What does Ming mean?
Ming is commonly the character 明, “bright, brilliant.”
What does Yong mean?
Yong is commonly the character 勇, “brave, courageous.”
Ming vs Yong
Which is more popular?
Ming and Yong are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Ming | Yong | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright (明) | Brave (勇) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MING | YONG |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1920 | 1941 |
| Peak year | 1981 (14) | 1993 (13) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ming
Yong
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ming | Yong |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 21 | 0 |
| 2010s | 41 | 0 |
| 2000s | 75 | 38 |
| 1990s | 80 | 81 |
| 1980s | 77 | 92 |
| 1970s | 33 | 35 |
| 1960s | 17 | 28 |
| 1950s | 0 | 6 |
| 1940s | 0 | 21 |
| 1920s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ming or Yong more popular?
Ming and Yong are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Ming and Yong?
Ming means Bright (明) (Chinese origin), while Yong means Brave (勇) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Ming or Yong?
In US records, Ming first appears in 1920 and Yong in 1941, so Ming has the longer recorded history.