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Most English lists of Chinese baby names make the same mistake: they give you a spelling like “Li” or “Mei” and a single meaning. But in Chinese, the meaning lives in the written character, not the sound. The syllable lì can be written 麗 (beautiful), 力 (strength), or 立 (to stand), and those are three different names.
I live in Taiwan, where I named my own two children, so this list is written the way Chinese-speaking parents actually think about names: character first, then sound. Every name below includes the character (in traditional script, as used in Taiwan and Hong Kong), the pinyin with tone marks, the meaning, and an approximate English pronunciation.
📌 Key Takeaway: A Chinese given name is usually one or two characters, chosen for meaning, sound, and how it looks written down. The family name comes first: in 林雅婷 (Lín Yǎtíng), Lin is the surname. If you are choosing a Chinese name for a child growing up in an English-speaking country, pick the characters first and check that the romanized spelling is easy to say. For more names from the region, see our Japanese baby names and Korean baby names.
How Chinese Names Work
Surname first. The family name comes before the given name. Most surnames are a single character: 陳 (Chén), 林 (Lín), 王 (Wáng), 李 (Lǐ).
One or two characters. Two-character given names are the most common today. Single-character names feel crisp and classic.
Names are composed, not picked from a list. There is no fixed set of “names” the way there is in English. Parents combine characters to say something: 承恩 (Chéng’ēn) means “to receive grace,” 宇翔 (Yǔxiáng) means “to soar through the universe.” This is why two children rarely share the exact same name.
Tones matter. Mandarin has four tones, and the tone is part of the word. The marks over the vowels in pinyin (ā á ǎ à) show the tone.
Children are not named after relatives. In many Western families, naming a baby after a grandparent is an honor. In Chinese tradition it is the opposite: reusing an elder’s name is considered disrespectful.
Many families consult a naming expert. In Taiwan it is still common to check a name’s stroke count and its balance of the five elements before deciding. Not every family does this, but enough do that it shapes which names are popular.
Chinese Girl Names
| Name | Gender | Origin | Meaning | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 雅婷 Yǎtíng | Girl | Mandarin | ”Elegant” + “graceful” | yah-TING |
| 怡君 Yíjūn | Girl | Mandarin | ”Joyful” + “noble person” | ee-JWIN |
| 欣怡 Xīnyí | Girl | Mandarin | ”Glad” + “joyful” | shin-EE |
| 詩涵 Shīhán | Girl | Mandarin | ”Poetry” + “to hold within, cultured” | shr-HAHN |
| 美玲 Měilíng | Girl | Mandarin | ”Beautiful” + “the sound of jade” | may-LING |
| 麗華 Lìhuá | Girl | Mandarin | ”Beautiful” + “splendid” | lee-HWAH |
| 曉雯 Xiǎowén | Girl | Mandarin | ”Dawn” + “patterned clouds” | shyow-WUN |
| 芷晴 Zhǐqíng | Girl | Mandarin | ”Fragrant angelica herb” + “clear sky” | jrr-CHING |
| 語彤 Yǔtóng | Girl | Mandarin | ”Words” + “red” | yoo-TOHNG |
| 靜 Jìng | Girl | Mandarin | ”Quiet, calm” | JING |
| 慧 Huì | Girl | Mandarin | ”Wise, intelligent” | HWAY |
| 梅 Méi | Girl | Mandarin | ”Plum blossom,” which blooms in winter and stands for resilience | MAY |
| 蘭 Lán | Girl | Mandarin | ”Orchid” | LAHN |
| 雪 Xuě | Girl | Mandarin | ”Snow” | SHWEH |
| 月 Yuè | Girl | Mandarin | ”Moon” | YWEH |
| 琳 Lín | Girl | Mandarin | ”Beautiful jade” | LIN |
| 瑤 Yáo | Girl | Mandarin | ”Precious jade” | YOW |
| 蓉 Róng | Girl | Mandarin | ”Hibiscus, lotus” | ROHNG |
| 婉 Wǎn | Girl | Mandarin | ”Gentle, gracious” | WAHN |
The first four names in this table (雅婷, 怡君, 欣怡, 詩涵) are names you will genuinely meet in Taiwan. 雅婷 and 怡君 were among the most common names for girls born in the 1980s and 90s, a bit like Jennifer and Jessica in the United States.
