100 Chinese Baby Names for Boys and Girls

In Chinese culture, parents have a great responsibility when they choose a name for their baby. The name must be harmonious and the characters must combine in such a way as to bring good luck and prosperity to their child. The characters that make up a person’s name have to be chosen carefully so that they complement each other and follow certain astrological rules.

Chinese names are usually made up of three characters. The family name is the first character, and the remaining two characters are the given name. Sometimes, especially in Mainland China, the given name is just one character. Most Chinese characters have a meaning that can be translated into English, but Chinese names are often not fully translatable.

Traditionally, parents would consult an astrologer to suggest a good name for their baby. Astrological charts determine which of the five elements (gold, wood, water, fire, and earth) are associated with the time of birth. The astrologer chooses a character that combines the elements and harmonizes with the family name. The number of strokes used to draw the Chinese characters is also considered before suggesting names for the child.

Chinese Names for Babies

  • An
  • Bo
  • Bowen
  • Fen
  • Juan
  • Kai
  • Mei
  • Meilin
  • Li
  • We

Popular Chinese Baby Names for Girls

Single-syllable names are often combined to create a complete concept. Many times the names can be used for both girls and boys.

Chinese baby names

Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin 

Ai

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Love, affection or friendly, lush
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 爱, 蔼
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer Ai Carina Uemura
  • Peak Popularity: Ai is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Ai is also a popular given name in Japan, and the same character is used.

An

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Peace, quiet
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: An is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: An is also a Vietnamese given name, with a meaning of safe, secure. It is a common surname in China as well.

An Na

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Peace, quiet and elegant, graceful, delicate
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 安納
  • Peak Popularity: An Na is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Two-syllable given names are common in China. The first syllable is the generation name (based on a generation poem), followed by a given name syllable.

An Ni

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Peace, quiet
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 安旎
  • Peak Popularity: An Ni has not been in the top 1000 in the U.S.

Bao

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Treasure or bud
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 宝, 苞
  • Peak Popularity: Bao has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Baozi are small buns with a treasure in the middle.

Bi

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Green jade
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Bi has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Bi is a common Chinese surname.

Caihong

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Colorful, rainbow
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 彩红
  • Peak Popularity: Cai and Caihong have not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Cai is a common Chinese surname, often Romanized as Chai.

Chun

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Spring season
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Chun has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fen

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Perfume, fragrance
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fēn 芬, Fang 芳, Fenfang
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic badminton player Yao Fen, musician Min Xiaofen
  • Peak Popularity: Fen has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Hai Rong

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Coming from the seas, flourishing, prosperous
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 海榮
  • Peak Popularity: Hai Rong has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Hua

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Flower, blossom
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 花, Hualing
  • Peak Popularity: Hua has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Huan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Happy
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 欢, Kwan
  • Peak Popularity: Huan has not been in the top 1000 in the U.S.

Huang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Phoenix
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 凰, Wong, Hwang, Hwong
  • Peak Popularity: Huan has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Hui

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Intelligent, wise
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Zhang Huiwen
  • Peak Popularity: Hui has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Jìngyi

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Quiet, gentle, joy, harmony
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jìng Yì 靜義, 静怡
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic swimmer Le Jingyi
  • Peak Popularity: Jingyi has not been in the top 1000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Jingyi is pronounced "cheeng-ee."

Ju

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Chrysanthemum
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic archer Choi Hyeon-ju
  • Peak Popularity: Ju has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Juan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful, graceful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Juan is among the top 200 names for boys in the U.S., reflecting the Spanish name for John rather than a Chinese name for girls. It is a very common female name in China.

Fun Fact: The pronunciation of the Chinese name Juan is "chyehn."

Kun

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Earth, female
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic swimmer Zhao Kun.
  • Peak Popularity: Kun has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Lan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Orchid, elegant
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Lan has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Lei

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Bud
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Lei has not been in the top 1000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: The Chinese name Lei is pronounced like the Hawaiian flower necklace lei, "lay."

Li

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic swimmer Lin Li.
  • Peak Popularity: Li has not been in the top 1,000 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: The Chinese name Li is pronounced like the English name Lee.

Ling

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Spirit or bell
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 灵, 铃
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic badminton champion Gao Ling
  • Peak Popularity: Ling has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Mei

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful or plum
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 美, 梅
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Mei Kurokawa
  • Peak Popularity: Mei has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Mei is often used as a name in manga series.

