Usage note

Chinese names are used by ethnic Chinese people worldwide, consisting of the Chinese language's lexicon instead of "proper" names or random made-up words as in the West. Therefore, Chinese given names don't come fully-made for the public's usage, nor are they inherently gendered, nor are their meanings anything less than clear and distinct, in the same way Western names do and are. Parents, grandparents, and namers create given names by combining name-y Chinese characters, or take inspiration from literature, dramas, serials, movies, and even video games, but never from real-life people.

In the Sinosphere, the family name comes before the given name. Family names are mostly single-character, and therefore pronounced with only one syllable, hence why Sino people's names seem so short and straightforward compared to other cultures, particularly European and American names. Dual-character family names exist to a much rarer occurrence; only around 60 exist and are still in use, but they are treated the same way as single-character ones. Family names are typically passed down patrilineally, though the usage of maternal family names is not uncommon in the modern day, especially for those whose mother is a single child or whose family is making a statement of progressiveness. The law allows its citizens to use any family name from any side of their family, as long as they have the right to inherit it.

Given names consist of 1–3 characters, with single-character given names being a thing of the past and considered outdated nowadays, dual-character given names the most common and favored throughout the times, while triple-character given names are just now slowly seeing a rise in trend as population number skyrockets and dual-character given names start to lack distinct uniqueness. Non-Han ethnic groups of China and Taiwan sometimes use their own native naming traditions and transliterate their names to Chinese for legal registration, often ending up with very long Chinese full names. There is no legal limit to how many characters an individual's name may have; everyone just knows their lanes.

Chinese-Americans of the Baby Boomer generation sometimes choose to display their dual culture in the form of compound Chinese-and-English names, such as: Ya-Jack, Meg-Ping, Ming-Anne. Millennial, Gen-X, and Gen-Z Asian-Americans use the same name stock as the general population, but a few girls' names (Amy, Angie, Cindy, Connie, Helen, Michelle, Mindy, Wendy) are particularly common among Asians, and diminutives (Johnny, Jimmy, Tommy) as given names are more common among Asian-Americans than among the general populace.

Feminine given names

Here are examples of Chinese feminine given names.

