Names / Wei
Is Wei a first name or a last name?
Wei is both: a family name in some places and a given name in others.
Wei is a very common syllable in Chinese given names (Zhang Wei, Wei Ming), and also a less common family name. In Wei Zhang, the family name is Zhang. In Tan Wei Ming, Wei Ming is one given name.
How to address someone called Wei
- China. Wei is used both ways: 51% of people from China 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.
- Taiwan. Wei is used both ways: 79% 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.
- Malaysia. Wei is used both ways: 22% of people from Malaysia 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.
Wei by country
People recorded in Wikidata who carry Wei as a family name or as a given name, by country of citizenship (533 in total).
| Country | As family name | As given name | Family name share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 194 | 184 | 51% |
| Taiwan | 67 | 18 | 79% |
| Malaysia | 5 | 18 | 22% |
| United States | 6 | 7 | 46% |
| Hong Kong | 4 | 2 | 67% |
| Canada | 1 | 5 | 17% |
| Myanmar | 5 | 0 | 100% |
| United Kingdom | 2 | 2 | 50% |
| Singapore | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Japan | 2 | 1 | 67% |
Wikidata covers notable people, so counts show how the name is used, not how many people carry it.
Wei in the United States
- As a surname: about 9,578 people in the 2010 census, rank 3,707 among US surnames.
- As a first name: 361 babies born between 1950 and 2017.
Wei as a given name: men or women?
About 10% of people with Wei 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