Chinese Boy Names
| Name | Gender | Origin | Meaning | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 志明 Zhìmíng | Boy | Mandarin | ”Ambition” + “bright” | jrr-MING |
| 家豪 Jiāháo | Boy | Mandarin | ”Family” + “heroic, grand” | jyah-HOW |
| 俊傑 Jùnjié | Boy | Mandarin | ”Talented” + “outstanding” | jwin-JYEH |
| 承恩 Chéng’ēn | Boy | Mandarin | ”To receive” + “grace, kindness” | chung-UN |
| 宇翔 Yǔxiáng | Boy | Mandarin | ”Universe” + “to soar” | yoo-SHYAHNG |
| 浩然 Hàorán | Boy | Mandarin | ”Vast” + “so”; from a phrase in Mencius about an upright spirit | how-RAHN |
| 子軒 Zǐxuān | Boy | Mandarin | ”Child, master” + “lofty” | dzuh-SHWEN |
| 偉 Wěi | Boy | Mandarin | ”Great” | WAY |
| 明 Míng | Boy | Mandarin | ”Bright”; the character combines sun and moon | MING |
| 龍 Lóng | Boy | Mandarin | ”Dragon,” a symbol of power and good fortune | LOHNG |
| 強 Qiáng | Boy | Mandarin | ”Strong” | CHYAHNG |
| 勇 Yǒng | Boy | Mandarin | ”Brave” | YOHNG |
| 文 Wén | Boy | Mandarin | ”Culture, literature” | WUN |
| 傑 Jié | Boy | Mandarin | ”Outstanding, heroic” | JYEH |
| 睿 Ruì | Boy | Mandarin | ”Wise, far-sighted” | RWAY |
| 柏 Bǎi | Boy | Mandarin | ”Cypress,” an evergreen that stands for endurance | BYE |
| 翰 Hàn | Boy | Mandarin | ”Writing brush, scholarship” | HAHN |
| 毅 Yì | Boy | Mandarin | ”Resolute, persevering” | EE |
For more names built around courage, see our list of baby names meaning brave.
Unisex Chinese Names
Many characters are used for both boys and girls. Context, and the second character, usually signals which.
| Name | Gender | Origin | Meaning | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 安 Ān | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Peace, safety” | AHN |
| 樂 Lè | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Joy” | LUH |
| 晨 Chén | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Morning” | CHUN |
| 雨 Yǔ | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Rain” | YOO |
| 心 Xīn | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Heart” | SHIN |
| 寧 Níng | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Peaceful, tranquil” | NING |
| 嘉 Jiā | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Excellent, auspicious” | JYAH |
| 恩 Ēn | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Grace, kindness” | UN |
| 樂安 Lè’ān | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Joy” + “peace” | luh-AHN |
| 子晴 Zǐqíng | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Child” + “clear sky” | dzuh-CHING |
| 以恩 Yǐ’ēn | Unisex | Mandarin | ”By means of” + “grace” | ee-UN |
| 允 Yǔn | Unisex | Mandarin | ”To permit; fair, sincere” | YWIN |
| 禾 Hé | Unisex | Mandarin | ”Grain, rice plant” | HUH |
Looking for more options that work for any child? See our gender-neutral baby names.
Choosing a Chinese Name for a Child Growing Up Abroad
Test the romanized spelling on English speakers. Pinyin letters do not sound the way English readers expect. Q sounds like “ch,” X like “sh,” Zh like “j,” and C like “ts.” A name like Xuě or Qiáng is beautiful, but your child will be correcting people for life. Names such as Mei, Lin, An, Ming, and Wen are said correctly on the first try.
Decide how you will write it. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, simplified characters in mainland China and Singapore. Some characters are identical in both; others look quite different (麗 and 丽 are the same name).
Ask a native speaker before you commit. Characters can carry associations a dictionary will not show you: a name can sound dated, or sound like an unlucky word. A grandparent or a Chinese-speaking friend can tell you in ten seconds.
Consider using it as a middle name. Many families abroad give an English first name and a Chinese middle name. It keeps the heritage on the birth certificate without making roll call difficult.
Do not choose by sound alone. If you like how “Mei” sounds, decide which Mei you mean. 美 is “beautiful,” 梅 is “plum blossom,” and 玫 is “rose.”
FAQ
How do Chinese names work?
The family name comes first, followed by a given name of one or two characters. In 林雅婷 (Lín Yǎtíng), Lin is the family name and Yating is the given name. The meaning of the name comes from the written characters, not from the sound.
What is a popular Chinese girl name?
Names like 詩涵 (Shīhán), 欣怡 (Xīnyí), and 雅婷 (Yǎtíng) are widely used. Popularity shifts by generation and by region, so a name that is common in Taiwan may be less common in mainland China.
Can one Chinese name have different meanings?
Yes. The same sound can be written with many different characters. Lì can be 麗 (beautiful), 力 (strength), or 立 (to stand). That is why you should always choose the character, not just the spelling.
Is it okay to give a non-Chinese baby a Chinese name?
It is a personal decision. If you do, choose real characters with a meaning you understand, and ask a native speaker to check it. A name chosen with care and an understanding of what it means is received very differently from one picked only because it sounds exotic.
What is the difference between traditional and simplified characters?
They are two ways of writing the same language. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and simplified characters in mainland China and Singapore. The name and its pronunciation are the same; only the written form differs.
Sources
- Ministry of Education, Taiwan. Revised Mandarin Chinese Dictionary (教育部重編國語辭典).
- Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan. 全國姓名統計分析 (national name statistics).
- Behind the Name. Chinese names.
Written by
Vega LinFounder & Editor — Mother of 2 (Taiwan)
Vega writes Baby Care Guide from the intersection of evidence-based research (AAP, CDC, WHO) and real parenting experience. Holds a Master's in Digital Innovation from Tunghai University. Read more →
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