Name explorer
Chinese baby name explorer
Chinese given names are usually one or two characters chosen for meaning, sound harmony with the family name, and sometimes stroke count traditions. Diaspora parents may want characters elders recognize, pinyin teachers can approximate, and a child can spell in email without losing the character on official forms.
Mandarin tones matter when you say names aloud, even if your school district ignores them. Try the full name in conversation and on the phone before you print birth announcements.
Characters on forms
U.S. and Canadian birth certificates often romanize only. Keep a photo note or cultural document with the correct characters for passport offices, heritage school registration, and the grandparent who insists the simplified and traditional forms must match family genealogy books.
Search Chinese names
Filter by meaning or spelling. Example searches: peace, spring, jade, Min, Haru.
30 names shown
伟民 (Wěi mín)
Boygreat people
子涵 (Zǐ hán)
Neutralchild of culture
Popular; teachers may know similar names
宇轩 (Yǔ xuān)
Boyuniverse, lofty
浩然 (Hào rán)
Boyvast righteousness
俊熙 (Jùn xī)
Boyhandsome brightness
晨曦 (Chén xī)
Neutralmorning light
博文 (Bó wén)
Boylearned and refined
逸尘 (Yì chén)
Boyleisure beyond dust
瑞琪 (Ruì qí)
Girllucky jade
美琳 (Měi lín)
Girlbeautiful jade
欣怡 (Xīn yí)
Girljoyful and harmonious
雨桐 (Yǔ tóng)
Girlrain and paulownia tree
思雨 (Sī yǔ)
Girlthoughtful rain
静怡 (Jìng yí)
Girlquiet joy
若萱 (Ruò xuān)
Girllike daylily
安琪 (Ān qí)
Girlpeaceful angel
Christian diaspora families use this
琳 (Lín)
Girlbeautiful jade
Single character; check tone with surname
伟 (Wěi)
Boygreat, robust
明 (Míng)
Boybright, clear
乐 (Lè)
Neutraljoy, music
宁 (Níng)
Neutralpeaceful
怡 (Yì)
Girlharmony, cheer
心 (Xīn)
Girlheart
舒 (Shū)
Girlcomfort, ease
浩 (Hào)
Boyvast
天宇 (Tiān yǔ)
Boyuniverse sky
子轩 (Zǐ xuān)
Boychild of loftiness
一辰 (Yī chén)
Boyone morning star
青青 (Qīng qīng)
Girllush green
曼玲 (Màn líng)
Girlgraceful tinkling
Before you finalize
- Avoid characters with obvious homophone teasing in your dialect, not just Mandarin.
- Balance a bold character with a softer second character if you want everyday wearability.
- Mixed families: decide whether the Chinese name is legal, cultural, or a middle name.
Keep reading: A Mixed-Couple Guide to Naming Your Baby, Building Family Traditions That Actually Fit Your Life.
Other explorers: Korean, Japanese, Indian, Filipino, and Vietnamese.