The name Hung is of Vietnamese origin, meaning 'heroic' or 'red'. It is composed of two characters: 'Hung' (雄) which means 'hero', and 'Viet' (越), traditionally referring to the southern region. Thus, Hung Viet translates to 'Hero of the South'. The name has been popularized by historical figures such as Trieu Hung Da, a leader who united Vietnam in the 3rd century AD.
The name Hung experienced peak popularity between 1981 and 1982 with 88 and 65 births respectively, but has since seen a significant decline, with only 5 to 9 births per year from 2003 onwards.