What does Hao mean?
Hao is commonly the character 浩, “vast, grand,” or 昊, “bright sky.”
What does Wei mean?
Wei is commonly the character 伟, “great, extraordinary,” among other characters.
Hao vs Wei
Which is more popular?
Wei is more popular than Hao today: about 7 US babies were given the name Wei in 2025, compared with 6 named Hao.
| Hao | Wei | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Vast, great (浩) | Great, mighty (伟) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | HOW | WAY |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1976 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 1992 (20) | 1998 (18) |
| In 2025 | 6 | 7 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hao
Wei
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hao | Wei |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17 | 7 |
| 2010s | 84 | 8 |
| 2000s | 130 | 68 |
| 1990s | 122 | 108 |
| 1980s | 91 | 68 |
| 1970s | 5 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hao or Wei more popular?
Wei is more popular than Hao today: about 7 US babies were given the name Wei in 2025, compared with 6 named Hao.
What is the difference between Hao and Wei?
Hao means Vast, great (浩) (Chinese origin), while Wei means Great, mighty (伟) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Hao or Wei?
In US records, Hao first appears in 1976 and Wei in 1970, so Wei has the longer recorded history.