What does Ming mean?
Ming is commonly the character 明, “bright, brilliant.”
What does Peng mean?
Peng is commonly the character 鹏, the giant mythical bird of Chinese legend.
Ming vs Peng
Which is more popular?
Ming and Peng are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Ming | Peng | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright (明) | The great roc (鹏) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MING | PUNG |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1920 | 1981 |
| Peak year | 1981 (14) | 1995 (19) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ming
Peng
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ming | Peng |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 21 | 0 |
| 2010s | 41 | 0 |
| 2000s | 75 | 12 |
| 1990s | 80 | 98 |
| 1980s | 77 | 117 |
| 1970s | 33 | 0 |
| 1960s | 17 | 0 |
| 1920s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ming or Peng more popular?
Ming and Peng are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Ming and Peng?
Ming means Bright (明) (Chinese origin), while Peng means The great roc (鹏) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Ming or Peng?
In US records, Ming first appears in 1920 and Peng in 1981, so Ming has the longer recorded history.