The Art of Choosing a Chinese Given Name: Tips, Traditions, and Trends

In Chinese culture, there is a traditional naming convention that is followed when choosing a name for a child (or for oneself if one wishes to change it). The surname, or family name, is typically chosen by the parents and is passed down from generation to generation. We previously posted an article on Chinese surnames, feel free to check it out!

As for the given name, or personal name, it is chosen typically based on the meaning of the characters, the family's wishes for the child, and sometimes the child's birth order.

Choosing a given name for a child is no doubt an important decision in any culture, but in China, it is particularly significant as names are believed to shape the child's future and identity. And if you want to find a good Chinese name for yourself, it is also important to know how Chinese people choose their names.

In this article, we will go over tips, traditions, and trends of how to choose Chinese given names, with thorough and detailed examples of common characters and popular names.

Tips and Traditions

Generally, people would choose the character(s) for the given name and assemble them together with the surname. Note that for Chinese names, the surname comes first before the given name.

Typically, Chinese names are made up of two or three characters (the surname included), and each character in the given name has a specific meaning.

For example, a name might be chosen because the characters mean "wise" and "brave", or "prosperous" and "auspicious". In some cases, the given name might also be chosen based on the parent's wishes for the child's future, such as a name that means "success" or "prosperity".

In recent years, many Chinese parents have started to break with tradition and choose more modern and creative names for their children. These names might be based on Western names, popular culture, or simply the parents' personal preferences.

Overall, the selection process is often guided by a set of traditional conventions. Here are some specific tips and traditions to consider when choosing a Chinese given name.

Meaning

In Chinese culture, the meaning of a name is thought to reflect the traits and characteristics of the person bearing it. As such, many parents choose names that convey positive qualities.

This may be one of the most important aspects when comes to choosing a Chinese name.

A list of examples with commonly used characters is given below:

Note: characters in blue - typically for boys, red - typically for girls, and black - gender neutral

The above list covers a great portion of popular characters that Chinese people pick for names and their general meanings.

(*Note that the meanings given here are the overall or related meanings when they're used in names, and each character may have more specific meanings and different tones from others.)

Additionally, sometimes Chinese given names are also chosen based on their meanings in relation to the child's birth order. For example, a first-born child might be given a name that means "eldest" or "first". However, this is a less common trend nowadays as many Chinese families only have one child, and these names often sound a bit silly and are less fashionable.

Pronunciation

Chinese names are also chosen with characters that sound nice. However, this is more subjective as to what sounds nice and what does not.

A good rule of thumb is when you pronounce the name combining all the characters of the surname and the given name if it's easy to pronounce. Typically, if the name sounds catchy, then it's likely a good one.

Nowadays, when Chinese people choose names, they would also consider the fact that some characters can be difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. For example, when the pinyin start with "x" or "z", it's likely going to be hard to pronounce in English.

Therefore, it is important to consider the ease of use when choosing a given name. If the name is likely to be used in an English-speaking context, it's a good idea to select characters with simple pronunciations.

This is also something to keep in mind if you want to choose a good Chinese parallel name for your Western name. You could either directly use the translation of your Western name (which is boring) or find Chinese characters that may sound similar to your name and also carry a good meaning.

Ease of Use

As mentioned above, it's important to consider the ease of use when choosing a Chinese given name, especially if it will be used in an English-speaking context. Simple characters and easy-to-pronounce combinations are usually the best choices.

Because of this reason, you would see characters commonly used in Chinese names due to their simplicity in writing and/or pronunciation despite their meanings.

Some good examples are listed below.

Note:

• Characters in black - gender neutral, red - typically for girls, blue - typically for boys
• Characters without meanings given - they are generally only used in names.

Astrology and Numerology, or 风水 (fēng shuǐ, Feng Shui)

Some Chinese families would also consult astrology and numerology (or 风水) when choosing a given name, believing that certain characters or combinations of characters will bring good luck or fortune to the child.

For example, some parents would consider the child's birthday horoscope, look at the associated 五行 (wǔ xíng), the five elements, and find characters with radicals from 五行 to match up with the child's birth element(s) for their name in hopes to bring good fortune.

Others may also consider the strokes of the characters for the given name and make a good combination with their surname according to Chinese numerology, in order to make it a lucky name.

Cultural Significance

Chinese given names carry a great deal of cultural significance and are an important part of a person's identity. They can reflect family values, traditions, and wishes for the child's future. Sometimes a given name might be also chosen to honor a family member.

When choosing a Chinese name, it's also important to consider the cultural context and the impact that the name might have on one's identity and place in the community.

Creativity

While traditional naming conventions are still followed in many Chinese families, there has been a trend in recent years towards more modern and creative given names. These names might be based on Western names, popular culture, or simply the parents' personal preferences.

If you're looking for a more unique and unconventional Chinese given name, don't be afraid to think outside the box and consider unconventional characters or combinations of characters.

The Trends: Popular Names and Characters

Different from English names, Chinese people typically make up new given names rather than choose from existing names and hence infinite possible combinations of new names. However, there are still many popular characters people would use, resulting in many common names.

We have provided many examples of common characters used for Chinese names with their meanings and pronunciations. To give you a better picture of their popularity, let's look at some real data!

According to the newest data from the seventh National Census done by the Chinese government in 2020, the top ten most common given names in different time periods since the 80s are listed below.

From the above list, we can see how the trend of names changes over time. While one-character given names are more common in the past, nowadays two-character given names seem to be the fashion.

Nevertheless, both one and two-character names are still popular today.

For babies born since 2020, the trend is generally similar to that in 2010-2019.

Here is a list showing popular characters used for given names for newborn babies (in 2020).

The table below shows popular names chosen for babies born in 2020.

The art of choosing a Chinese given name involves a combination of traditions, meanings, and personal preferences.

By considering the factors outlined and the examples provided above, you can choose a good Chinese name that is meaningful, unique, culturally proper, and significant for yourself and/or your child.