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Zhao as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Zhao

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The baby name Zhao is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced Zhào (pinyin, 4th tone) — approx. 'jow' (rhymes with 'how') with a falling tone; IPA: [tʂaʊ̯˥˩].

Zhao is Chinese in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Chinese
Pronunciation: Zhào (pinyin, 4th tone) — approx. 'jow' (rhymes with 'how') with a falling tone; IPA: [tʂaʊ̯˥˩]

What is the meaning of the name Zhao ?

The baby name Zhao is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced Zhào (pinyin, 4th tone) — approx. 'jow' (rhymes with 'how') with a falling tone; IPA: [tʂaʊ̯˥˩].

Zhao is Chinese in Origin.

Zhao is a Chinese name written 赵 (simplified) / 趙 (traditional), pronounced Zhào in Mandarin (falling tone). It is foremost a surname, rooted in the ancient State of Zhao of the Warring States period and elevated when the Song imperial house bore it, prompting its place at the head of the classic Hundred Family Surnames rhyme. As a character, it functions mainly as a family and place name in modern Chinese rather than carrying an everyday lexical meaning.

Transliterations and regional forms include Chao (Wade–Giles/older romanization), Chiu (Cantonese), and Jao in some Portuguese-influenced contexts; cognates appear across East Asia as Korean Jo/Cho (조/趙), Japanese Chō (ちょう/趙), and Vietnamese Triệu. Usage is overwhelmingly as a surname, though it sometimes appears as a modern, heritage-affirming unisex given name in the diaspora or as part of compound given names. Notable bearers span politics, scholarship, and the arts across Chinese history.

Zhao has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Zhao

Zhao Ziyang Politician · Born 1919 · People's Republic of China Zhao Ziyang was a Chinese politician best known for serving as premier of China in the 1980s and later as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. He was premier from 1980 to 1987, vice chairman of the CCP from 1981 to 1982, and general secretary from 1987 to 1989. Zhao Wei Actor · Born 1976 · People's Republic of China Zhao Wei is a well-known Chinese actress and filmmaker, most famous for her role in the television series 'My Fair Princess'. She has also starred in films like 'Shaolin Soccer' and 'Red Cliff'. Born in 1976, she has become one of the most popular actresses in China. Ban Zhao Politician · Born 45 · Eastern Han Ban Zhao was a Chinese historian and scholar best known for helping complete the Book of Han and for writing Lessons for Women. She was also a philosopher and politician during the Han dynasty.
Emperor Zhao of Han Royal · Born -93 · Western Han Emperor Zhao of Han is best known as the eighth emperor of the Han dynasty, ruling from 87 to 74 BC. Born Liu Fuling, he became emperor at a very young age and was the youngest son of Emperor Wu. Zhao Tuo Royal · Born -229 · Qin dynasty Zhao Tuo was a prominent figure during the Qin dynasty, best known for founding the Nanyue Kingdom in southern China and northern Vietnam. He played a crucial role in expanding Chinese influence in the region during his reign. King Zhaoxiang of Qin Royal · Born -324 · Qin King Zhaoxiang of Qin was a prominent ruler of the Qin state during the Warring States period in ancient China. He is most famous for his military campaigns that expanded Qin's territory, setting the stage for the unification of China under the Qin dynasty. His reign marked significant developments in the centralization of power and military strategy.

Zhao – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
CN 0 #60 26 3,857
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
CN Boys 0 #106 302 9,639
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
CN Girls 0 #148 274 8,829
HU Boys 0 #172 3 3,954
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
AE 0 #186 2 10,220
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
MO Boys 0 #208 16 5,842
SG 0 #233 37 11,010
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
JP Girls 0 #248 4 6,592
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
GR Girls 0 #249 1 6,293
TW Boys 0 #249 8 7,111
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
MO Girls 0 #256 8 7,056
TW Girls 0 #285 5 8,139
Canada Boys 1998 #287 7 1,858
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
MY 0 #320 11 12,352
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
PE 0 #329 1 6,350
HK 0 #339 10 8,483
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
QA Girls 0 #340 4 15,378
SD Girls 0 #358 1 7,678
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
SG Girls 0 #369 225 18,916
PH Boys 0 #402 7 11,440
France Boys 2009 #408 3 2,801
EG 0 #411 2 6,387
UY Boys 0 #412 2 5,922
OM Girls 0 #421 4 15,987
SG Boys 0 #423 284 17,960
PH Girls 0 #425 5 13,098
SD Boys 0 #464 3 10,523
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
HK Boys 0 #485 43 12,905
PA Boys 0 #504 2 9,305
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
RU Girls 0 #521 3 11,913
RU Boys 0 #524 3 12,621
IQ Girls 0 #525 1 11,303
HK Girls 0 #531 85 16,104
KW Girls 0 #557 5 19,177
PS Boys 0 #559 3 10,655
IR Boys 0 #565 1 10,162
CM Boys 0 #575 1 12,054
BH 0 #582 6 17,937
AE Girls 0 #590 8 20,968
IL Boys 0 #623 3 10,983
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #694 4 13,071
CL Boys 0 #700 1 13,390
QA Boys 0 #741 3 18,093
BR Boys 0 #783 3 12,213
KW Boys 0 #801 6 18,755
NG Girls 0 #824 3 15,093
Spain Boys 0 #913 18 5,610
CL Girls 0 #915 1 14,098
OM Boys 0 #917 2 17,948
EG Boys 0 #919 7 15,035
PE Boys 0 #922 5 14,506
NL Boys 0 #933 19 5,873
Germany Boys 0 #943 10 5,697
NL Girls 0 #944 12 5,933
MY Girls 0 #947 48 24,821
Spain Girls 0 #969 15 5,561
CO Boys 0 #978 4 15,656
NG Boys 0 #998 4 16,906
MY Boys 0 #1,000 112 25,439
EG Girls 0 #1,008 2 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,009 6 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,031 3 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,077 16 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,152 1 16,140
DZ 0 #1,165 12 20,130
MA 0 #1,196 4 20,986
TR 0 #1,251 4 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,266 2 17,781
ZA Boys 0 #1,270 3 25,619
IT Boys 0 #1,387 85 10,046
IT Girls 0 #1,396 51 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,594 21 28,008

Zhao is popular in 58 countries — most recent births per country:

France
AE
AO
AR
BH

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Zhao

Zhao is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Zhao is a one syllable name, pronounced Zhào (pinyin, 4th tone) — approx. 'jow' (rhymes with 'how') with a falling tone; IPA: [tʂaʊ̯˥˩].
Common nicknames and spelling variations include 赵 (simplified), 趙 (traditional), Chao (older/Wade–Giles romanization), Chiu / Chiu6 (Cantonese romanization) and Chau (Cantonese variant).
Across languages, Zhao has these equivalents: Korean: Jo / Cho (조), Japanese: Chō (趙).
Yes — Zhao ranked #287 in Canada in 1998, and appears in official birth registries across 2 countries.
Zhao ranks highest in Canada (#287 in 1998).
Yes — 8 notable people named Zhao are in our database, including Zhao Ziyang (Politician), Zhao Wei (Actor), Ban Zhao (Politician).