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