What does Hao mean?
Hao is commonly the character 浩, “vast, grand,” or 昊, “bright sky.”
What does Tao mean?
Tao is commonly the character 涛, “great waves,” or 桃, “peach.”
Hao vs Tao
Which is more popular?
Tao is more popular than Hao today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 6 named Hao.
| Hao | Tao | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Vast, great (浩) | Great waves (涛) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | HOW | TOW |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1976 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 1992 (20) | 2021 (20) |
| In 2025 | 6 | 16 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hao
Tao
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hao | Tao |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17 | 81 |
| 2010s | 84 | 131 |
| 2000s | 130 | 116 |
| 1990s | 122 | 23 |
| 1980s | 91 | 37 |
| 1970s | 5 | 45 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hao or Tao more popular?
Tao is more popular than Hao today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 6 named Hao.
What is the difference between Hao and Tao?
Hao means Vast, great (浩) (Chinese origin), while Tao means Great waves (涛) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Hao or Tao?
In US records, Hao first appears in 1976 and Tao in 1970, so Tao has the longer recorded history.