UK name, mostly boys
Hong
A Chinese name meaning vast, abundant, or prosperous.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 13 girls.
Hong is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Hong popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3315, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 7 births.
This profile covers 46 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2000 to 2013. 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 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 46 living people in the UK are called Hong. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hong ranked #3315 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 7 boys were registered as Hong.
- • Hong is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 46 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hong as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 78.0% of Hong registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3315
2013
Births in 2013
5
Latest year
Peak year
2010
7 births
Estimated living
46
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Hong
In England and Wales birth records, Hong has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 78.0% of registrations are for boys and 22.0% 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.
Hong registered for boys
- Ranked #3,315 in 2013
- 5 boys registered in 2013
- Peak: 2010 (7 births)
Hong registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2011
- 3 girls registered in 2011
- Peak: 2005 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Hong mean?
The name Hong has its origins in the Chinese language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "hong," which means "vast" or "great." The name is believed to have emerged during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), which was a prosperous and influential period in Chinese history.
Hong was a popular name among the Chinese nobility and imperial families. It was often given to sons in the hope that they would grow up to achieve greatness and make significant contributions to society. The name appeared in various historical records and ancient texts from this era, including the "Book of Han" and the "Records of the Grand Historian."
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Hong was Hong Gong (200 BC – 130 BC), a prominent philosopher and poet during the Han Dynasty. He was known for his works on Confucianism and his influence on the development of Chinese literature.
Another notable figure was Hong Xiuquan (1814 – 1864), a Christian convert and leader of the Taiping Rebellion, one of the bloodiest civil wars in Chinese history. Despite his controversial legacy, he played a significant role in shaping the course of 19th-century China.
In the realm of art and culture, Hong Yi (1880 – 1942) was a renowned Chinese painter and calligrapher who made significant contributions to the development of modern Chinese art. His works were heavily influenced by traditional Chinese aesthetics and techniques.
In more recent times, Hong Lim Park in Singapore is named after Hong Lim (1835 – 1917), a Chinese merchant and community leader who donated the land for the park's establishment. The park has become an important venue for public speeches and events in the city-state.
Another individual worth mentioning is Hong Ren (1932 – 2022), a celebrated Chinese filmmaker and actor. He directed several critically acclaimed films, including "The Herdsman" and "The Displaced Person," which explored themes of rural life and cultural traditions in China.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Hong throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of Chinese culture and society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hong over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Hong in England and Wales, from 2000 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hong, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2013, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hong by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hong 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 | #3849 | 18 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3020 | 28 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Hong
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Hong: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hong in the UK right now?
In 2013, Hong was ranked #3315 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Hong most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 7 babies registered as Hong in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hong?
A Chinese name meaning vast, abundant, or prosperous.
How many people are called Hong in the UK?
A total of 46 babies have been registered as Hong across the 10 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.