UK boy's name
Xiang
A Chinese unisex name meaning "fragrant" or "soaring".
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.
Xiang is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Xiang popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2005 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Xiang. 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
- • Xiang ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 boys were registered as Xiang.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Xiang as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
3 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Xiang mean?
The name Xiang originates from Chinese and has its roots dating back to ancient times. It is a gender-neutral name that carries various meanings depending on the specific Chinese character used to write it.
One of the most common meanings of Xiang is "fragrant" or "sweet-smelling," often associated with the pleasant aroma of flowers or incense. This interpretation can be traced back to the Chinese character 香, which depicts a burning incense burner.
Another interpretation of Xiang is "village" or "countryside," derived from the character 鄉. This meaning reflects the name's connection to rural life and the tranquility of the Chinese countryside.
The name Xiang can also be written with the character 祥, which means "auspicious" or "fortunate." This usage has its roots in the ancient Chinese belief in auspicious symbols and the importance of choosing names with positive connotations.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Xiang can be found in the Shijing, an ancient collection of Chinese poetry dating back to the 11th-7th centuries BCE. In this text, the name is mentioned in the context of describing the beauty of nature and the countryside.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Xiang. One of the earliest was Xiang Yu (232-202 BCE), a renowned military leader and contender for the throne during the Chu-Han Contention period in ancient China.
Another famous figure with the name Xiang was Xiang Xiu (circa 535-594 CE), a prominent scholar and philosopher during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. He is known for his contributions to the development of Confucian thought and his influential work, the "Xiang Xiu Ji."
In the realm of literature, Xiang Kairan (1932-1992) was a celebrated Chinese novelist and essayist. His works, including the novel "The Eternal Wave," explored themes of love, family, and the complexities of human relationships.
Xiang Jingyu (1925-2000) was a renowned Chinese calligrapher and painter. Her calligraphic works were highly regarded for their elegance and mastery of traditional Chinese brush techniques.
More recently, Xiang Liqing (born 1963) is a prominent Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist. She co-founded the Shenzhen-based technology company Meizu and has been recognized for her contributions to charitable causes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Xiang over time
The chart below shows babies named Xiang registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Xiang, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Xiang by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Xiang 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 | #4723 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4167 | 12 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Xiang
- Xavier 5,738
- Xander 4,207
- Xavi 133
- Xzavier 66
- Xavian 48
- Xin 46
- Xiao 39
- Xion 31
- Xian 26
- Xavion 22
- Xu 20
- Xan 19
FAQ
Xiang: questions and answers
How popular is the name Xiang in the UK right now?
In 2013, Xiang was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Xiang most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Xiang in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Xiang?
A Chinese unisex name meaning "fragrant" or "soaring".
How many people are called Xiang in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Xiang across the 7 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.