Meaning and background
The story behind Xiong
Xiong is a documented Chinese surname, most commonly represented by 熊, the character for bear. Dictionary of American Family Names also identifies it with a Hmong clan name in South-East Asia. These are surname and clan traditions, not proof that a dog was named after a bear. The original character matters, as does the speaker's language and tone. Its spelling in English does not reveal the appropriate pronunciation without cultural context.
- Origin
- Chinese surname usually written 熊 (literally “bear”), also associated with the Xiong Hmong clan. Source
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About Xiong
Recorded as a dog’s name
Xiong appears in 5 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/ʒɔŋ/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the first syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/ʒɔŋ/ · primary stress on syllable 1ZH AO1 NG
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.