150+ Poignant Chinese Baby Names With Meanings

Whether you’re looking for Chinese baby names to honor the Chinese heritage in your family or to celebrate your love of Chinese culture, there are so many choices to consider.

From ancient Chinese names to contemporary and cool Chinese names, there’s something to suit every baby-to-be.

So we’ve collected our favorite Chinese names and inspiration to help you on your way.

But before we get onto the list, let’s take a look at how parents in China (and Chinese expats) go about selecting a name for the newest member of their family.

In this article: 📝

How are Chinese babies named?

The convention in China is for a person’s surname to be written first, followed by their given name.

(So Chinese first names are actually second names!)

Parents typically avoid naming a child after any older relatives, as this is considered to be disrespectful.

Also, copying the name of a celebrity or historical figure is to be avoided, as it could bring the child bad luck.

Instead, parents will seek a unique name with characters that harmonize with the character of their surname, as well as reflecting their hopes for a happy and prosperous future for the baby.

If they already have a child, the parents might name their new baby in a way that complements their brother or sister’s name.

For example, if the first child’s name contains the character meaning “sun”, the new baby might get a name containing the character for “star”.

What are Chinese common names?

Many Chinese names are gender-neutral, but certain names are more commonly given to girls or boys, so where necessary we’ve labeled them:

If you’re looking for a tried and tested name for your baby, here are some popular Chinese names to consider:

1. Fang: Meaning “fragrance” or “virtue”. ♀️ ♂️
   
2. Jing: Meaning “peaceful” or “tranquil”. ♀️ ♂️
   
3. Lei: Meaning “mound of rocks”, “great”, or “thunderous”. ♀️ ♂️
   
4. Li: Meaning “pretty” or “strength”. ♀️ ♂️
   
5. Min: Meaning “quick or clever”. ♀️ ♂️
   
6. Qiang: Meaning “strong, better”. ♂️
   
7. Tao: Meaning “large wave or peach”. ♀️ ♂️
   
8. Wei: Meaning “great”. ♀️ ♂️
   
9. Yan: Meaning “gorgeous, swallow bird”. ♀️ ♂️
   
10. Xiuying: Meaning “brave and beautiful”. ♀️

Now let’s dive deeper into some other Chinese baby names.

11. Is Sun a Chinese name?

Yes, Sun is a Chinese name, although it’s traditionally a last name, meaning “grandson” or “descendent”.

12. Is Mei a Chinese name?

Yes, Mei is a Chinese name, usually for baby girls, meaning “gorgeous” or “plum”.

13. What does the name Xiao mean?

Xiao is usually part of a Chinese baby name, a prefix used to mean “little”. So you could have Xiao Dan for “little dawn” or Xiao Hui for “little wisdom”.

14. What Chinese name means lucky?

Wei Qi is a Chinese boy’s name meaning “very lucky”.

15. Is Kai a Chinese name?

Yes, one of the origins of the gender-neutral name Kai is from China, meaning “victory”.

16. Does Yue mean moon?

Yes, Yue is a Chinese girls’ name meaning “moon”.

17. What does Mui mean in Chinese?

Mui is a Chinese word for “sister” or “little sister”.

18. Is Zhang a first name?

Not traditionally, no. Zhang is actually one of the most common surnames in China, meaning “archer”.

19. What Chinese name means princess?

There aren’t really any Chinese names meaning “princess”, but the Chinese word for princess is Gongzhu.

What Chinese name means Jade?

There are actually a few Chinese names that mean “jade”, and they’re usually Chinese girls’ names:

20. Biming: Meaning “clear as jade”.
    
21. Daiyu: Meaning “black jade”.
    
22. Le Qi: Meaning “music of the jade”.
    
23. Lin: Meaning “beautiful jade”.
    
24. Meng Yao: Meaning “dream” or “jade”.
    
25. Meilin: Meaning “beautiful jade”.
    
26. Mei Qi: Meaning “beauty of the jade”.
    
27. Qi: Meaning “fine jade”.
    
28. Yu: Meaning “jade”.
    
29. Yu Ming: Meaning “brightness of the jade”.

What Chinese name means tiger?

After a Chinese name with the strength, ferocity, and beauty of the tiger? How about:

30. Baihu: Meaning “legendary white tiger”.
    
31. Biao: Meaning “tiger stripes” or “small tiger”.
    
32. Hu: Meaning “tiger”.
    
33. Laohu: Meaning “tiger”.

What are some Chinese female names?