• 爱丽 (Aili) "love and prettiness"
• 爱玲 (Ailing) "love jade tinklings"
• 安安 (Anan, An'an) "safe and sound, secure, at ease"
• 安雅 (Anya) "safely refined elegance"
• 安美 (Anmei) "safe beauty"
• 宝甜 (Baotian, Pao-tien, Bou-tim) "sweet like a precious treasure"
• 宝玉 (Baoyu, Pao-ik, Bou-yuk) "rare and treasured jade"
• 炳炳 (Bingbing) "splendid, luminous, glorious"
• 炳晴 (Bingqing, Ping-ching) "splendid clarity"
• 彩霞 (Caixia, Tsai-hsia, Choi-ha) "colorful, rosy clouds"
• 婵娟 (Chanjuan, Sim-gyun) "the moon, moonlight; lovely, beautiful woman"
• Chen
• Choi-lai
• Choi-lin
• Chunguang
• 春花 (Chunhua, Cheun-fa) "springtime flowers, springtime blooms"
• 春兰 (Chunlan, Cheun-lan) "springtime orchids or cymbidiums"
• 春梦 (Chunmeng, Cheun-mung) "spring dream, fleeting illusion"
• 春雨 (Chunyu, Chun-ik, Cheun-yu) "spring rain"
• Dai-lin
• 丹凤 (Danfeng, Dan-fung) "the red phoenix"
• 芳 (Fang, Fong) "sweet-smelling, fragrant, good name, good reputation"
• 芳花 (Fanghua, Fong-fa) "sweet-smelling flower"
• 芳音 (Fangyin, Fang-in, Fong-yam) "sweet-smelling sound; fragrant musical note"
• 芳引 (Fangyin, Fang-in, Fong-yan, Fong-yen) "the sweet fragrance extends far, lures, and guides"
• 芳英 (Fangying, Fang-ing, Fong-ing) "sweet-smelling flower; fragrant hero"
• 菲娜 (Feina) "flowery fragrance, luxuriant growth, and elegance"
• 芬 (Fen, Fan) "perfume, fragrance, sweet aroma"
• 凤 (Feng, Fong) "phoenix"
• Fengyi, Fong-i
• Fengyin, Fong-in
• Fujian, Fuk-gin
• 贵芬 (Guifen, Kwei-fen, Gwai-fan) "expensive, precious, noble fragrance"
• 海霞 (Haixia) "rosy glowing sky at the ocean"
• 海音 (Haiyin) "the sea's melody"
• 花娜 (Huana) "flower-like grace"
• Huanyue
• Hui
• Huifeng
• Huiying
• Hongchang, Hung-chang
• Hongchuan, Hung-chuan
• Huiling, Hweiling
• Zhongshun, Chungshun
• Zhongxun, Chung-hsun
• 佳丽 (Jiali, Chiali, Ga-lai) "beautiful, beauty"
• Jiang
• Jianghui, Chiang-hui
• Jinlin, Chin-lin
• 嘉霓 (Jiani, Chia-ni, Ga-ngaih) "excellent, distinguished rainbow; to praise or commend the rainbow"
• Jianping
• 姣 (Jiao, Chiao, Gau) "beautiful"
• Jihong
• Jing
• Jingmei
• 金美 (Jinmei, Chinmei, Gam-mei) "golden beauty"
• 金梅 (Jinmei, Chinmei, Gam-mui) "golden plum"
• Jingwei, Ching-wei
• Jingzhi
• 金花 (Jinhua, Gam-fa) "golden flower"
• 金华 (Jinhua, Gam-wah) "golden splendor, golden magnificence, golden prosperity"
• 乐乐 (Lele, Lok-lok) "pleasure, enjoyment, amusement"
• 乐映 (Leying, Lok-ing) "enjoyment reflects, mirrors, or shines"
• 莲花 (Lianhua, Lienhua, Lin-fa) "lotus flower, lotus blossom"
• 莲英 (Lianying, Lien-ing, Lin-ing) "lotus flower, lotus blossom, lotus hero"
• Lihong
• Lihua
• Lili
• Limei
• Limin
• Liming
• 琳 (Lin) "fine jade"
• 丽娜 (Lina) "pretty and graceful"
• Ling
• Linwei
• Linyao
• Liping
• Liqin
• Lirong
• Li-wei
• 丽雅 (Liya) "gorgeously elegant, refined, and proper"
• Mei-chu
• Mei-chuan
• Mei-hi
• Mei-hua
• 美丽 (Meili) "beautiful, pretty"
• 美莲 (Meilian, Meilien, Mei-lin) "beautiful lotus"
• 美琳 (Meilin) "beautiful precious jade"
• 美玲 (Meiling, May-ling) "beautiful jade tinklings"
• 美伶 (Meiling, May-ling) "beautiful and clever; beautiful actress or performer"
• 美素 (Meisu, Mei-sou, May-sue) "beautiful element, beautiful essence; beautifully plain, simple, white, and unadorned"
• 美桃 (Meitao) "beautiful peach"
