Jiaming is a Chinese given name of recent origin. It was popularized by the Chinese author and revolutionary Mao Zedong, who used it as his pseudonym while he was in exile during the early 20th century. The name Jiaming means "strong and bright" or "resolute and clear," which reflects Mao's strong will and determination in fighting against the corrupt Qing Dynasty and advocating for communist principles.
The character "Ji" (集) means "gather, collect," while "A" (亚) is a variant of "Ya" (牙), meaning "tooth." The character "Ming" (明) means "bright, clear." Together, they convey the idea of gathering strength and clarity, which was Mao's vision for China during his time.
Jiaming gained significant popularity after Mao Zedong became the leader of the Communist Party of China in 1935. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), the name Jiaming was further popularized due to Mao's prominent role and influence on Chinese society. Today, it remains a common given name among Chinese speakers worldwide.
In the context of Chinese naming conventions, Jiaming follows the traditional practice of having one character for each syllable. This makes it a two-syllable name with a total of four characters in its full written form. The name can be written in simplified Chinese as Jiǎmíng and in traditional Chinese as 集明.
In summary, Jiaming is a relatively modern Chinese given name with a strong historical association to Mao Zedong. Its meaning, "strong and bright," reflects Mao's determination and vision for China during his time, which continues to resonate among parents choosing names for their children today.
The name Jiaming has had intermittent popularity over the years, with births occurring in 2013 and 2017 at a rate of 6 per year, and then decreasing to 5 in 2019. Overall, there have been 17 babies named Jiaming born between 2013 and 2019.