What does Ming mean?
Ming is commonly the character 明, “bright, brilliant.”
What does Tao mean?
Tao is commonly the character 涛, “great waves,” or 桃, “peach.”
Ming vs Tao
Which is more popular?
Tao is more popular than Ming today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 0 named Ming.
| Ming | Tao | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright (明) | Great waves (涛) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MING | TOW |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1920 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 1981 (14) | 2021 (20) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 16 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ming
Tao
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ming | Tao |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 21 | 81 |
| 2010s | 41 | 131 |
| 2000s | 75 | 116 |
| 1990s | 80 | 23 |
| 1980s | 77 | 37 |
| 1970s | 33 | 45 |
| 1960s | 17 | 0 |
| 1920s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ming or Tao more popular?
Tao is more popular than Ming today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 0 named Ming.
What is the difference between Ming and Tao?
Ming means Bright (明) (Chinese origin), while Tao means Great waves (涛) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Ming or Tao?
In US records, Ming first appears in 1920 and Tao in 1970, so Ming has the longer recorded history.