Ming
A male or female given name.
Every Ming since 1920 — 491 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ming
Ming is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1920, 491 American babies have been named Ming — about 71% boys and 29% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1981, when 23 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ming stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ming year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | 8 | #9,575 |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | 6 | #11,831 |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | 7 | #10,243 |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | 6 | #11,724 |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | 8 | #9,283 |
| 2014 | — | — | 5 | #13,395 |
| 2013 | 6 | #15,930 | 7 | #10,364 |
| 2012 | — | — | 5 | #13,575 |
| 2011 | — | — | 5 | #13,672 |
| 2010 | 7 | #14,490 | 5 | #13,610 |
| 2009 | — | — | 5 | #13,826 |
| 2008 | 7 | #14,900 | — | — |
| 2007 | 9 | #12,343 | 9 | #8,684 |
| 2006 | 8 | #13,216 | 7 | #10,292 |
| 2005 | 8 | #12,641 | 11 | #6,955 |
| 2004 | — | — | 9 | #7,969 |
| 2003 | 6 | #15,158 | 9 | #7,641 |
| 2002 | 5 | #17,257 | 8 | #8,202 |
| 2001 | 7 | #13,006 | 8 | #8,062 |
| 2000 | 12 | #8,383 | 9 | #7,214 |
| 1995 | — | — | 8 | #6,782 |
| 1990 | 5 | #14,444 | 13 | #4,332 |
| 1985 | 5 | #11,829 | 5 | #7,237 |
| 1980 | — | — | 7 | #5,315 |
| 1975 | 6 | #8,666 | 8 | #4,179 |
| 1970 | — | — | 5 | #5,206 |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | 5 | #4,750 |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ming mean?
A male or female given name.
How popular is the name Ming in 2025?
Ming did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Ming?
491 babies have been named Ming in the United States since 1920, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ming most popular?
Ming peaked in 1981, when 23 newborns received the name.
Is Ming a boy or girl name?
Ming is used for both: about 29% of babies named Ming have been girls and 71% boys.
Is the name Ming rising or falling?
Ming is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.