What does Chen mean?
Chen is commonly the character 晨, “morning, dawn,” among other characters.
What does Kang mean?
Kang is commonly the character 康, “health, peace, well-being.”
Chen vs Kang
Which is more popular?
Chen and Kang are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Chen | Kang | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Morning, dawn (晨) | Health, well-being (康) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | CHUN | KAHNG |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1977 | 1981 |
| Peak year | 1983 (9) | 2000 (7) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Chen
Kang
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Chen | Kang |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 22 | 0 |
| 2010s | 55 | 5 |
| 2000s | 50 | 12 |
| 1990s | 39 | 16 |
| 1980s | 20 | 11 |
| 1970s | 7 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Chen or Kang more popular?
Chen and Kang are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Chen and Kang?
Chen means Morning, dawn (晨) (Chinese origin), while Kang means Health, well-being (康) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Chen or Kang?
In US records, Chen first appears in 1977 and Kang in 1981, so Chen has the longer recorded history.