Whether youâre looking for Chinese 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 the contemporary and cool, thereâs something to suit every baby-to-be.
But choosing the right name is a huge decision in Chinese culture and not one to be taken lightly.
Chinese baby names can have a spectacular variety of meanings, from flowers and precious stones to virtues like courage, intelligence, and peacefulness.
All the better for attracting good fortune and abundance in babyâs future.
It all depends on how you choose to strike the perfect balance.
To help you on your way, weâve collected our favorite Chinese names and inspiration.
What will your babyâs name embody?
In this article: đ
- How are Chinese names chosen?
- What are popular Chinese names?
- What are some Chinese female names?
- What are popular Chinese boy names?
- Are there unisex Chinese names?
- What are some cute Chinese names?
- What is the coolest Chinese name?
- What are some unique Chinese names?
How are Chinese names chosen?
The path towards finding babyâs perfect title in Chinese culture looks quite different to Western practices â and that includes how names are arranged.
Most parents follow the Chinese naming convention of placing the family name first followed by the given name.
Usually, this surname is one syllable or Chinese name character, while the given name can entail one or two.
So if you see a Chinese name with three syllables, you can trust the first syllable to be the personâs surname.
But thatâs not all.
How Chinese names are chosen is influenced by a number of factors:
- Chinese parents typically avoid naming a child after any older relatives, as this is considered to be disrespectful
- Copying the name of a celebrity or historical figure is to be avoided, as it could bring the child bad luck
- Speaking of luck, parents will often choose Chinese characters for names that reflect a happy and prosperous future for their baby
- Itâs also good practice to seek a unique combination of characters that harmonize with the character of their surname
This draw towards harmony can even play out between siblings as parents might name their newborn in a way that complements their other children.
So if the first childâs name contains the character meaning âsunâ, the new baby might get a name containing the character for âstarâ. âď¸
Beautifully thought out no?
What are popular Chinese names?
Equipped with new knowledge on how to enhance your babyâs name (and their future), letâs get into our Chinese name list.
Fun fact: Itâs not uncommon for Chinese parents to seek out a fortune teller to find the luckiest character for their baby or even an astrologer to determine a name that complements babyâs birth time best.
We think a list of the more common Chinese names is a pretty good alternative:
What is a Chinese name for a boy?
Many Chinese names are gender-neutral, but certain names are more commonly given to boys than girls.
Here are the most common Chinese male names:
- Qiang: Meaning âstrongâ or âbetterâ.
- Tao: Meaning âlarge waveâ or âpeachâ.
- Ming: Meaning âenlighteningâ.
- Chang: Meaning âflourishâ or âprosperâ.
- Haoyu: Meaning âvast universeâ.
- Bao: Meaning âtreasureâ or âgemâ. đ
- Li Jie: Meaning âto reasonâ.
- Feiyu: Meaning âone who flies across the universeâ. Ambitious.
- Da: Meaning âintelligenceâ. đ¤
- Haoran: Meaning âvastnessâ.
What is a good Chinese girl name?
If youâre looking for a tried and tested name for your new daughter, here are some popular Chinese names for girls to consider:
- Fang: Meaning âfragranceâ or âvirtueâ.
- Jing: Meaning âpeacefulâ or âtranquilâ.
- Lei: Meaning âmound of rocksâ, âgreatâ, or âthunderousâ.
- Li: Meaning âprettyâ or âstrengthâ.
- Min: Meaning âquickâ or âcleverâ.
- Wei: Meaning âgreatâ.
- Yan: Meaning âgorgeous, swallow birdâ.
- Xiuying: Meaning âbrave and beautifulâ.
Now letâs dive deeper into some of the most common questions surrounding Chinese names and meanings:
What does the name Sun mean in Chinese?
Sun is traditionally a Chinese last name with various meanings depending on how itâs spelled. The most recognized meaning is âgrandsonâ or âdescendentâ.
Is Mei a Chinese name?
Yes, Mei is a Chinese name, usually for baby girls, meaning âgorgeousâ or âplumâ.
What is the meaning of Xiao?
Xiao is usually part of a Chinese baby name, a prefix used to mean âlittleâ. So you could have Xiao Dan for âlittle dawnâ or Xiao Hui for âlittle wisdomâ.
What Chinese name means lucky?
Wei Qi is a Chinese male name meaning âvery luckyâ.
Is Kai a Chinese name?
Yes, one of the origins of the gender-neutral name Kai is from China, meaning âvictoryâ.
What is a Chinese name for love?
Ai: Meaning âlovableâ or âaffectionate.
Is Yuè a Chinese name?
