Unisex · #10,889 in 2026

Cheng

Current Rank
#10,889
Peak Rank
#1,841 (1990)
Total Babies
641
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #9,243 (38 total)
👦 Boy peak #1,841 (641 total)
👦As Boy Name
1979
First Year
2024
Last Year
1990
Peak Year
#1841
Peak Rank
641
Total Count
36
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1984
First Year
1997
Last Year
1988
Peak Year
#9243
Peak Rank
38
Total Count
7
Years Active

The Story of Cheng

As a girl name

Cheng first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1984, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1988, when 7 Chengs were born — ranking #9,243 that year. As of 2026, Cheng ranks #13,724 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 38 Chengs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Cheng first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1979, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1990, when 42 Chengs were born — ranking #1,841 that year. As of 2026, Cheng ranks #10,889 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 641 Chengs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Cheng

Phonetically similar names — useful when Cheng is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheng

What does the name Cheng mean?
Cheng is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1979. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Cheng in 2026?
In 2026, Cheng ranks #10,889 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Cheng most popular?
Cheng reached its peak popularity in 1990, ranking #1,841 that year with 42 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Cheng most popular?
Cheng has historically been most popular in Minnesota, Wisconsin, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Cheng.
Is Cheng a unisex name?
Yes — Cheng is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 6% of Chengs assigned female and 94% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Cheng?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Cheng include Jarin, Kalan, Dasani. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Cheng

Cheng is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1979 and has accumulated 641 births in the dataset. Cheng's peak popularity came in 1990 when it ranked #1,841. Use the chart and map above to compare Cheng's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.