What does Tao mean?
Tao is commonly the character 涛, “great waves,” or 桃, “peach.”
What does Wei mean?
Wei is commonly the character 伟, “great, extraordinary,” among other characters.
Tao vs Wei
Which is more popular?
Tao is more popular than Wei today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 7 named Wei.
| Tao | Wei | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Great waves (涛) | Great, mighty (伟) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | TOW | WAY |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1970 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 2021 (20) | 1998 (18) |
| In 2025 | 16 | 7 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Tao
Wei
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Tao | Wei |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 81 | 7 |
| 2010s | 131 | 8 |
| 2000s | 116 | 68 |
| 1990s | 23 | 108 |
| 1980s | 37 | 68 |
| 1970s | 45 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Tao or Wei more popular?
Tao is more popular than Wei today: about 16 US babies were given the name Tao in 2025, compared with 7 named Wei.
What is the difference between Tao and Wei?
Tao means Great waves (涛) (Chinese origin), while Wei means Great, mighty (伟) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Tao or Wei?
In US records, Tao first appears in 1970 and Wei in 1970, so Tao has the longer recorded history.