Yue is a popular Chinese girlsâ name meaning âmoonâ. Itâs also a common last name overseas.
Is Zhang a first name?
Not traditionally, no. Zhang is actually one of the most common surnames in China, meaning âarcherâ. đš
What Chinese name means princess?
There arenât really any Chinese names meaning âprincessâ, but the Chinese word for princess is Gongzhu.
What Chinese name means Jade?
There are actually a few Chinese names that mean âjadeâ, and theyâre usually Chinese girlsâ names:
- Biming: Meaning âclear as jadeâ.
- Daiyu: Meaning âblack jadeâ.
- Le Qi: Meaning âmusic of the jadeâ.
- Lin: Meaning âbeautiful jadeâ.
- Meng Yao: Meaning âdreamâ or âjadeâ.
- Meilin: Meaning âbeautiful jadeâ.
- Mei Qi: Meaning âbeauty of the jadeâ.
- Qi: Meaning âfine jadeâ.
- Yu: Meaning âjadeâ.
- Yu Ming: Meaning âbrightness of the jadeâ.
What Chinese name means tiger?
After a Chinese name with the strength, ferocity, and beauty of the tiger? đŻ How about:
- Baihu: Meaning âlegendary white tigerâ.
- Biao: Meaning âtiger stripesâ or âsmall tigerâ.
- Hu: Meaning âtigerâ.
- Laohu: Meaning âtigerâ.
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 youâd like your little oneâs 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:
- Ah Lam: Meaning âpeaceâ. âŽď¸
- An: Meaning âpeaceâ.
- Chu Hua: Meaning âchrysanthemumâ.
- Chyou: Meaning âfallâ.
- Fen: Meaning âscentâ.
- Jia Li: Meaning âgoodâ and âbeautifulâ.
- Jia Yi: Meaning âauspiciousâ.
- Ju: Meaning âdaisyâ.
- Lan: Meaning âorchidâ.
- Lan Fen: Meaning âscent of an orchidâ.
- Liling: Meaning âsound of white jasmineâ.
- Shu: Meaning âwarmheartedâ.
- Ting: Meaning âenduringâ.
- Xin Yan: Meaning âbeautyâ and âhealthâ.
- Xin Yi: Meaning âhappyâ or âquietâ.
- Yi Nuo: Meaning âone promiseâ.
- Zhan: Meaning âvaluableâ, âgenuineâ, or âinnocentâ.
What are popular Chinese boy names?
Traditional Chinese names for boys provide a wealth of choice for nature lovers, from Chaoxiang (expecting fortune) to Shanyuan (mountain source).
And youâll also find plenty of Chinese male names to encourage your little boy in his future adventures, including Jianyu (building the universe) and Zixin (self-confidence).
Here are some other male Chinese names:
- Aiguo: Meaning âpatrioticâ.
- Bingwen: Meaning âbright and cultivatedâ.
- Bolin: Meaning âelder brother rainâ.
- Chao: Meaning âsurpassâ.
- Chaoxiang: Meaning âexpecting fortuneâ.
- Donghai: Meaning âeastern seaâ.
- Feng: Meaning âsharp bladeâ, âwindâ, or âsummitâ.
- Genghis: Meaning âjust, righteousâ.
- Guo: Meaning âcountryâ.
- Hao: Meaning âprosperousâ.
- Huizhong: Meaning âwise and loyalâ.
- Jianyu: Meaning âbuilding the universeâ.
- Park: Meaning âthe cypress treeâ.
- Qianfan: Meaning âthousand sailsâ.
- Shanyuan: Meaning âmountain sourceâ.
- Wen: Meaning âliterateâ.
- Xiaobo: Meaning âlittle wrestlerâ.
- Yichen: Meaning âgrand sunâ or âmoonâ.
- Yuchen: Meaning âuniverse with sun and moonâ.
- Yuhang: Meaning âuniverse cruiseâ.
- Tuxuan: Meaning âhigh universeâ.
- Zimo: Meaning ârefined inkâ.
- Zixin: Meaning âself-confidenceâ.
Are there unisex Chinese 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:
- Bo: Meaning âwavelikeâ.
- Chen: Meaning âbreak of the dayâ.
- Chun: Meaning âborn in the springâ.
- Guang: Meaning âgloriousâ.
- Heng: Meaning âeternalâ.
- Huan: Meaning âhappinessâ.
- Hui: Meaning âcleverâ.
- Jiang: Meaning âriverâ.
- Liu: Meaning âwillow treeâ.
- Ping: Meaning âpeaceful, stableâ.
- Qui: Meaning âfallâ.
- Shan: Meaning âmoderateâ.
- Shi: Meaning âtruthfulâ.
