Hmong Names

Did you know that Hmong people often refer to their family as a clan? In the Hmong culture, there are 18 different Hmong clans, and their last name signifies which clan they belong to. When two Hmong people meet each other for the first time, they exchange names, ages, clans and generations to determine their relationship and how to address each other. Members of a clan consider themselves to be clan brothers or clan sisters. Socially and culturally, they are obligated to help each other. 

The 18 clans of Hmong are Chang, Chue, Cheng, Fang, Her, Hang, Khang, Kong, Kue, Lee, Lor, Moua, Pha, Thao, Vang, Vue, Xiong, and Yang. When they are born they take their father's clan name, and when the women are married they take their husband's clan name.

To read more about the different types of Hmong groups, visit this article called Traditional Hmong Attire.