Ming

♂ Boy

Pronounced MING /ˈmɪŋ/Medium

Meaning: From the Chinese ming — variously 'bright; brilliant; clear' and 'to cry/call' or a dynasty name; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Bright; brilliant; clever: Ming is Chinese. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'MING').

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Origin LowChinese

MeaningFrom the Chinese ming — variously 'bright; brilliant; clear' and 'to cry/call' or a dynasty name; routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#9549 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1981

Total births (all-time)≈ 349

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

Ming comes from the Chinese ming — variously 'bright; brilliant; clear'; also a dynasty name (routes layered by character, which we note). A crisp, classic name (said 'MING').

In the U.S. it appears in Chinese families. Rare, bright-and-brilliant at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Ming means 'bright; brilliant; clear' in Chinese (also a famous dynasty) — a crisp, classic name (the exact character varies, which we note; said 'MING').

Overall data confidence 32%

References — Ming — Chinese; character-dependent

Variations

MinhMingzhi

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ming…

Minh— the Vietnamese cognate

Deng— lands in the same popularity range

Long— shares the -ng ending

Yicheng— shares Ming's Chinese roots

Ren— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Ming

By themeuncertain chinese

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ming mean?

Ming is Chinese, most often 'bright; brilliant; clear'; the meaning varies by character. We note the layered routes.

How do you pronounce Ming?

It's said MING /ˈmɪŋ/ — one syllable.

Is Ming a boy or girl name?

Ming is a boy's name here (it is also used for girls).

How popular is Ming?

Ming is a very rare name in the U.S.