• Mei-xing
• Mei-zhen
• 梦 (Meng) "dream"
• Ming'an
• Mingfang
• (Mingli
• Ming-yu
• (Mingyue) "
• 娜 (Na) "phonetic na, graceful, elegant"
• Nanzi, Nan-tzi, Nan-tzu
• 妮娜 (Nina) "Nina; graceful young girl"
• Peijun
• Piao
• 萍蕊 (Pingrui, Ping-rwei, Ping-yeui, Ping-yeoi) "duckweed stamens/unopened flower buds"
• 琪 (Qi, Chi, Ch'i, Kei, Kay, Kaye) "fine jade"
• 琦 (Qi, Chi, Ch'i, Kei, Kay, Kaye) "precious stone, unique and admirable"
• 绮 (Qi, Chi, Ch'i, I, Yi) "damask, fine woven thin silk, beautiful"
• Qianxi, Chien-hsi
• Qianyi, Chien-i
• Qiao
• Qiming, Chi-ming
• Qingkuan, Ching-kwan
• Qinglai, Chinglai
• Qingyu, Ching-yu, Ching-i
• Qingyuan, Ching-yuen
• Qingxi, Ching-hsi
• Qinqin, Chin-chin
• Qiutian, Chiu-Tien
• 荣芳 (Rongfang, Wing-fong) "luxuriantly thriving, glorified sweet fragrance"
• 荣美 (Rongmei, Wing-mei) "prosperous, glorified beauty"
• 荣芯 (Rongxin, Wing-sam) "luxuriantly thriving, glorified rush pith"
• 荣珍 (Rongzhen, Wing-jan) "prospering, thriving, luxurious treasure"
• 瑞萍 (Ruiping, Rwei-ping, Seui-ping, Seoi-ping) "lucky omen duckweed"
• 润润 (Runrun, Yeun-yeun) "moist, damp, smooth and sleek, glossy"
• Shiyu
• Shou-feng
• Shou-yun
• Shuang
• Shuangcong, Shuang-tsung
• (Shufang) "graceful fragrant"
• (Shuyan, Shu-yen) "graceful swallow"
• Song-lian
• Su-chen
• Su-chu
• (Songli, Sung-li)
• Su-yin
• Su-yuan
• (Teling) "special
• Tian-yun
• Tien-kai
• 婷婷 (Tingting) "slender and graceful woman"
• (Tingyan
• Caiqin, Tsai-chin
• Zitong, Tse-tung
• Tong, Tung
• Tongmei Tung-mei
• Ziping, Tze-ping
• Zixi, Tzu-hsi
• Wai-kwong
• Wai-ting
• 婉 (Wan, Yun) "tactful, polite, subtle, graceful"
• Wang-fen
• 伟丽 (Weili, Wai-lai) "imposing and beautiful, greatly pretty"
• 文丽 (Wenli, Man-lai) "literature prettiness"
• 雯丽 (Wenli, Man-lai) "pretty like colorful clouds"
• Wen-huan
• (Xiahe)
• 夏梦 (Xiameng, Hsiameng, Ha-mung) "summer dream" → in reference to Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream «仲夏夜之梦»
• Xiang
• (Xiangling)
• 香雨 (Xiangyu, Hsiang-yu, Siang-ik, Heung-yu) "sweet-smelling rain"
• Xiaohong
• Xiaoxing
• Xiaoxuan
• Xin, Hsin
• Xingfu, Hsingfu
• Xingli, Hsingli
• Xingxing, Hsing-hsing
• 馨蕾 (Xinlei, Hsinlei, Hing-leuih) "strongly fragrant flower bud"
• 秀丽 (Xiuli, Hsiuli, Hsiou-li, Sau-lai) "beautiful, pretty"
• 秀秀 (Xiuxiu) "excellent, beautiful, intelligent, and talented person"
• 希望 (Xiwang, Hsiwang, Hei-mong) "hope, wish, expectation"
• 绚丽 (Xuanli, Hsuanli, Hyun-lai) "gorgeous and magnificent"
• 雪 (Xue) "snow"
• 雪芳 (Xuefang, Hsue-fang, Hsye-fang, Syut-fong) "snow fragrance"
• Yan-jun
• 艳丽 (Yanli, Yenli, Im-lai) "bright-colored and garishly beautiful"
• 燕燕 (Yanyan) "swallow (hirundinidae genus)"
• (Yingying)
• Yirong
• Yize
• 永美 (Yongmei, Wing-mei) "forever beautiful, eternal beauty"
• Yuewan
• Yueyan
• Yueying
• 玉美 (Yumei, Yuk-mei) "jade-like beauty"
• 玉丽 (Yuli, Yuk-lai) "pretty as jade"
• 玉瑞 (Yurui, Yuk-seui, Yuk-seoi) "auspicious jade token, precious omen of luck"
• 玉蕊 (Yurui, Yuk-yeui, Yuk-yeoi) "jade buds, jade stamens, a type of traditional Chinese bud-only tea"
• 玉润 (Yurun, Yuk-yeun) "smooth as jade [especially about a woman's skin]"
• Yun
• Yun-ping
• Yun-qi
• Zhao-ying
• Zhen
• Zhen-Juan
• Zhen-li
• Zhu

