What does Kang mean?
Kang is commonly the character 康, “health, peace, well-being.”
What does Jie mean?
Jie is commonly the character 杰, “hero, outstanding.”
Kang vs Jie
Which is more popular?
Kang and Jie are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Kang | Jie | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Health, well-being (康) | Hero, outstanding (杰) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KAHNG | JYEH |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1981 | 1996 |
| Peak year | 2000 (7) | 2000 (9) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Kang
Jie
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Kang | Jie |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 14 |
| 2000s | 12 | 53 |
| 1990s | 16 | 19 |
| 1980s | 11 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kang or Jie more popular?
Kang and Jie are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Kang and Jie?
Kang means Health, well-being (康) (Chinese origin), while Jie means Hero, outstanding (杰) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Kang or Jie?
In US records, Kang first appears in 1981 and Jie in 1996, so Kang has the longer recorded history.