Chinese American baby names
Handpicked for families who want names with roots: the beloved classics, what parents in the culture choose today, and the cool discoveries most US name sites never surface.
Alan little rock; handsome; a clean crossover sound common since mid-century
Albert noble and bright; a quintessential early-generation Chinese American name still given with pride today
Alice noble; a graceful classic across generations
Amy beloved; the quintessential 1980s-2000s ABC name, indelibly tied to novelist Amy Tan
Andrew manly, brave; a dignified choice across generations of Chinese American families
Angela angelic, messenger; a warm classic since mid-century
Anna grace, favor; a crossover favorite that echoes Chinese 安 (ān, "peace"), common across generations
Arthur bear-king; a classic name carried across generations
Bernard brave as a bear; an early-generation classic carried by many Chinese American men
Betty diminutive of Elizabeth; a beloved earlier-generation name
Brandon from the broom-covered hill (place-name surname); a quintessential 1990s ABC favorite
Brian noble, strong; a common ABC pick since the 1960s
Bruce from the brushwood thicket (Scottish surname); forever tied to Bruce Lee, born in San Francisco and given an English name in the era's Chinese American hospital-naming custom
Carol song of joy; a mid-century favorite
Catherine pure; a dignified classic across generations
Christine follower of Christ; a dignified mid-century classic
Cindy diminutive of Cynthia: moon; a warm, easy-to-pronounce name common in Chinese American families since the 1960s
Clarence clear, bright; a dignified early-20th-century classic
Connie diminutive of Constance: steadfast; an iconic mid-century Chinese American name, warmly associated with broadcaster Connie Chung
Constance steadfastness, constancy; a dignified virtue name carried into public view by actress and writer Constance Wu
Daniel God is my judge; a steady, dignified favorite across every generation of Chinese American families
Derek ruler of the people; a common 1980s-90s ABC pick
Doris gift, from Doris (a region of ancient Greece); classic Chinatown-generation name carried by many early-20th-century Chinese American women, still cherished by elders today
Douglas dark river; a steady classic since mid-century
Edward wealthy guardian; a dignified classic across generations
Edwin wealthy friend; a steady classic presence with a small modern uptick
Ella fairy maiden, or short form of Eleanor; a modern ABC favorite for its clean sound in both English and Mandarin
Elsie diminutive of Elizabeth: God is my oath; common among early Chinatown-generation women, gentle and old-fashioned
Emily rival, industrious; a hugely popular ABC-generation pick since the 1990s
Eric eternal ruler; a steady ABC favorite since the 1960s-70s
Felix happy, fortunate; a rising modern pick that sounds sharp alongside Chinese surnames
Florence flourishing, blossoming (from the Italian city name); a beloved elder-generation Chinese American name from the mission-school English-naming tradition
Frank free man; a warm classic across generations
Franklin free landholder; a dignified classic often given during the Roosevelt era
Gary spear; a common mid-century ABC-generation pick
Gilbert bright pledge; a classic Chinatown-generation name carried by many early Chinese American men
Gladys traditionally linked to sovereignty; princess; part of the early-20th-century wave of English names taken up by Chinese immigrant families
Grace grace, God's favor; a defining Chinese American virtue name, frequently paired with characters like 恩 or 雅 meaning grace or refinement
Gregory watchful, alert; a dignified mid-century classic
Han vast, expansive (涵); also the name of the majority Chinese ethnic group (汉/漢); used standalone by some Chinese American parents; its overlap with the Western name "Han" gives it easy crossover appeal
Harold army ruler; a dignified mission-school-era name for Chinese American men
Helen light; a mission-school-era classic among Chinese American women, associated with pioneering figures like journalist Helen Zia
Herbert bright army; a mission-school-era classic, common among grandfathers in the community
Howard guardian; a steady early-to-mid-century pick
Iris rainbow; the Greek messenger goddess; resonant in the community through writer Iris Chang, with a natural floral, luminous feel
Ivy the ivy plant; a modern ABC favorite prized for its clean, easy sound in both English and Mandarin
Jason healer; a defining 1970s-80s ABC classic
Jennifer fair one, white wave; ubiquitous among 1970s-80s ABC girls
Jeremy God will exalt; a popular 1980s-90s ABC pick, its resonance cemented by basketball star Jeremy Lin
Jessica God beholds; a top ABC-generation name through the 1990s
Jia beautiful, fine; also home, family (佳/家); a soft, two-syllable pinyin name popular for ABC daughters as a standalone US given name
Joyce joyful; a graceful mid-century classic
