Hmong Name Generator
Hmong given names with all eighteen clan names
Generate Hmong full names in given name plus clan order and in clan-first order, from Pahoua Yang and Tou Ger Lor to Vang Za Teng and Moua Pa Houa, plus given names and clan names standing alone. The list holds 500 names for characters, stories and family research, with the eighteen clan names in their usual American spellings.
About Hmong names
A Hmong name is a given name and a clan name. The eighteen clans, in their usual American spellings, are Chang, Cheng, Chue, Fang, Hang, Her, Khang, Kong, Kue, Lee, Lor, Moua, Pha, Thao, Vang, Vue, Xiong and Yang. Some have a second spelling: Lee and Ly, Lor and Lo, Chang and Cha, Thao and Thor, Her and Heu. The clan name passes from a father to his children, a woman traditionally keeps her own clan name when she marries, and two people of the same clan do not marry each other.
Given names are short, usually one syllable, and many are everyday words: Pa is flower, Kou is gold, Nhia is silver and Hli is moon. Two names are often joined, as in Mai Yia, Pa Foua or Tou Fue. Mai, Gao and Kao come from words for a girl or young woman and Tou from the word for a son. A married man can also be given an adult name that goes in front of his first one.
In Laos and Thailand the clan name is said first, so the list has entries in that order (Vang Za Teng) beside the American order (Kazoua Yang). Written Hmong, in the Romanized Popular Alphabet, spells Vang, Yang and Xiong as Vaj, Yaj and Xyooj.
How to choose Hmong names
- Choose the order for the setting. Given name first suits a character raised in the United States, while clan name first, as in Lor Koua or Xiong Blia, suits Laos, Thailand or an elder speaking Hmong.
- Give a married couple two different clan names. People of one clan do not marry each other, and children take the clan name of their father.
- Keep one spelling inside a family. Lee and Ly are the same clan, and so are Lor and Lo, but relatives who share a household normally share the spelling on their papers.
- Use two-part names to tell people apart. With eighteen clan names and short given names, a community has many people called Pao or Mai, so Nhia Long or Mai Choua is the practical choice in a large cast.
- Short names like these belong to many living people. Before you put one on a published character, search the full name yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What are the eighteen Hmong last names?
Hmong last names are clan names: Chang, Cheng, Chue, Fang, Hang, Her, Khang, Kong, Kue, Lee, Lor, Moua, Pha, Thao, Vang, Vue, Xiong and Yang. Ly, Lo, Cha, Thor and Heu are other spellings of Lee, Lor, Chang, Thao and Her. Every one of them is in the list, alone and in full names such as Blong Khang, Pakou Kong and Xee Moua.
Why do some entries put the clan name first?
That is the order used in Hmong and in Laos and Thailand, where a man might be introduced as Vang Za Teng. In the United States the order is usually reversed to fit the first name and last name boxes on forms. The list has both, and entries such as Thao Kao, Moua Pa Houa and Kong Cher Tong are in clan-first order.
Are Hmong given names different for men and women?
Many are. Names that open with Mai, Gao or Kao are women's names, as are most that open with Pa or Ka: Mai Zoua Hang, Gaosheng Xiong, Ka Ying Thao. Tou, Wa, Cher and Chong open men's names such as Tou Long Yang and Wa Meng Lee. Some single names, Nhia, Shoua, Chue and Bee among them, are used for both.
Are these the names of real people?
No entry is meant to name a particular person. Every given name and clan name here is in real use, the list was drafted by combining them, and we tried to leave out the names of well-known public figures. With so few clan names, some living people will share a combination, so treat any match as a coincidence.
