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