What does Chen mean?
Chen is commonly the character 晨, “morning, dawn,” among other characters.
What does Ming mean?
Ming is commonly the character 明, “bright, brilliant.”
Chen vs Ming
Which is more popular?
Chen and Ming are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Chen | Ming | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Morning, dawn (晨) | Bright (明) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | CHUN | MING |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1977 | 1920 |
| Peak year | 1983 (9) | 1981 (14) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Chen
Ming
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Chen | Ming |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 22 | 21 |
| 2010s | 55 | 41 |
| 2000s | 50 | 75 |
| 1990s | 39 | 80 |
| 1980s | 20 | 77 |
| 1970s | 7 | 33 |
| 1960s | 0 | 17 |
| 1920s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Chen or Ming more popular?
Chen and Ming are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Chen and Ming?
Chen means Morning, dawn (晨) (Chinese origin), while Ming means Bright (明) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Chen or Ming?
In US records, Chen first appears in 1977 and Ming in 1920, so Ming has the longer recorded history.