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All 500 Hmong names
B: 13 names
- Bao Cha
- Bao Lor
- Bao Yang
- Bee Lee
- Bee Moua
- Bee Thao
- Blia Chang
- Blia Fang
- Blia Moua
- Blong
- Blong Cha
- Blong Khang
- Blong Lee
C: 48 names
- Cha
- Cha Nao
- Cha Pang
- Chai Chang
- Chai Lo
- Chang
- Chang Doua
- Chang Ger
- Chang Hue
- Chang See
- Chao Hang
- Chao Thor
- Chao Xiong
- Chee Hang
- Chee Pha
- Cheng
- Cheng Cher
- Cheng Mayly
- Cheng Tong Ger
- Cheng Tou Hue
- Cher Heu
- Cher Lee
- Cher Pao
- Cher Tong Her
- Cher Tong Khang
- Cher Xai
- Chia Koua
- Chia Lo
- Chia Long
- Chia Neng
- Chia Vue
- Chong Ger
- Chong Hang
- Chong Neng
- Chong Toua Fang
- Chong Toua Vue
- Chong Yee Cha
- Chong Yee Kue
- Choua
- Choua Heu
- Choua Vue
- Chue
- Chue Dang
- Chue Kong
- Chue Lia
- Chue May Ly
- Chue Tong
- Chue Vang
D: 11 names
- Dang Heu
- Dang Lor
- Der Chang
- Der Cheng
- Der Heu
- Der Kong
- Dia Cheng
- Dia Kue
- Dia Lor
- Doua Xiong
- Doua Yang
F: 9 names
- Fang
- Fang Bee
- Fang Chai
- Fang Pa Chia
- Fong Thao
- Fue Cha
- Fue Fang
- Fue Kong
- Fue Vang
G: 22 names
- Gao Hli
- Gao Khang
- Gao Lee Pha
- Gao Lee Vang
- Gao Ly
- Gao Sheng
- Gao Xiong
- Gao Youa Her
- Gao Youa Thao
- Gao Zoua Hang
- Gao Zoua Xiong
- Gaoly Khang
- Gaoly Thao
- Gaonou
- Gaonou Her
- Gaonou Thor
- Gaosheng Vang
- Gaosheng Xiong
- Ger Fang
- Ger Khang
- Ger Lo
- Ger Thor
H: 21 names
- Hang
- Hang Pa Zong
- Hang Sua
- Hang Wa
- Her
- Her Keng
- Her Tong
- Her Wa
- Her Youa Tong
- Heu
- Heu Chao
- Heu Chue
- Hli Cheng
- Hli Kong
- Houa Her
- Houa Kong
- Houa Pha
- Houa Vang
- Houa Yang
- Hue Khang
- Hue Lor
I: 3 names
- Ia Hang
- Ia Kue
- Ia Pha
K: 67 names
- Ka Her
- Ka Lia
- Ka Toua Kue
- Ka Toua Vue
- Ka Vue
- Ka Ying Pha
- Ka Ying Thao
- Ka Youa Vue
- Ka Zoua Chang
- Ka Zoua Cheng
- Ka Zoua Pha
- Kabao
- Kabao Hang
- Kabao Heu
- Kabao Khang
- Kalia Pha
- Kalia Thao
- Kao Cha
- Kao Ly Moua
- Kao Ly Xiong
- Kao Moua
- Kao Zoua Her
- Kao Zoua Lee
- Kashia
- Kashia Moua
- Kashia Thao
- Kaying
- Kaying Her
- Kaying Kue
- Kaying Lor
- Kayoua
- Kayoua Kong
- Kayoua Kue
K, continued
- Kayoua Thao
- Kazoua
- Kazoua Vue
- Kazoua Yang
- Keng Chang
- Keng Lor
- Ker Her
- Ker Lor
- Khang
- Khang Fong
- Khang Ia
- Khang Lue
- Kia Chang
- Kia Fang
- Kia Thao
- Kia Xiong
- Kong
- Kong Cher Tong
- Kong Gaonou
- Kong Tou
- Kong Wa Seng
- Kou Khang
- Kou Lee
- Kou Pha
- Kou Vue
- Kou Yeng Chang
- Kou Yeng Fang
- Koua Chang
- Koua Thao
- Koua Xiong
- Kue
- Kue Kou Yeng
- Kue Pazong
- Kue Toua
L: 23 names
- Lee
- Lee Ker
- Lee Soua
- Lee Xee
- Leng Chang
- Leng Fang
- Leng Moua
- Lia Pha
- Lia Vang
- Lo
- Lo Kashia
- Lo Zong
- Long Pha
- Long Vang
- Lor
- Lor Koua
- Lor Yer
- Lue Cha
- Lue Fang
- Lue Kong
- Ly
- Ly Mao
- Ly Nor Lue
M: 50 names
- Mai Bao
- Mai Chia Heu
- Mai Choua
- Mai Der Fang
- Mai Foua Cha
- Mai Foua Fang
- Mai Houa
- Mai Ka
- Mai Kia Chue
- Mai Kia Kue
- Mai Kou Vang
- Mai Lee Cha
- Mai Lia Vue
- Mai Nhia
- Mai Nou Lor
- Mai Sheng
- Mai Xee
- Mai Yer Thor
- Mai Yer Xiong
- Mai Yia
- Mai Youa Cheng
- Mai Youa Khang
- Mai Zoua Hang
- Maiyia Her
- Maiyia Thao