Mei-hui

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful and wise
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 美惠
  • Peak Popularity: Mei-hui has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S. It is a female name in Taiwan.

Meilin

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful forest
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Pop singer Meilin Gray
  • Peak Popularity: Meilin has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Meiling

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful spirit
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 美灵, Mei-Ling, May-ling
  • Famous Namesakes: Author Meiling Jin, actress Meiling Melançon, First Lady Soong Mei-ling (Madame Chiang Kai-shek)
  • Peak Popularity: Meiling has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Na

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Elegant, delicate
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic swimmer Wang Na
  • Peak Popularity: Na has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Ning

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Peaceful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Taiwanese actress Ding Ning
  • Peak Popularity: Ning has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Nuan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Warm and genial
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Nuan has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Qing

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Blue, green, young
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 青, 清
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic figure skater Pang Qing
  • Peak Popularity: Qing has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Qing is pronounced "cheeng."

Qiuyue

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Autumn moon
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 秋月
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic volleyball player Qei Qiuyue
  • Peak Popularity: Qiuyue has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Shu

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Good, virtuous
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Shu has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Shufen

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Good fragrance
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 淑芬
  • Peak Popularity: Shufen has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Shu-hui

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Good intelligence
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 淑惠
  • Peak Popularity: Shu-hui has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Shun

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Obey, submit
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Shun has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Su

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Plain and simple, or respectful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 素, 肃
  • Peak Popularity: Su has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Wei

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Feminine forms mean small or fern
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 微, 薇
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic badminton player Yang Wei
  • Peak Popularity: Wei has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Wei is pronounced like "way."

Xiu

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Luxuriant, elegant, beautiful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Xiu has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Xiu is pronounced "shyo" and it is often combined with other names for a two-syllable name.

Xiulan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful orchid
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 秀兰
  • Peak Popularity: Xiulan has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Xiuying

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful flower or petal
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 秀英
  • Peak Popularity: Xiulan has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Xue

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Snow or learning
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 雪, 学
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic figure skater Shen Xue
  • Peak Popularity: Xue has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Skater Shen Xue and her husband Zhao Hongbo were the first Chinese pair skating team to win awards such as the World Figure Skating Championship (2002) and a medal at the Olympic Games, including a gold medal in 2010.

Ya

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Elegant, graceful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Ya has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Ya can be used in combination with many other single-syllable names.

Yan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Beautiful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Chinese actress Chen Yanyan, sculptor Chen Yanyin
  • Peak Popularity: Yan has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Ya-ting

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Elegant and graceful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 雅婷
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic archer Tan Ya-ting
  • Peak Popularity: Ya-ting has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Yawen

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Graceful clouds
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 雅雯
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic badminton player Zhang Yawen
  • Peak Popularity: Yawen has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Yawen is an example of combining two single-syllable names.

Yi

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Feminine versions mean joy or ceremony
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 怡, 仪
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic swimmer Tang Yi
  • Peak Popularity: Yi has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Yin

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Many meanings including silver, sound, and shelter
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 银, 音, 荫
  • Peak Popularity: Yin has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Yin is pronounced "een."

Yu

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Many meanings including jade, pleasant, and rain
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 玉, 愉, 雨
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic swimmer Yang Yu
  • Peak Popularity: Yu has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Yun

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Cloud or allow
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 云, 允
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic swimmer Nian Yun
  • Peak Popularity: Yun has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Zhen

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Several meanings including precious, real, virtuous
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 珍, 真, 贞
  • Peak Popularity: Zhen has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Zhen is pronounced "chun."

Popular Chinese Baby Names for Boys

These given names are used singly and in combination. Many of them are also used for girls.

Aiguo

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Love of country
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Atmospheric scientist Aiguo Dai
  • Peak Popularity: Aiguo has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Bai

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Several meanings including white, pure, many, cypress tree
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 白, 百, 柏
  • Famous Namesakes: 8th-century poet Li Bai, Chinese communist spy Li Bai
  • Peak Popularity: Bai has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Bai is pronounced "pie."

Bo

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Ocean wave
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Blues musician Bo Diddley, athlete Bo Jackson
  • Peak Popularity: Bo has been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S. since 1977, with a recent high at 537 in 2020.