- Xiang: Meaning âfragrant, or circling in the air (like a bird)â.
- Xiaosheng: Meaning âlittle birthâ.
- Xin: Meaning âwealthâ.
- Xue: Meaning âsnow or studiousâ.
- Yang: Meaning âsunâ.
- Yanlin: Meaning âswallow forest or Beijing forestâ.
- Ying: Meaning âflowerâ or âwiseâ.
What are some cute Chinese names?
If youâre looking for Chinese baby names with cute or quirky meanings, weâve got a few of our favorites to share with you.
Here are some unique Chinese names for your little miracle:
- Ah Kum: Meaning âgood as goldâ. âď¸
- Chun Hua: Meaning âgrace of springâ. âď¸
- Hong: Meaning âwild swanâ. âď¸
- Hua: Meaning âflowerâ. Also the original name of the Chinese heroine, Hua Mulan, who you might know from Disneyâs Mulan.
- Jaw-Long: Meaning âlike a dragonâ. âď¸
- Li: Mean âprettyâ. âď¸
- Lian: Meaning âthe graceful willowâ. âď¸
- Mingxia: Meaning âbright glowing dawn cloudsâ. âď¸
- Mochou: Meaning âfree from sadnessâ. âď¸
- Nuwa: Meaning âmother goddessâ. âď¸
- Shoi-Ming: Meaning âlife of sunshineâ. âď¸
- Suyin: Meaning âunadorned soundâ. âď¸
- Qiu: Meaning âfallâ. âď¸
- Xiu: Meaning âgracefulâ. âď¸
What is the prettiest Chinese name?
With nature as a muse, and a naming tradition based on harmony and good fortune, Chinese names are among the most beautiful.
As for the prettiest, any one of these should do:
- Ya: Meaning âelegantâ.
- Meiying: Meaning âbeautiful flowerâ.
- Nuo: Meaning âgraciousâ.
- Hui Fen: Meaning âwise fragranceâ.
- Hui Ying: Meaning âclever beautyâ.
What is the coolest Chinese name?
Want to give your little one an edgier Chinese name?
How about these cool Chinese names with meanings:
- Chan Juan: Meaning âmoonâ.
- Cheng: Meaning âsuccessâ.
- Gang: Meaning âstrongâ. đŞ
- Jia Hao: Meaning âwonderful heroâ.
- Jun Jie: Meaning âoutstandingâ.
- Longwei: Meaning âdragon greatnessâ.
- Qiao Hui: Meaning âsmart and wiseâ.
- Syaoran: Meaning âlittle wolfâ. đş
- Yingyue: Meaning âreflection of the moonâ.
- Zhi Peng: Meaning âlegendary bird of wisdomâ.
What are some unique Chinese names?
After something a little more unusual?
How about these rare and unique Chinese names:
- Bowen: Meaning âabundantâ.
- Caihong: Meaning âsky rainbowâ.
- Jilpa: Meaning âlifeâs teacherâ.
- Pangfua: Meaning âheart-shaped cloudsâ.
- Qinyan: Meaning âheartâs sunshineâ.
- Taio: Meaning âgreat personâ.
- Wangshu: Meaning âcomfortable hopeâ.
- Yuxuan: Meaning âhigh houseâ.
- Yuze: Meaning ârainâ.
- Zhiruo: Meaning âangelica and rueâ, two herbs important in Chinese culture.
- Zihan: Meaning âchildâ.
What is the rarest Chinese name?
What about a Chinese name that no other baby will have?
Well, itâs hard to tell what the rarest Chinese baby name is, but here are a few that arenât likely to be heard on the playground:
- Baozhai Meaning âprecious hairpinâ.
- Caishen: Meaning âgod of wealthâ.
- Chonglin Meaning âsecond brother unicornâ.
- Fengge Meaning âphoenix pavilionâ.
- Jingyi: Meaning âquiet harmonyâ.
- Jinhai: Meaning âgolden seaâ.
- Jun: Meaning âtruthâ.
- KuĂ ng: Meaning âbestowâ.
- Lok: Meaning âjoyâ.
- Qing: Meaning âyoungâ.
- Qiuyue: Meaning âfall moonâ.
- Shufen: Meaning âgood fragranceâ.
- Tongguo: Meaning âbyâ.
- Xiulan: Meaning âbeautiful orchidâ.
- Yating: Meaning âelegantâ.
- Yawen: Meaning elegant cloudsâ.
- Zixuan: Meaning âchildâ.
So, there you have it: 149 profound, beautiful Chinese baby names to choose from.
Feel free to brainstorm your picks with the women on Peanut(they love a solid name share).
Good luck!