hao most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Hao ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #592 in 2016. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.