Bowen

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Abundant, rich, literate
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 博文
  • Famous Namesakes: Chinese football player Huang Bowen
  • Peak Popularity: Bowen is a newly popular male name in the U.S., debuting in the top 1000 in 2011 and reaching 394 in 2020.

Chang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Several meanings including prosper, good, sunlight, smooth, long
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 昌, 畅, 长
  • Famous Namesakes: 10th-century emperor Liu Chang of the Southern Han dynasty.
  • Peak Popularity: Chang has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Chao

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Surpass or tide
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 超, 潮
  • Peak Popularity: Chao has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Chen

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Morning
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 晨, 辰
  • Famous Namesakes: Chinese actor Li Chen
  • Peak Popularity: Chen has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Cheng

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Finished or sincere
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 成, 诚
  • Peak Popularity: Cheng has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Chih-Cheng

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Accomplishing your life's goals
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 志成
  • Peak Popularity: Chih-cheng has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S. However, it is a popular male name in Taiwan.

Chia-Hao

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Having a great objective in life
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 家豪
  • Famous Namesakes: Baseball player Sung Chia-hao
  • Peak Popularity: Chia-hao has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S. However, it is a popular male name in Taiwan.

Chih-Ming

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Having a clear goal in life
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 志明
  • Famous Namesakes: Scientist Chih-Ming Ho
  • Peak Popularity: Chih-ming has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Chun-Chieh

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Spring, youthful, life
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 俊傑
  • Famous Namesakes: Scientist Chun-chieh Wu
  • Peak Popularity: Chun-chieh has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Da

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Attainment, intelligence, or great, big
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 达, 大
  • Famous Namesakes: First-century Emperor Zhang of Han (given name Da)
  • Peak Popularity: Da has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

De

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Virtue
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: De has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: De is often used in two-character names to add "virtue" to the meaning. For example, Delun (virtuous order), Deming (bright virtue), Dewei (most virtuous), and Deshi (virtuous man).

Dong

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: East, or pillar
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 东, 栋, Donghai (eastern sea)
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic trampoline gymnast Dong Dong
  • Peak Popularity: Dong has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Feng

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Summit
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Feng has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Fragrant, virtuous
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 芳, 方
  • Famous Namesakes: Chinese politician Wang Fang
  • Peak Popularity: Fang has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fu

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Multiple, including wealthy, hibiscus, man or father.
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 富, 芙, 甫
  • Famous Namesakes: Eighth-century poet Du Fu
  • Peak Popularity: Fu has not been in the top 1000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Du Fu is known as the greatest Chinese poet, the equivalent of Shakespeare. He wrote during the Tang Dynasty. The Du Fu Thatched Cottage is a museum in his honor in Chengdu, China.

Gang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Strong
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Mathematician Tian Gang
  • Peak Popularity: Gang has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Guo

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Country
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Guo has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Guo is used in combination names including Guozhi (ordered government), Guowei (preserving the government), and Guoliang (kind government).

Hai

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Sea
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Vietnamese poet Thanh Hải (pen name of Pham Ba Ngoan)
  • Peak Popularity: Hai has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Haoran

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Grand in manner
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 浩然 Hao-Ran, Hao Ran
  • Famous Namesakes: Writer Hao Ran (pen name of Liang Jinguang)
  • Peak Popularity: Haoran has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Hao-Yu

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Grand house
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 浩宇
  • Peak Popularity: Hao-yu has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

He

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: River or harmony
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 河, 和
  • Famous Namesakes: Explorer Zheng He, first-century Emperor He of Han
  • Peak Popularity: He has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Zheng He commanded a fleet of ships on treasure expeditions from 1405 to 1433.

Heng

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Constant
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: 8th-century Emperor Zuzong of Tang (personal name Li Heng), 10th-century Emperor Zhenzong of Song (personal name Zhao Heng)
  • Peak Popularity: Heng has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Hong

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Multiple, including rainbow, expand, vast, wild swan
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 虹, 红, 弘, 鸿, 宏
  • Famous Namesakes: Second-century Emperor Houshao of Han (personal name Liu Hong)
  • Peak Popularity: Hong has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Jia

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Auspicious, home, family
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 佳, 家
  • Famous Namesakes: Chinese activist Hu Jia
  • Peak Popularity: Jia has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Jian

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Build, establish or strong, healthy
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 建, 健
  • Famous Namesakes: Sixth-century Emperor Wen of Sui (personal name Yang Jian), founder of the Sui Dynasty
  • Peak Popularity: Jian has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Jian is used in combination names such as Jianguo (building the country), Jianjun (building the army), and Jianyu (building the universe).