Masculine given names

Here are examples of Chinese masculine given names.

• Cheng-gong
• Cheng-ji
• Daoming
• De
• Deshi
• 东华 (Donghua) "eastern splendor, magnificence of the East, east China"
• 恩赉 (Enlai) "favor and kindness will grant"
• 敢豪 (Ganhao, Kan-hau, Gam-hou, Kam-ho) "brave, bold, wealthy, and powerful person"
• Gang-sheng
• Guo-qing
• 东海 (Haidong, Hai-tung, Hoi-tung) "to the eastern side of the sea"
• 鸿财 (Hongcai, Hong-tsai, Hung-choi) "grand wealth and fortunes"
• 鸿泉 (Hongquan, Hong-ch'uan, Hung-chyun) "grand water spring"
• 鸿雁 (Hongyan, Hung-ngan) "grand swan goose"
• 佳亮 (Jialiang, Chia-liang, Gai-leung) "fine bright light"
• 健刚 (Jiangang, Chien-kang, Gin-gong, Kin-kong) "healthy, strong, indomitable, and unyielding"
• 建国 (Jianguo, Chien-kuo, Gin-gwok, Kin-kwok) "building and establishing the country"
• Jiang-kui
• Jiang-li
• Jiaolong
• 举隆 (Julong, Chu-long, Ch'u-long, Geui-lung) "to lift, raise, or elect the grand, magnificent, and thriving"
• 康 (Kang, Hong) "healthy, well-being, abundant"
• Kao-kan
• Liang
• Liangde
• Lian-wei
• Minghan
• Mingjiang
• (Mingwei, Ming-wai)
• 祺伟 (Qiwei, Ch'iwei, Kei-wai) "auspicious greatness"
• 仁 (Ren, Yan, Yen) "benevolence, humanity"
• Shanbo
• Shanli
• Shantang
• Shaoqi
• 盛 (Sheng, Sing) "flourishing, vigorous, energetic, prevailing, magnificent, abundant"
• 诗庭 (Shiting, Shih-ting, Si-ting) "main hall of poems"
• Shiwei
• Wanling
• Wei
• Weiguo
• Weihong
• Weimin
• Weiyan
• 旭挖 (Xuwa, Hsu-wa, Yuk-wat) "to dig, excavate, and explore at the daybreak's first sunlight"
• 雅顺 (Yashun, Nga-seun, Ngah-seun) "elegantly smooth and successful, neatly-arranged, well-written, properly obeying"
• 奕杰 (Yijie, Ichieh, Ik-git) "great outstanding hero"
• (Yiling, Iling) "
• 奕敏 (Yimin, Imin, Ik-man) "great quick-witted nimbleness"
• Zhi-chao
• Zhiyuan
• 忠 (Zhong, Chong, Chung, Jung) "loyal, faithful, devoted"
• 倬 (Zhuo, Chuo, Cheuk) "notable, noticeable, striking, distinct"

Unisex given names

Here are examples of Chinese unisex and gender-neutral given names.

