Xiongnu
The Xiongnu () were a confederation of nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese sources, inhabited the eastern Asian Steppe from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. Chinese sources report that Modu Chanyu, the supreme leader after 209 BC, founded the Xiongnu Empire.
Origin of the Huns
There are, however, potential problems with equating the names "Xiōngnú" and "Hun". Maenchen-Helfen notes that the Chinese transcription is only an approximation of their actual name. As proof of its imprecision, he notes that Emperor Wang Mang actually renamed the Xiongnu as the Hsiang-nu, with the first element meaning "to submit", while on bad terms with the group. Later, when on good terms, he renamed them Kung-nu, with the first element meaning "respectful". Christopher Beckwith, moreover, notes that the pronunciation of Xiongnu in Old Chinese is uncertain. While it was likely pronounced "*χoŋnʊ" or "*χʲoŋnʊ" in Middle Chinese, it is possible it was taken into Old Chinese before the change of initial "s" to "χ", meaning it could correspond to an Iranian name like Saka or "skuδa" (Scythian). E.G. Pulleyblank suggested an Old Chinese pronunciation similar to "*flông-nah" and connected this name to a nomadic people attested in Greek as the Phrounoi ("Φροῦνοι").