Already have a Chinese name? Enter the characters below to discover what each character means and its cultural significance.
Explore the most common characters used in Chinese names. Click any character to learn more, or browse the full directories of Chinese girl names, Chinese boy names and Chinese last names.
Wang
Common Chinese surname with very high usage frequency.
李Li
Imperial surname of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the most common surname in China
张Zhang
Surname of Hui, the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, credited with inventing the
刘Liu
Imperial surname of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), one of the most influentia
陈Chen
Originated from the State of Chen, a Zhou Dynasty vassal state. Also the surname
杨Yang
Imperial surname of the Sui Dynasty (581-618), originated from the State of Yang
黄Huang
Originated from the State of Huang, a Zhou Dynasty vassal state. One of the most
赵Zhao
Imperial surname of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), listed first in the "Hundred Fa
周Zhou
Imperial surname of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE), the longest-lasting dynasty
吴Wu
Originated from the State of Wu, one of the Spring and Autumn period's five hege
Chinese names are like tiny poems — every character carries intention. Here's how to interpret them:
The first character is always the surname (姓). It represents family heritage — passed from father to children for generations. When you see 李明远, the surname is 李 (Lǐ).
Each character has its own independent meaning. Together, they convey the parents' hopes and wishes. Think of it as a small sentence made of meaningful symbols.
Chinese characters contain visual clues. Characters with "氵" (water radical) suggest gentleness and fluidity. Characters with "日" (sun) imply brightness and positivity. The radicals tell a story of their own.
A well-chosen Chinese name balances four elements: positive character meanings (字义), pleasant pronunciation (音韵), beautiful handwriting (字形), and cultural resonance (文化内涵).
See how complete Chinese names are interpreted character by character:
李明远
Lǐ Míng Yuǎn
One of China's oldest surnames, linked to the Tang Dynasty imperial family
Bright, clear, enlightened
Far-reaching, ambitious, visionary
💡 Overall meaning: "A bright person with far-reaching ambitions"
王诗涵
Wáng Shī Hán
King — the most common surname in China, symbolizing leadership
Poetry, verse — suggesting literary talent and refinement
To encompass, contain — implying depth of character and tolerance
💡 Overall meaning: "A person of poetic grace and deep inner character"
Our database covers 270+ surnames and 370+ given name characters — the most common ones. If a character isn't found, it may be rare or used primarily in contexts other than naming. We're continuously expanding our database.
In Chinese names, the surname always comes first. So 李明 (Lǐ Míng) means the surname is 李 (Lǐ) and the given name is 明 (Míng). This is the opposite of Western name order. Chinese people never put the given name first.
It's possible if non-standard characters are used. That's why tools like ours are important — we only suggest characters with positive, culturally appropriate meanings. If your lookup shows concerning meanings, consider using our name generator to pick a better name.
Yes — most Chinese characters carry several related meanings depending on context. For example, 明 can mean "bright", "clear", "intelligent", or "enlightened". In a name, all these meanings apply simultaneously, which is why Chinese names feel so rich in meaning.
Split it: the first character is the surname, the remaining one or two are the given name. Enter them in the two fields above and the lookup explains each character with its meaning and cultural background. If the name came from a phonetic translation, expect the characters to carry little personal meaning.