Chao

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Chao

Pronounced CHOW /tʂʰɑʊ/Medium

Meaning: As a given name Chao most often represents the Chinese character meaning 'to surpass, exceed, transcend'; as a surname it usually represents a different character tied to the ancient state of Zhao. The two are unrelated in meaning despite sharing an English spelling.Low

In 30 seconds: Chao is a Chinese name most often meaning 'to surpass, exceed.' It appears in United States records from the 1970s onward, peaking around 1985 at about 18 boys a year (said CHOW).

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Origin LowChinese

MeaningAs a given name Chao most often represents the Chinese character meaning 'to surpass, exceed, transcend'; as a surname it usually represents a different character tied to the ancient state of Zhao. The two are unrelated in meaning despite sharing an English spelling.

U.S. rank (2013)#12467 ↘ Falling

2013 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1985

Total births (all-time)≈ 284

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Chao most commonly renders the Chinese character meaning 'to surpass' or 'exceed' when used as a given name, an aspirational meaning parents choose deliberately. As a surname it typically represents a separate character connected to the historical state of Zhao; without knowing the original Chinese characters, the exact sense behind any one Chao in the SSA records can't be pinned down with certainty.

In the United States the name appears from the 1970s onward, tracking the growth of Chinese immigrant and Chinese-American families, and peaked modestly at about 18 boys a year in 1985. It has continued in occasional use into the 2010s, reflecting steady rather than fading use.

Did you know? Chao can represent several different Chinese characters depending on the tone and context, one meaning 'surpass,' another 'morning' or 'dynasty,' and yet another the surname tied to the ancient state of Zhao.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Chao — Chinese 'to surpass' (given name) vs. surname tied to the state of Zhao; exact character unknown from Latin-script SSA data

Variations

ZhaoChowChiau

Nicknames

Chao

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Chao…

Wei— a like short single-syllable Chinese given name

Ming— shares the crisp, meaning-forward Chinese naming style

Lei— another common one-syllable Chinese name

Jian— a like aspirational Chinese boy's name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Chao mean?

As a given name it most often represents the Chinese character for 'to surpass, exceed'; as a surname it usually reflects a different character tied to the ancient state of Zhao.

How do you pronounce Chao?

It is said CHOW /tʂʰɑʊ/, one syllable, rhyming with the English word 'how.'

Is Chao a boy or girl name?

Chao is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Chao?

It was a rare choice in the United States, given to about 18 boys a year at its mid-1980s peak, with steady light use continuing since.