Chinese Baby Names
Explore 555 chinese names, each with its own meaning, history, and pronunciation. Find one that carries the stories you want your child to grow up with.
Chinese naming is one of the most intentional naming traditions in the world. Each character is chosen for its meaning, tone, and visual balance, and the full name typically tells a three-character story.
A short history
Chinese naming conventions are thousands of years old. The family name comes first (an inheritance from Confucian family-priority ordering), followed by a generational character shared with siblings or cousins, then a personal character chosen to reflect hopes, virtues, or astrological readings.
Naming traditions
Many Chinese families still use a generational name pattern laid down centuries ago: a poem or phrase divides up character-by-character across successive generations, so a cousin in the same generation shares the middle character. Astrological and numerological considerations are common.
Sound and style
Mandarin is tonal (four tones plus a neutral), and tone selection matters in naming. A 'beautiful' name in one tone pattern can feel awkward in another. In international use, tone information is usually lost and the name is read as a simple transliteration.
Shihan
“Poetic and elegant”
Shihan combines the character for poetry or poetic spirit with the character for elegant, vast, or cold clarity. The name suggests a person of literary accomplishment and refined sensibility, someone whose character has the measured, luminous quality of great poetry. It is a scholarly name with a contemplative, artistic atmosphere that appeals to families who value literary culture.
Shijie
“World hero”
Shijie combines the Chinese characters for world and outstanding or heroic. The name suggests someone whose excellence is recognised on a global stage, a person of international achievement and broad vision. It carries an ambitious, aspirational quality that reflects the hopes many Chinese families hold for a son who will excel beyond boundaries and make his mark on the wider world.
Shiyu
“Poetry rain, lyrical and gentle”
Shiyu (诗雨) often pairs 诗 (shī), meaning 'poetry' or 'poem,' with 雨 (yǔ), meaning 'rain.' Together the name evokes the beauty of poetry falling like gentle rain, romantic, artistic, and filled with natural grace. Alternative characters such as 石宇 (shí yǔ, 'stone universe') can give the name a more masculine, grounded quality.
Shiyun
“Poetry, clouds”
Shiyun is a poetic Chinese name composed of two elegant characters, 'shi' meaning 'poetry' or 'verse' and 'yun' meaning 'clouds.' Together, they paint a picture of literary beauty drifting through the sky, evoking imagery of artistic expression and ethereal grace. The name reflects the Chinese tradition of composing names that are miniature works of art, each character carefully chosen to create a harmonious and meaningful whole.
Shu
“Kind, gentle”
Shu carries the beautiful meaning of 'kind' or 'gentle' in Chinese, reflecting qualities of warmth, grace and compassion.
Shuangfei
“Two birds flying in harmony”
Shuangfei (双飞) joins 双 (shuāng), meaning 'double,' 'pair,' or 'twin,' with 飞 (fēi), meaning 'to fly' or 'flight.' The name conjures the image of two birds flying together in perfect harmony, a romantic, poetic image of partnership, freedom, and graceful movement.
Shuhua
“Kind flower”
Shuhua combines two Chinese characters: 'shu' (淑), meaning kind-hearted, virtuous, or gentle, and 'hua' (花 or 华), meaning flower or magnificent splendour. Together, the name paints a picture of someone who possesses both inner moral virtue and outward beauty, like a blossoming flower of refined character. In Chinese naming tradition, the pairing of moral and natural qualities is considered auspicious and deeply desirable.
Shujuan
“Kind, graceful”
Shujuan is a Chinese feminine name combining two characters: shu, meaning kind-hearted, gentle, or good-natured, and juan, meaning graceful, beautiful, or elegant. Together the name paints a portrait of a woman who combines inner virtue with outward grace, a combination held in high esteem in traditional Chinese culture. The name has a classical, refined quality associated with educated and well-mannered femininity. It was widely used in mainland China during the twentieth century and remains recognisable, though younger generations often favour shorter or more internationally accessible names. Shujuan carries a timeless elegance rooted in Confucian ideals of virtue and refinement.
Shulan
“Kind orchid”
Shulan is a Chinese feminine name combining the characters 'shu', meaning kind-hearted, gentle, or virtuous, and 'lan', meaning orchid. The orchid holds profound symbolic significance in Chinese culture: it is one of the Four Gentlemen, the quartet of plants (alongside bamboo, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom) that represent the virtues of the Confucian gentleman. Orchid symbolises integrity, elegance, refinement, and friendship. Pairing 'shu' with 'lan' creates a name of layered virtue: not merely beautiful but kind and gentle in character. The name suggests someone of quiet inner grace and moral beauty, a deeply considered Chinese name combining two of its culture's most admired qualities.
Shuming
“bright and learned”
Shuming is composed of 'Shu' (書/树), meaning 'book' or 'tree', and 'Ming' (明), meaning 'bright' or 'enlightened'. Together the name conveys the idea of a person who is intellectually luminous, one whose wisdom shines like light.
Shuwen
“learned in literature”
Shuwen combines 'Shu' (書), meaning 'book' or 'writing', with 'Wen' (文), meaning 'literature', 'culture', or 'refined'. The name celebrates literary cultivation and cultural refinement, suggesting a person of letters.
Shuyao
“graceful and precious as jade”
Shuyao blends 'Shu' (姝), meaning 'beautiful woman' or 'graceful', with 'Yao' (瑶), referring to precious jade or a mythical gem. The name evokes the image of a radiant, precious young woman of exceptional grace.
