Names / Ming
Is Ming a first name or a last name?
Ming is both: a family name in some places and a given name in others. It is mostly a given name in China.
How to address someone called Ming
- China. Ming is part of the given name, which comes after the family name. Use it only on first-name terms; formally, the title goes with the family name.
- United States. Ming is used both ways: about 3,764 people had it as a surname in the 2010 census, and 463 babies born between 1950 and 2017 were given it as a first name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
- Taiwan. Ming is used both ways: 30% of people from Taiwan with this name in our data carry it as a family name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
Not sure which part of a full name is which? Check the full name with the country where the person is based.
Ming by country
People recorded in Wikidata who carry Ming as a family name or as a given name, by country of citizenship (100 in total).
| Country | As family name | As given name | Family name share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 4 | 35 | 10% |
| United States | 3 | 11 | 21% |
| Taiwan | 3 | 7 | 30% |
| Malaysia | 0 | 8 | 0% |
| Singapore | 0 | 6 | 0% |
| Myanmar | 5 | 0 | 100% |
| Switzerland | 3 | 0 | 100% |
| France | 1 | 2 | 33% |
Wikidata covers notable people, so counts show how the name is used, not how many people carry it.
Ming in the United States
- As a surname: about 3,764 people in the 2010 census, rank 8,718 among US surnames.
- As a first name: 463 babies born between 1950 and 2017.
Ming as a given name: men or women?
About 6% of people with Ming as a given name in Wikidata are women. This describes the name, not any one person: it is not a safe basis for Mr. or Ms., and the full name without a title is always polite.
More on this naming tradition: How Chinese names work.
Related names
Li · Chen · Wang · Zhang · Yang · Liu · Huang · Wu · Xu · Zhou