• 宝熙 (Baoxi, Pau-hsi, Bou-hei) "bright treasured sunny warmth; this treasure is prosperous, happy, and content"
• 畅永 (Changyong, Cheung-wing) "free and worry-less forever"
• 潮汐 (Chaoxi, Chao-hsi, Chiu-jik) "morning and night tides"
• 聪 (Cong, Tsong, Tsung, Chung) "clever, wise, good hearing"
• 丹 (Dan) "cinnabar, bright vermilion red"
• 泛 (Fan) "general, surface-deep, mediocre, ordinary, common"
• 繁 (Fan) "numerous, manifold, multitudinous, complex, to propagate, to multiply"
• 昉 (Fang, Fong) "dawn, to dawn on, to begin"
• 海夏 (Haixia, Hai-hsia, Haisia, Hoi-ha) "summer at the ocean"
• 海英 (Haiying, Hai-ing, Hoi-ing) "ocean's hero, or ocean's flower"
• 和平 (Heping, Wo-ping) "peace, peaceful"
• 赫秀 (Hexiu, He-hsiou, He-hsiu, Hak-sau) "grandiosely conspicuous, awe-inspiring, and talented person"
• 佳宁 (Jianing, Chia-ning, Gai-ning) "fine tranquility"
• 金国 (Jinguo, Chin-kuo, Chin-kwok, Gam-gwok, Kam-kwok, Kim-kok) "golden country"
• Jinyuan, Chin-yuan, Chin-yuen
• 吉祥 (Jixiang, Chi-hsiang, Chi-siang) "lucky, auspicious, propitious"
• 均 (Jun, Chun, Gwan, Kwan) "equal, even, all, without exception"
• 霖畅 (Linchang, Lam-cheung) "continuous rain pouring freely, unimpededly"
• 霖昌 (Linchang, Lam-cheung) "continuous rain [makes us] prosperous and flourishing"
• 敏 (Min, Man) "quick-witted, agile, nimble, keen, clever"
• 明华 (Minghua, Minghwa, Ming-wah) "clear and distinct splendor"
• 平和 (Pinghe, Ping-wo) "gentle, mild, placid"
• 祺密 (Qimi, Chimi, Ch'imi, Kei-mat) "the secret to auspiciousness, felicity, best wishes"
• 诗亭 (Shiting, Shih-ting, Si-ting) "pavilion of poems"
• 顺心 (Shunxin, Shun-hsin, Shunsin, Sunsin, Seun-sam) "satisfactory, satisfying, pleasing, to agree with the heart, in accordance to desires"
• 文采 (Wencai, Wen-tsai, Man-choi) "literary talent and grace, gorgeously rich and bright colors"
• Xianying, Hsien-ing
• 晓辰 (Xiaochen, Hsiaochen, Hiu-san, Hyusan) "celestial bodies at dawn"
• Xiaoqiu, Hsiao-chiu
• Xiaoyi, Hsiao-i
• Xianyuan, Hsien-yuan
• 欣倩 (Xinqian, Hsin-cien, Hsin-chien, Yen-sin) "joyfully pretty/handsome"
• 秀英 (Xiuying, Hsiou-ing, Hsiu-ing, Siu-ing, Sau-ing) "intelligent, beautiful, and talented hero/flower"
• 雪亮 (Xueliang, Hsue-liang, Hsueh-liang, Sueliang, Syut-leung) "bright as snow"
• Yueyou
• Yujie

Nicknames

Chinese nicknames stem from either diminutives of the given name, diminutives of the family name, [diminutives of] the person’s foreign/western name, words relating to the person’s characteristics and traits, or even titles and lines of work. words that a close friend or relative deemed as matching the person’s vibes, random cutesy or pretty words they like, terms of endearment, or inner jokes.

• 阿蓝 (Alan, Alam, Ah-lam) "blue-y" → nickname for someone named 蓝 Lan
• 阿金 (Ajin, Achin, A-gam, A-kam, Ah-gam, Ah-kam, A-kim, Ah-kim) "goldie" → nickname for someone named 金 Jin
• 泛泛 (Fanfan) "very general, surface-deep, mediocre, ordinary, common" → for someone with 泛 Fan in their name
• 繁繁 (Fanfan) "very numerous, manifold, multitudinous, complex, to propagate, to multiply" → for someone with in their name
• 芬芬 (Fenfen, Fanfan) "fragrance aroma" → for someone with 芬 Fen in their name
• 凤凤 (Fengfeng, Fongfong) "phoenix phoenix" → for someone surnamed 凤 Feng or has 凤 Feng in their name
• 河河 (Hehe, Hoho) "river river" → for someone surnamed 河 He or has 河 He in their name
• 米米 (Mimi, Maimai) "grain grain, or rice rice" → for someone surnamed 米 Mi or for the phonetic value of "mimi"
• 小美 (Xiaomei, Syumei) "little beauty" → for a younger girl or of the same age as the speaker, who has 美 Mei in their name or is popular for being pretty

Surnames