Jin

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Gold
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 金, Chin
  • Peak Popularity: Jin has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Jing

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Several meanings including quiet, spirit, crystal, capital city
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 静, 精, 晶, 京
  • Famous Namesakes: Mountaineer Xu Jing
  • Peak Popularity: Jian has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Xu Jing led the first ascent of the last unclimbed peak over 8,000 meters, Shisapangma, in 1964. This peak later claimed the life American climbers Alex Lowe and Dave Bridges.

Kai

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Victory or start
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 凯, 开, 開, 啟
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic and World Champion gymnast Zou Kai
  • Peak Popularity: Kai has been in the top 1,000 boy names in the U.S. since 1979. It had a recent high of 93 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Kai is used as a name in many languages. In Chinese, the meaning of "start" has become a popular one.

Lin

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Forest
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: , Lim
  • Peak Popularity: Lin has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Liang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Bright, brilliant
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Peak Popularity: Liang has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Ming

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Bright
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Architect I. M. Pei (Ieoh Ming Pei)
  • Peak Popularity: Ming has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Ping

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Stable, level
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Chinese-American Actor Ping Wu
  • Peak Popularity: Ping has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Qiang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Strong
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Martial artist Wang Qiang
  • Peak Popularity: Qiang has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Qiu

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Autumn, hill
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 秋, 丘
  • Famous Namesakes: Qiu is the given name of the fifth-century Chinese philosopher Confucius.
  • Peak Popularity: Qiu has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Confucius was one of the most influential thinkers in world history. His philosophy was centered on strong family loyalty and the Golden Rule. It became the state-sanctioned system under the Han Dynasty.

Rong

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Multiple meanings include prosperous, glory, harmonize, and appearance
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 荣, 融, 容
  • Peak Popularity: Rong has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Shi

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Multiple including generation, honest, history, stone
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 时, 实, 史, 石
  • Famous Namesakes: Given name of first-century Emperor Yuan of Han and 13th-century Emperor Duanzong of Song
  • Peak Popularity: Shi has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Tao

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Large waves
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer and actor Huang Zitao (stage name Z.Tao)
  • Peak Popularity: Tao has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Tao also means the way or path, and is given to the philosophical/religious tradition of Taoism.

Wei

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Greatness
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic gymnast Yang Wei, businessman Yang Weidong
  • Peak Popularity: Wei has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Wen

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Literate
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: Chinese filmmaker Jiang Wen, nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee
  • Peak Popularity: Wen has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Wu

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Military
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 武, Woo
  • Famous Namesakes: Actor Yung Woo Kwang (Woo on "Survivor")
  • Peak Popularity: Wu has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Xiang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Soaring like a bird or good luck
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 翔 (soar), 祥 (good luck)
  • Famous Namesakes: First-century Chinese scholar and poet Liu Xiang
  • Peak Popularity: Xiang has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Xiang may also be a female name, especially using the symbol 香 and meaning of fragrant.

Yang

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Ocean or sunny, male
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 洋, 阳
  • Famous Namesakes: Actor Yang Yang
  • Peak Popularity: Yang has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: In addition to being both a given name and family name in China, yang is also one of the two polarities in Chinese philosophy. Yang is the active principle, ascribed being sunny and male.

Ying

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Brave
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 英, Yong
  • Famous Namesakes: Soccer player Lee Yong
  • Peak Popularity: Ying has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Yuze

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Rain or friend, pool or brilliance
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 雨泽
  • Famous Namesakes: Soccer player Lee Yong
  • Peak Popularity: Yuze has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Yuxuan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: High house
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 宇轩
  • Peak Popularity: Yuxuan has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Zihan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Child, tolerate
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 子涵
  • Famous Namesakes: Filmmaker Loo Zihan
  • Peak Popularity: Zihan has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Zixuan

  • Origin: Chinese
  • Meaning: Child, high
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 子轩
  • Peak Popularity: Zixuan has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Asia Media Centre. A basic guide to Chinese names.

  2. Social Security Administration. Popularity of Name.

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