Shuying
“virtuous and outstanding”
Shuying combines 'Shu' (淑), meaning 'pure', 'virtuous', or 'gentle', with 'Ying' (英), meaning 'hero', 'flower', or 'outstanding'. The name suggests a woman of exceptional virtue and brilliance.
Siqi
“Thoughtful, fine jade”
Siqi is a Chinese name that combines characters for thought or contemplation with those for fine jade or wonder. It suggests a person of intellectual depth and precious beauty, capturing the Chinese literary ideal of inner refinement. The name has an elegant, poetic quality that resonates with classical aesthetics.
Siwen
“thoughtful and cultured”
Siwen joins 'Si' (思), meaning 'to think' or 'contemplation', with 'Wen' (文), meaning 'culture', 'literature', or 'refinement'. The name describes a thoughtful, culturally attuned person who values learning and reflection.
Siyu
“thoughts vast as the universe”
Siyu pairs 'Si' (思), meaning 'thought' or 'longing', with 'Yu' (宇), meaning 'universe' or 'infinite space'. The name conveys a mind that contemplates the vast cosmos, suggesting ambition, depth, and expansive imagination.
Siyuan
“Thoughtful, source”
Siyuan combines the Chinese characters for thought and source or origin, suggesting a person who thinks deeply about the foundations and meanings of things. The name has a philosophical, contemplative quality that reflects the high value placed on learning and reflection in Chinese culture. It implies intellectual depth and a desire to understand the world at its roots.
Song
“Pine tree, praise”
Song is a Chinese name that can be written with the character for pine tree or the character for praise. The pine tree is one of the Three Friends of Winter in Chinese art, symbolising steadfastness, resilience, and longevity as it stays green through the harshest seasons. The name carries a sense of enduring strength and quiet dignity.
Songlin
“pine forest”
Songlin combines 'Song' (松), meaning 'pine tree', with 'Lin' (林), meaning 'forest' or 'grove'. The name evokes an image of a pine forest, strong, evergreen, and enduring, symbolizing resilience and steadfast character.
Taiming
“greatly enlightened”
Taiming combines 'Tai' (泰), meaning 'great', 'peaceful', or 'prosperous', with 'Ming' (明), meaning 'bright' or 'enlightened'. The name expresses the wish for a child who will achieve great clarity and peaceful brilliance in life.
Tao
“Way, path, peach”
Tao is a Chinese name that can mean 'the way' or 'path,' reflecting one of the most profound concepts in Chinese philosophy, or 'peach,' symbolising longevity and vitality.
Tian
“Sky, heaven”
Tian uses the character for sky, heaven, or celestial, one of the most philosophically significant concepts in Chinese thought. It is a name of cosmic scope, suggesting someone connected to higher ideals and vast possibilities. The character is simple in form yet profoundly meaningful, reflecting the Chinese philosophical tradition of finding depth in apparent simplicity.
Tiancheng
“Heavenly sincerity”
Tiancheng combines the Chinese characters tian (heaven, sky) and cheng (sincere, honest). Together they evoke a sincerity that is divinely bestowed, as though one's integrity is a gift from the heavens themselves. The name carries a noble, spiritual quality that has long appealed to Chinese families seeking a name of both moral and celestial resonance.
Tianfei
“Heavenly consort”
Tianfei is a Chinese name composed of 'tian' meaning heaven, sky, or celestial, and 'fei' meaning consort, imperial concubine, or a woman of high celestial rank. Together the name means heavenly consort or celestial lady. It is most famously used as a title of the goddess Mazu, the protector of seafarers venerated across coastal China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, who was elevated to the rank of Tianfei, Heavenly Consort, by the imperial court of the Song dynasty.
Tianhao
“Heaven's greatness”
Tianhao combines the Chinese characters tian (heaven, sky) and hao (grand, vast, great). Together they evoke a person blessed by heaven with sweeping potential and noble character. The name carries Confucian ideals of virtue aligned with the cosmos, and has consistently ranked among the most popular boys' names in mainland China.
Tianhua
“heavenly brilliance”
Tianhua unites 'Tian' (天), meaning 'sky' or 'heaven', with 'Hua' (华), meaning 'magnificent', 'brilliant', or 'flourishing'. The name suggests heavenly splendour and greatness, evoking the glory and beauty of the celestial realm.
Tianlei
“Heavenly thunder”
Tianlei combines the Chinese characters for heaven (tian) and thunder (lei), creating a name of dramatic, awe-inspiring power. It evokes the majesty of a thunderstorm breaking across the sky, suggesting both celestial authority and raw natural force. The name carries a sense of grandeur and commanding presence.
Tianlong
“heavenly dragon”
Tianlong fuses 'Tian' (天), meaning 'heaven' or 'sky', with 'Long' (龙), meaning 'dragon'. In Chinese mythology, the Tianlong is a celestial dragon that guards the heavens, making this name a powerful expression of divine strength and noble guardianship.
Tianming
“brightness of heaven”
Tianming (天明) combines 'tian' (天, sky/heaven) and 'ming' (明, bright/radiant), meaning 'the brightness of heaven' or 'dawn of the sky.' It evokes the clarity and promise of a new day breaking across the heavens.
Tianxiang
“heavenly blessing, auspicious sky”
Tianxiang (天祥) combines 'tian' (天, heaven/sky) and 'xiang' (祥, auspiciousness/good omen), meaning 'heavenly blessing' or 'auspicious sky.' The name carries a deeply fortunate and blessed connotation, suggesting divine favour.
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