Chinese Given Names Encyclopedia
A curated collection of the most popular Chinese given names (Chinese first names). Each name carries deep cultural meaning — from poetic literary grace to strength and wisdom. Browse by gender or explore all names.
Tip: A complete Chinese name consists of a Surname (last name) followed by a Given Name (first name). Browse the popular names below, and try combining your favorite with a surname using our Chinese Name Generator. You can also explore all Chinese Last Names here . Naming a baby? Browse Chinese baby names or common Chinese full names.
子轩
zǐ xuān
20 picks
Refined and elegant presence
浩然
hào rán
18 picks
Vast and upright spirit
雅宁
yǎ níng
13 picks
Elegant and peaceful
梓涵
zǐ hán
10 picks
Gentle and cultivated with inner depth
思睿
sī ruì
9 picks
Thoughtful and wise mind
宇辰
yù chén
8 picks
Vast universe and stars
明
míng
7 picks
It symbolizes light and understanding
诗雨
shī yǔ
7 picks
Poetic and gentle like rain
乐天
lè tiān
5 picks
Optimistic and content with fate
敏学
mǐn xué
5 picks
Quick and eager to learn
揽月
lǎn yuè
5 picks
Embracing the moon
语嫣
yǔ yān
5 picks
Beautiful and sweet smile or words
若溪
ruò xī
4 picks
Soft and flowing like a stream
傲雪
ào xuě
4 picks
Proudly defying the snow
一诺
yī nuò
3 picks
A promise worth a thousand gold
景行
jǐng xíng
3 picks
Noble conduct and high moral standards
嘉木
jiā mù
3 picks
Excellent and sturdy tree
星野
xīng yě
3 picks
Vast field of stars
擎苍
qíng cāng
3 picks
Holding up the blue sky
婉清
wǎn qīng
3 picks
Gentle graceful and clear
芷若
zhǐ ruò
3 picks
Fragrant like angelica and pollia herbs
乐欣
lè xīn
3 picks
Joyful and wonderfully happy
竹
zhú
3 picks
Bamboo flexibility strength and integrity
莲
lián
3 picks
Lotus purity beauty and enlightenment
明哲
míng zhé
2 picks
Wise and philosophical
睿诚
ruì chéng
2 picks
Wise and sincere
学博
xué bó
2 picks
Broad and extensive learning
浩宇
hào yǔ
2 picks
Vast and boundless universe
天宇
tiān yǔ
2 picks
The vast and strong heavens
慎独
shèn dú
2 picks
Careful even when entirely alone
嘉瑞
jiā ruì
2 picks
Excellent and profound luck
涛
tāo
2 picks
Great waves force and energy
平
píng
2 picks
Peace calm and stability
魁
kuí
2 picks
Leader and chief
慧语
huì yǔ
2 picks
Words of wisdom
慧心
huì xīn
2 picks
A pure and wise heart
望舒
wàng shū
2 picks
The charioteer of the moon
溪帆
xī fān
2 picks
A small boat on a flowing stream
秋水
qiū shuǐ
2 picks
Clear autumn waters
春华
chūn huá
2 picks
Vibrant spring blossoms
冬雪
dōng xuě
2 picks
Pure winter snow
慕晴
mù qíng
2 picks
Yearning for a clear sky
优璇
yōu xuán
2 picks
Elegant and beautiful jade
熙雯
xī wén
2 picks
Bright and beautifully patterned clouds
锦华
jǐn huá
2 picks
Splendid and brilliant fortune
安乐
ān lè
2 picks
Peaceful and joyously fortunate
宁心
níng xīn
2 picks
A completely peaceful heart
梅华
méi huá
2 picks
The resilient plum blossom
静
jìng
2 picks
Peaceful quiet and tranquil
慧
huì
2 picks
Wisdom bright and keen intellect
Every Chinese given name carries deliberate meaning. Parents choose characters that express their hopes — strength for boys, beauty for girls, and virtues like wisdom, kindness, or resilience for all. A single character can convey layers of cultural significance.
Many of the most popular Chinese names are inspired by classical poetry and literature. Parents often choose characters from beloved Tang and Song dynasty poems, believing that a beautiful name bestows a beautiful life upon their child.
Contemporary Chinese parents are moving toward more unique, personalized names while still honoring tradition. Characters that convey independence, intelligence, and global outlook are trending in modern Chinese names for both boys and girls.
Chinese given names typically consist of 1 or 2 characters. One-character names are concise and strong, while two-character names allow for richer meaning and poetic combinations. Rarely, you may see names with 3 or more characters.
Yes, most Chinese given names lean toward either masculine or feminine. However, some characters are considered gender-neutral and can be used for both boys and girls. Characters related to nature (like 林 forest, 雨 rain), virtues (like 恩 grace, 安 peace), and abstract qualities often appear in names of any gender.
Absolutely! Browse the names above to find one that resonates with you. Remember, a full Chinese name requires both a surname and a given name. Visit our Chinese Name Generator to get a complete Chinese name that matches your English name phonetically and culturally, or pair your favorite given name with a Chinese surname.
The Chinese given name (名 míng) is the personal part of a Chinese name — what English speakers call a first name. It comes after the surname, is one or two characters long, and each character is chosen for meaning and sound. In 李明远 (Lǐ Míngyuǎn), 明远 is the given name.
Start from meaning: pick the quality you want the name to carry — wisdom, strength, grace — then shortlist characters in that category and check how they sound with a surname. The Chinese Name Generator walks through this in four steps, or browse girl names and boy names first.
Combine it with a Chinese surname to create your complete Chinese name using our free tool.
Free Chinese tools: Chinese text to speech, pinyin translator, character counter and stroke order.