How did Hmong immigration influence U.S. baby names?

Hmong girls in Laos A large number of the Laotian immigrants entering the U.S. in the 1970s and ’80s were members of the Hmong ethnic minority. The Hmong made up the bulk of the Laotian soldiers who, since the early 1960s, had been recruited, trained, and armed by the CIA to fight against pro-communist forces in Laos. When the Pathet Lao gained control in 1975, tens of thousands of Hmong, fearing retribution, fled the country. About 90% of them were eventually resettled in the United States. Did the arrival of Hmong immigrants have an impact on U.S. baby names? Yes — Hmong names began showing up in the SSA data in the late 1970s: 197719781979Pang.5 girls*10 girlsPa..10 girls*Cheng..9 boys*Kong..9 boys*Kou..6 boys*See..6 girls*Keng..5 boys*Meng..5 boys*Nou..5 girls*Pao.5 boys**Debut Dozens of other Hmong names debuted during the 1980s. Here’s what I’ve spotted so far: 1980: Tou, Kao, Yer, Teng, Ying, Fue, Blia, Kang, Mao, Xiong, Youa, Chue, Ger, Sheng, Phoua, Seng, Soua, Toua, Xee,…