What is a good Chinese girl name? you ask.

Well, beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder, and there are some great Chinese girl names to choose from.

If you’d like your little one’s name to evoke the fragrance of flowers, you could go for Chu Hua (chrysanthemum) or Ju (daisy).

Or if you want to inspire her to grow up into a kind, strong person, you could pick Shu (warmhearted) or Ting* (enduring).

Here are more Chinese baby girl names:

34. Ai: Meaning “lovable”.
    
35. Ah Lam: Meaning “peace”.
    
36. Chu Hua: Meaning “chrysanthemum”.
    
37. Chyou: Meaning “fall”.
    
38. Fen: Meaning “scent”.
    
39. Hui Fen: Meaning “wise fragrance”.
    
40. Hui Ying: Meaning “clever beauty”.
    
41. Jia Li: Meaning “good” and “beautiful”.
    
42. Jia Yi: Meaning “auspicious”.
    
43. Ju: Meaning “daisy”.
    
44. Lan: Meaning “orchid”.
    
45. Lan Fen: Meaning “scent of an orchid”.
    
46. Liling: Meaning “sound of white jasmine”.
    
47. Meiying: Meaning “beautiful flower”.
    
48. Nuo: Meaning “gracious”.
    
49. Shu: Meaning “warmhearted”.
    
50. Ting: Meaning “enduring”.
    
51. Xin Yan: Meaning “beauty” and “health”.
    
52. Xin Yi: Meaning “happy” or “quiet”.
    
53. Yi Nuo: Meaning “one promise”.
    
54. Zhan: Meaning “valuable, genuine, innocent”.

What are some Chinese male names?

Traditional Chinese names for boys provide a wealth of choice for nature-lovers, from Chaoxiang (expecting fortune) to Shanyuan (mountain source).

And you’ll also find plenty of names to encourage your little boy in his future adventures, including Jianyu (building the universe) and Zixin (self-confidence).

Here are some other Chinese baby boy names:

55. Aiguo: Meaning “patriotic”.
    
56. Bingwen: Meaning “bright and cultivated”.
    
57. Bolin: Meaning “elder brother rain”.
    
58. Chao: Meaning “surpass”.
    
59. Chaoxiang: Meaning “expecting fortune”.
    
60. Donghai: Meaning “eastern sea”.
    
61. Feng: Meaning “sharp blade, wind, summit”.
    
62. Genghis: Meaning “just, righteous”.
    
63. Guo: Meaning “country”.
    
64. Hao: Meaning “prosperous”.
    
65. Haoran: Meaning “vastness”.
    
66. Huizhong: Meaning “wise and loyal”.
    
67. Jianyu: Meaning “building the universe”.
    
68. Park: Meaning “the cypress tree”.
    
69. Qianfan: Meaning “thousand sails”.
    
70. Shanyuan: Meaning “mountain source”.
    
71. Wen: Meaning “literate”.
    
72. Xiaobo: Meaning “little wrestler”.
    
73. Yichen: Meaning “grand sun” or “moon”.
    
74. Yuchen: Meaning “universe with sun and moon”.
    
75. Yuhang: Meaning “universe cruise”.
    
76. Tuxuan: Meaning “high universe”.
    
77. Zimo: Meaning “refined ink”.
    
78. Zixin: Meaning “self-confidence”.

What about gender-neutral Chinese baby names?

As we saw above, many Chinese characters are used in the names of both boys and girls.

Once again, wonderful nature images and admirable personal qualities abound, from Chun (born in the spring) to Ming (enlightening).

Here are some gender-neutral Chinese names to choose from:

79. An: Meaning “peace”.
    
80. Bao: Meaning “treasure, gem”.
    
81. Bo: Meaning “wavelike”.
    
82. Chen: Meaning “break of the day”.
    
83. Chun: Meaning “born in the spring”.
    
84. Guang: Meaning “glorious”.
    
85. Heng: Meaning “eternal”.
    
86. Huan: Meaning “happiness”.
    
87. Hui: Meaning “clever”.
    
88. Jiang: Meaning “river”.
    
89. Liu: Meaning “willow tree”.
    
90. Ming: Meaning “enlightening”.
    
91. Ping: Meaning “peaceful, stable”.
    
92. Qui: Meaning “fall”.
    
93. Shan: Meaning “moderate”.
    
94. Shi: Meaning “truthful”.
    
95. Xiang: Meaning “fragrant, or circling in the air (like a bird)”.
    
96. Xiaosheng: Meaning “little birth”.
    
97. Xin: Meaning “wealth”.
    
98. Xue: Meaning “snow or studious”.
    
99. Yang: Meaning “sun”.
    
100. Yanlin: Meaning “swallow forest or Beijing forest”.
     
101. Ying: Meaning “flower” or “wise”.

What are some cute Chinese names?

