About Chinese Names

Parents are selecting more unique baby names for their children, especially when they see celebrities naming their children Apple and Phinnaeus. Americans are on the lookout for names that are interesting and striking for their newborns.
Chinese names, which are usually short and harmonious, can offer a fine array of options. Before going with a Chinese name, research what it means and find out more about Chinese names in general.

Types

Picking a Chinese name for your baby can be a straightforward task with the right resources. One way is to research the different name types based on gender and what they translate to in English.
A sampling of girls' names include Genji, which means gold; Mee, which means beautiful; and An, which translates to peace.
Baby boy names include Chung, which means the wise one; Wen, which means cultured or ornamental and Shen, which means a deep thinker.
Some Chinese names can be used for either gender, such as Bo, which means precious. Lists of Chinese names are available in baby name books at the library, bookstores or online (see Resources below).

Significance

The family name, or surname, is the most important in Chinese culture, so it appears first and before a person's given name. This is opposite of what is done in Western culture, where we have the given first name followed by the family name. Thus, a name like Bob Jones in English would be reversed to appear as Jones Bob in Chinese.

Considerations

Some Chinese folks will Westernize their names if they move to English-speaking countries. This can be done by simply reversing the order, placing their surname after their given name. They also often take on a Western version of their given name to simplify things. Hence a person with the Chinese name of Mao Fing may end up as Charlie Mao if he chooses to reverse the name order and take on a Westernized first name.

Features

Nicknames play a huge part in Chinese names, which is why people usually end up with at least two of them. The first one is a cute name the family calls the person when he is a baby. It is often a simple repetition of the person's first name, such as FingFing, or a diminuative ending is added.
In English this is seen by using the diminutive name, Scotty, for a boy named Scott or Katy for a girl named Kate.
The other Chinese nickname is given by friend or family based on the person's characteristics. The English equivalent may be nicknames like Banana Joe, for a person who likes bananas; Sparky, for someone who is full of vigor; or Red for a person with red hair.

Function

Some additions to Chinese names would classify a person who is an adult or even if he died. Educated males who reach adulthood would often acquire the name "Zi" to mark that turning point in their lives. They could also choose the addition of "Hao," which indicates someone with a sense of humor.
Other Chinese names were bestowed on people after death and others, mainly royalty, were given a temple name upon their demise. These practices are uncommon now, but still significant to the Chinese culture.

Resources

• Selection of Chinese names at BabyNameNetwork