- Maiyia Xiong
- Mao Lor
- Mao Pha
- May Cha
- May Der
- May Kao
- May Lor
- May Ly Lee
- May Ly Vang
- May Moua
- May See Hang
- May See Lee
- May Yer
- Mayly Her
- Mayly Lo
- Mayly Yang
- Mee Chang
- Mee Vang
- Meng Hang
- Meng Lor
- Meng Thao
- Moua
- Moua Choua
- Moua Pa Houa
- Moua Pao
N: 29 names
- Nao Chai Lee
- Nao Chai Vue
- Nao Cheng
- Nao Kao
- Nao Leng
- Nao Tou
- Nao Vue
- Nao Ying Her
- Nao Ying Lor
- Neng Chue Chang
- Neng Chue Ly
- Neng Hang
- Neng Lor
- Neng Yang
- Neng Yee Chue
- Neng Yee Moua
- Nhia Cheng
- Nhia Lo
- Nhia Long
- Nhia Pao Her
- Nhia Pao Moua
- Nhia Thong
- Nhia Vue Chang
- Nhia Vue Hang
- Nhia Vue Lor
- Nor Lue Moua
- Nor Lue Xiong
- Nou Cha
- Nou Fang
P: 48 names
- Pa Chang
- Pa Chia Lo
- Pa Chia Vang
- Pa Dee
- Pa Der Heu
- Pa Der Kong
- Pa Foua
- Pa Houa Fang
- Pa Houa Xiong
- Pa Kou Chue
- Pa Lee Khang
- Pa Lee Thor
- Pa Nhia Cheng
- Pa Nhia Thao
- Pa Xiong
- Pa Ying
- Pa Zong Pha
- Pa Zong Yang
- Pachia
- Pachia Hang
- Pachia Kue
- Padee Kue
- Padee Moua
- Pahoua
- Pahoua Hang
- Pahoua Khang
- Pahoua Yang
- Pakou
- Pakou Khang
- Pakou Kong
- Pakou Xiong
- Pang Lor
- Pang Thao
- Panhia
- Panhia Vang
- Panhia Vue
- Pao Her
- Pao Kue
- Pazong
- Pazong Khang
- Pazong Moua
- Pha
- Pha Hli
- Pha Mee
- Pha Tou Long
- Pheng
- Pheng Her
- Pheng Lee
S: 27 names
- Sai Cha
- Sai Kue
- Sai Vang
- See Her
- See Yang
- Seng Chang
- Seng Vang
- Seng Yang
- Sheng Heu
- Sheng Khang
- Sheng Lo
- Sheng Xiong
- Shong Cheng
- Shong Hang
- Shoua
- Shoua Chang
- Shoua Fang
- Shoua Kue
- Shoua Thor
- Soua Hang
- Soua Teng
- Soua Vue
- Soua Yang
- Sua Kong
- Sua Pha
- Sue Moua
- Sue Pha
T: 42 names
- Teng Cha
- Teng Heu
- Teng Kong
- Teng Xiong
- Thai Chue
- Thai Kue
- Thao
- Thao Kao
- Thao May
- Thao Sue
- Thong Vue
- Thong Xiong
- Thor
- Thor Yee
- Thor Za Cher
- Tong Cha
- Tong Ger Hang
- Tong Ger Vang
- Tong Lo
- Tong Pao Kong
- Tong Pao Pha
- Tong Vang
- Tou Chue
- Tou Fang
- Tou Fue
- Tou Ger Her
- Tou Ger Lor
- Tou Hue Vang
- Tou Hue Yang
- Tou Lee Kue
- Tou Lee Thor
- Tou Long Moua
- Tou Long Yang
- Tou Neng Lor
- Tou Vue
- Tou Yia
- Toua
- Toua Her
- Toua Kong
- True Cheng
- True Fang
- True Vang
V: 9 names
- Vang
- Vang Gao
- Vang Kia
- Vang Pakou
- Vang Za Teng
- Vue
- Vue Doua
- Vue Gao
- Vue Leng
W: 13 names
- Wa Chong
- Wa Chue
- Wa Leng
- Wa Lor
- Wa Meng Lee
- Wa Meng Thao
- Wa Neng Heu
- Wa Neng Yang
- Wa Seng Kue
- Wa Seng Ly
- Wa Toua Cheng
- Wa Toua Yang
- Wa Xiong
X: 19 names
- Xai Cheng
- Xai Heu
- Xai Kue
- Xai Pao
- Xai Soua
- Xai Thor
- Xang Moua
- Xee Hang
- Xee Kong
- Xee Moua
- Xeng Khang
- Xeng Lee
- Xiong
- Xiong Blia
- Xiong Fong
- Xiong Xue
- Xue Khang
- Xue Lor
- Xue Thao
Y: 35 names
- Yang
- Yang Ka
- Yang Long
- Yang May See
- Yee Her
- Yee Pha
- Yeng Chue
- Yeng Kue
- Yeng Lo
- Yeng Ly
- Yeng Pha
- Yer Fang
- Yer Hang
- Yer Heu
- Yer Lee
- Yia Ly
- Yia Moua
- Yia Thor
- Ying Moua
- Ying Pha
- Ying Vue
- Yong Chue Kong
- Yong Chue Thao
- Yong Kao Xiong
- Yong Kao Yang
- Yong Kue
- Youa
- Youa Fang
- Youa Pao Khang
- Youa Pao Ly
- Youa Thao
- Youa Tong Chue
- Youa Tong Khang
- Youa Tong Vue
- Youa Yang