Chinese names
Chinese names are chosen character by character, each carrying its own meaning, so a name might combine wisdom with jade, or strength with peace, into something wholly unique. Many families still follow generational naming poems, where one character is shared by an entire generation of cousins. Meaning, sound, and lineage, considered as one decision.
Bo abundant, erudite (博)
Chao varies by character: often 超, 'to surpass, leap over', or 潮, 'tide'; a pinyin-era given name
Chen morning (晨)
Chenxi first light of dawn (晨曦)
Fang fragrant (芳)
Feng varies by character: often 峰, 'mountain peak', or 风, 'wind'; a pinyin-era given name
Fu good fortune, blessing (福)
Ge song (歌)
Guoqiang strong nation (國強); a classic Mao-era generation name
Hanyu culture and tolerance; the universe (涵宇)
Hao vast, grand (浩)
Hongmei red plum blossom (紅梅); a revolutionary-era poetic name
Hua magnificent; China (華)
Hui varies by character: often 慧, 'intelligent, wise', or 辉, 'brightness'; a pinyin-era given name
Jian varies by character: often 建, 'build, establish', or 健, 'strong, healthy'; a pinyin-era given name
Jianguo build the nation (建國); a classic Mao-era generation name
Jiayi often 佳怡: auspicious beauty joined with joy and harmony; a favorite for US-born children of Chinese immigrants
Jie varies by character: often 杰, 'heroic, outstanding', or 洁, 'pure'; a pinyin-era given name
Jing quiet, tranquil (靜)
Jinwei varies by characters; often 金伟 golden greatness or 谨维 careful care
Juan graceful, lovely (娟)
Jun handsome, talented (俊)
Junjie talented and outstanding (俊杰), a perennial pairing; carried by Mandopop star Lin Junjie, JJ Lin
Lan orchid (蘭)
Lei stacked stones; upright and aboveboard (磊)
Li beautiful, resplendent (麗)
Liang varies by character: often 良, 'good, virtuous', or 亮, 'bright, radiant'; the name of the great Han strategist Zhang Liang
Long dragon (龍)
Mei plum blossom (梅)
Meilin beautiful jade forest (美琳)
Meiling beautiful (美) joined with a delicate ling, 玲, 'tinkling of jade'; famously borne by Soong Mei-ling, Madame Chiang Kai-shek
Ming bright, brilliant (明)
Pei varies by character: often 佩, 'ornament, to admire', or 培, 'to nurture'; carried doubled by Hong Kong screen legend Cheng Pei-pei
Peng the great mythical roc bird (鵬)
Ping level, peaceful (平); a single-character classic of the immigrant generations
Qian varies by character: often 倩, 'lovely', or 谦, 'modest'; a pinyin-era given name
Qiang strong, powerful (強)
Qing clear, pure (清)
Ren benevolence, the first Confucian virtue (仁)
Rui wise, perceptive (睿)
Ruoxi often 若曦, 'like dawn light', or 若汐, 'like the evening tide'; a favorite for US-born daughters of Chinese immigrants
Ruyi as you wish (如意); a traditional luck and virtue name
Sheng varies by character: 盛, 'flourishing', 圣/聖, 'holy', or 胜/勝, 'victory', among others; romanization alone does not determine meaning or gender
Shou longevity (壽)
Song varies by character: often 松, 'pine tree', or 颂, 'ode, hymn'; a quiet single-syllable classic
Tao great waves (濤)
Tian varies by character: often 天, 'sky, heaven', or 恬, 'calm, tranquil'; a pinyin-era given name
Wan graceful, gentle (婉)
Wei great, greatness (偉)
Weiguo defend the nation (衛國); a classic Mao-era generation name
Weijia varies by characters; often 伟嘉 great and fine
Xiang varies by character: often 翔, 'to soar', or 祥, 'good omen'; carried aloft by hurdler Liu Xiang
Xiao varies by character: often 晓, 'dawn, daybreak', or 笑, 'smile'; a pinyin-era given name
Xiaolong dawn dragon (曉龍)
Xiaowei varies by characters; often 晓伟 dawn greatness
Xin prosperity, three 'gold' characters stacked (鑫)
Xing star (星)
Xinran joyfully, readily (欣然); a classical adverb drawn from Tao Yuanming's poetry
Xinyi joyful heart (心怡)
Xinyue joy and delight (欣悅)
Xiu elegant, refined (秀)
Xue snow (雪)
Yan swallow, the bird (燕)
Yang varies by character: often 阳, 'sunlight', or 洋, 'ocean'; in US records the spelling also carries the Hmong clan name
Yao as a Chinese name, often 瑶, 'precious jade', echoing the legendary sage-king Yao; the spelling is also an Akan day name for Thursday-born boys
Yi righteousness, a Confucian virtue (義)
Yichen often 奕辰: bright greatness joined to a heavenly hour; a favorite for US-born children of Chinese immigrants
Yifan extraordinary, uncommon, lit. 'not ordinary' (一凡)
Yin varies by character: often 银, 'silver', or 音, 'sound, tone'; a pinyin-era given name
Yiran often 怡然, 'joyous, at ease', or 依然, 'serene, as before'; a favorite for US-born children of Chinese immigrants
Yong varies by character: often 勇, 'brave', or 永, 'eternal'; carried by Chinese and Korean American families alike
Yu universe, cosmos (宇)
Yue moon (月)
Yunxi clouds over a mountain stream (雲溪)
Yuqing rain clearing to sunshine (雨晴)
Yutong eloquent words; parasol tree (語桐)
Zeyu beneficent kindness; the universe (澤宇)
Zhen varies by character: often 珍, 'precious, rare', or 真, 'true, genuine'; a pinyin-era given name
Zhi wisdom, a Confucian virtue (智)
Zhiruo iris and pollia, fragrant plants (芷若); a famous wuxia-novel heroine's name
Zihan child of culture and tolerance (子涵)
Zihao catalpa tree; heroic (梓豪)
Zixuan catalpa tree; high and lofty (梓軒); a hugely trendy modern name
Ziyi child of joy (子怡)
Which of these fits YOUR family? →