Finally, if you’re looking for Chinese baby names with cute or quirky meanings, we’ve got a few of our favorites to share with you.

Here are some unique Chinese baby names for your little miracle:

102. Ah Kum: Meaning “good as gold”. ♀️
     
103. Chun Hua: Meaning “grace of spring”. ♀️
     
104. Hong: Meaning “wild swan”. ♂️
     
105. Hua: Meaning “flower”. Also the original name of the Chinese heroine, Hua Mulan, who you might know from Disney’s Mulan.
     
106. Jaw-Long: Meaning “like a dragon”. ♂️
     
107. Li: Mean “pretty”. ♀️
     
108. Lian: Meaning “the graceful willow”. ♀️
     
109. Mingxia: Meaning “bright glowing dawn clouds”. ♀️
     
110. Mochou: Meaning “free from sadness”. ♀️
     
111. Nuwa: Meaning “mother goddess”. ♀️
     
112. Shoi-Ming: Meaning “life of sunshine”. ♂️
     
113. Suyin: Meaning “unadorned sound”. ♀️
     
114. Qiu: Meaning “fall”. ♀️
     
115. Xiu: Meaning “graceful”. ♀️
     
116. Ya: Meaning “elegant”. ♀️

What is the coolest Chinese name?

Want to give your little one an edgier Chinese name?

How about these Chinese names with cool meanings:

117. Chan Juan: Meaning “moon”.
     
118. Cheng: Meaning “success”.
     
119. Gang: Meaning “strong”.
     
120. Haoyu: Meaning “vast universe”.
     
121. Jia Hao: Meaning “wonderful hero”.
     
122. Jun Jie: Meaning “outstanding”.
     
123. Longwei: Meaning “dragon greatness”.
     
124. Qiao Hui: Meaning “smart and wise”.
     
125. Syaoran: Meaning “little wolf”.
     
126. Yingyue: Meaning “reflection of the moon”.
     
127. Zhi Peng: Meaning “legendary bird of wisdom”.

What is a unique Chinese name?

After something a little more unusual? How about these rare and unique Chinese names:

128. Bowen: Meaning “abundant”.
     
129. Caihong: Meaning “sky rainbow”.
     
130. Jilpa: Meaning “life’s teacher”.
     
131. Pangfua: Meaning “heart-shaped clouds”.
     
132. Qinyan: Meaning “heart’s sunshine”.
     
133. Taio: Meaning “great person”.
     
134. Wangshu: Meaning “comfortable hope”.
     
135. Yuxuan: Meaning “high house”.
     
136. Yuze: Meaning “rain”.
     
137. Zhiruo: Meaning “angelica and rue”, two herbs important in Chinese culture.
     
138. Zihan: Meaning “child”.

What is the rarest Chinese name?

What about a Chinese name that no other baby will have?

Well, it’s hard to tell what the rarest Chinese baby name is, but here are a few that aren’t likely to be heard on the playground:

139. Baozhai Meaning “precious hairpin”.
     
140. Caishen: Meaning “god of wealth”.
     
141. Chonglin Meaning “second brother unicorn”.
     
142. Fengge Meaning “phoenix pavilion”.
     
143. Jingyi: Meaning “quiet harmony”.
     
144. Jinhai: Meaning “golden sea”.
     
145. Jun: Meaning “truth”.
     
146. Kuàng: Meaning “bestow”.
     
147. Lok: Meaning “joy”.
     
148. Qing: Meaning “young”.
     
149. Qiuyue: Meaning “fall moon”.
     
150. Shufen: Meaning “good fragrance”.
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151. Tongguo: Meaning “by”.
     
152. Xiulan: Meaning “beautiful orchid”.
     
153. Yating: Meaning “elegant”.
     
154. Yawen: Meaning elegant clouds”.
     
155. Zixuan: Meaning “child”.

So, there you have it: 155 amazing Chinese baby names to choose from.

Good luck making your decision!