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