What does Ming mean?
Ming is commonly the character 明, “bright, brilliant.”
What does Wei mean?
Wei is commonly the character 伟, “great, extraordinary,” among other characters.
Ming vs Wei
Which is more popular?
Wei is more popular than Ming today: about 7 US babies were given the name Wei in 2025, compared with 0 named Ming.
| Ming | Wei | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright (明) | Great, mighty (伟) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MING | WAY |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1920 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 1981 (14) | 1998 (18) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 7 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ming
Wei
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ming | Wei |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 21 | 7 |
| 2010s | 41 | 8 |
| 2000s | 75 | 68 |
| 1990s | 80 | 108 |
| 1980s | 77 | 68 |
| 1970s | 33 | 31 |
| 1960s | 17 | 0 |
| 1920s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ming or Wei more popular?
Wei is more popular than Ming today: about 7 US babies were given the name Wei in 2025, compared with 0 named Ming.
What is the difference between Ming and Wei?
Ming means Bright (明) (Chinese origin), while Wei means Great, mighty (伟) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Ming or Wei?
In US records, Ming first appears in 1920 and Wei in 1970, so Ming has the longer recorded history.