Julia youthful; a graceful crossover classic favored across generations
Justin just, fair; a hugely popular 1990s ABC pick
Karen pure; a common mid-century pick
Kenneth born of fire; handsome; a dignified mid-century classic still common today
Kevin handsome, beloved; so common among Chinese American men it has become a cultural touchstone of the ABC generation
Lan orchid (兰/蘭); a pinyin name occasionally chosen as a standalone American given name for its elegant simplicity
Leon lion; a classic-into-modern crossover pick that echoes 良 (liáng, "good, fine")
Linda beautiful; hugely popular for mid-century Chinese American daughters
Lucy light; a classic-turned-modern crossover carried by actress Lucy Liu, warm and simple to say in any language
Mabel lovable, dear (from Latin Amabel); a mission-school-era Victorian name still found among Chinese American grandmothers, warm and old-fashioned
May the month of May; an iconic Chinese American crossover name (as in Anna May Wong), doubling as a phonetic echo of 美 (měi, "beautiful") or 梅 (méi, "plum")
Maya traditionally linked to Maria; also water in some traditions; a modern favorite resonant with architect Maya Lin
Mia mine, or short form of Maria; a contemporary ABC favorite, phonetically effortless in Mandarin and Cantonese alike
Michelle who is like God; beloved across Chinese American families for decades, carried by Olympic skater Michelle Kwan
Milton from the mill town (place-name surname); a dignified early-generation pick, common among Chinatown professionals
Ming bright, brilliant (明); a pinyin name increasingly chosen outright as an American given name
Nelson son of Neil; a steady surname-style presence across generations
Nicole victory of the people; a popular 1980s-90s ABC choice
Ning peaceful, tranquil (宁/寧); a pinyin name increasingly chosen outright as an American given name rather than a middle name
Nora honor (short form of Honora); a modern revival pick echoed by performer Nora Lum, known as Awkwafina
Norman man from the north; common among early-to-mid 20th-century Chinese American men
Pearl pearl, the gem; a classic across generations, its warmth echoes 珍珠 (zhēnzhū, "pearl") in Chinese
Peter rock; a dignified biblical classic across generations
Philip lover of horses; a steady classic across generations
Priscilla ancient, venerable; a distinguished older-generation name
Rachel ewe; a steady biblical classic across generations
Raymond wise protector; an enduring classic across generations of Chinese American men
Rebecca to bind, join; a devoted biblical classic
Roger famous spear; a solid mid-century classic
Ronald ruler's counselor; a steady mid-century pick
Rong glory, honor (荣/榮); a pinyin virtue name occasionally given directly as an American first name
Ruby ruby, the red gem; a Chinese American classic enjoying a strong modern ABC revival alongside other gem names
Sherman from the shire, or shear-man (occupational surname); an old-school surname-style choice from the Victorian-name wave
Shu kind, gentle, virtuous (淑); a short pinyin name occasionally chosen as a US given name for its gentle sound
Stanley from the stony field; a steady early-generation classic
Stella star; a graceful older name enjoying a modern ABC revival
Steven crown; a popular pick since the 1970s
Susan lily; a steady mid-century classic
Tiffany manifestation of God (from Theophania); hugely popular with Chinese American families in the 1980s-90s, a defining ABC-generation name
Timothy honoring God; a warm classic since mid-century
Vera faith; an elegant crossover pick echoing sounds like 薇拉 (Wēilā); a steady presence in Chinese American families
Vincent conquering; carries deep resonance in Chinese American history through Vincent Chin, whose 1982 killing galvanized the Asian American civil rights movement
Vivian alive, full of life; beloved multi-generational Chinese American classic, often paired with characters like 薇/微 (Wei) for a natural sound-alike
Wallace foreigner, Welshman; an early-generation surname-style pick
Walter ruler of the army; a mid-century classic still carried with pride
Warren park-keeper (occupational surname); a classic early-generation name in Chinese American families
Wen culture, refinement, literary elegance (文); increasingly used by Chinese American parents as a child's sole US given name rather than an English name, especially among Bay Area tech-immigrant families
Wendy a literary coinage from Peter Pan; a friendly mid-century pick
Winston from Wine's town (English place-name surname); a hallmark old-school Chinese American name, dignified and distinctly English in feel
Xia summer; rosy dawn clouds (夏/霞); a pinyin name with a bright, seasonal feel, sometimes used as a standalone American first name
Xin heart, or new (心/新); a short pinyin name sometimes used directly as a US given name
Yun cloud (云/雲); a soft, airy pinyin name used as a standalone American first name by some Chinese American parents
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