Overview
Jackie Chan and Jet Li are just two of the most famous Asian stars in Hollywood, but did you know that these aren’t their real names?
Chinese star Jackie Chan was born as “Chan Kong-sang,” while Beijing-born Singaporean actor Jet Li’s real name is “Li Lianjie.”
Many Chinese people use English names because their traditional Chinese names are too difficult to remember or might be odd-sounding to foreigners. They either pick an English name they like or get assigned one in school.
But some Chinese people managed to become famous even with their original Chinese names.
For example, Hong Kong-born Hollywood actor Chow Yun-fat also uses “Donald Chow,” but he’s better known worldwide for his traditional Chinese name.
Zhang Ziyi, Chow Yun-fat’s co-star in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” uses her Chinese birth name instead of taking an English name, too.
Chinese culture fascinates many people worldwide. Some parents even want to choose Chinese baby names for their children even if they aren’t Chinese.
If you’re looking for popular names, you can find our top 100 Chinese baby names for boys and girls below.
Popular Chinese Baby Names for Boys
Many Chinese people pick English names even if their traditional Chinese names are simple and easy to pronounce or remember.
For example, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma’s real name is Ma Yun.
You might also notice that family names come first when writing Chinese names. That’s why “Ma Yun” becomes “Jack Ma” (not “Jack Yun”) when written in the English form.
Traditionally, Chinese names are related to nature.
The baby names are picked depending on the five elements (fire, earth, water, wood, and gold) associated with the time of their birth. The character is “harmonized” with the baby’s family name to create the given name.
But you don’t have to follow this traditional rule in naming your child, especially if you aren’t Chinese.
You can pick one from our most popular Chinese boy names with meanings below:
Aiguo
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Patriotic
- Variations/Synonyms: Love, affection, country, or nation
- Description: This Chinese name translates to “love of country.” It can be a nice pick for a patriotic family.
Bao
- Origin: Chinese, Mongolian, and Vietnamese
- Meaning: Precious treasure
- Variations/Synonyms: Guarantee, bundle, or package
- Description: You can also use the alternate spelling “Pao” for this unisex name.
- “Bao” is a shortened version of the Mongolian surname “Borjigin.”
Bo
- Origin: Chinese and Old Norse
- Meaning: Ocean wave
- Variations/Synonyms: Precious or wave
- Description: Like many Chinese first names, “Bo” is also a common surname in China.
Bowen
- Origin: Chinese and Welsh
- Meaning: Rich and literate
- Variations/Synonyms: Abundant or generation
- Description: Because of its spelling, many people think “Bowen” isn’t a Chinese name.
- It shares the same spelling with the Welsh name “Bowen,” which means “son of Owen.”
Chao
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Surpass
- Variations/Synonyms: Tide, nest, or excellent
- Description: It’s a common Chinese surname but also used as a unisex given name.
- You can also choose to spell this as “Zhao.”
Cheng
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Accomplish or succeed
- Variations/Synonyms: Finished, sincere, honest, or true
- Description: It’s considered as a variant of “Zheng.”
- In some places in China, this name is common as a surname.
- The name originates from the state of Cheng, famous in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Two high-ranking officials granted authority to this state during these dynasties used the place name as their surname. Their descendants subsequently used the surname.
Chia-Hao
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Having a great objective in life
- Variations/Synonyms: Orchid, home, family, brave, heroic, or chivalrous
- Description: It can also be spelled as “Zhi-Hao” or “Zhihao.”
Chih-Cheng
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Accomplishing your goals in life
- Variations/Synonyms: Completed, finished, succeeded, support, build, or sustain
- Description: It’s the combination of “Chih” (to build or support) and “Cheng” (completed or succeeded).
Chih-Ming
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Having a clear goal in life
- Variations/Synonyms: Support, build, sustain, bright, or clear
- Description: It can also be spelled as “Chi-ming” or “Tsz-ming.”
- It comes from the combination of “Chih” (to support or build) and “Ming” (bright or clear).
Chun-Chieh
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Spring (season)
- Variations/Synonyms: Youthful or life
- Description: This name can also mean “someone who seeks new adventures.”
Da
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Intelligence
- Variations/Synonyms: Attainment, great, big, vast, and high
- Description: It can also mean “good time.”
De
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Virtue
- Variations/Synonyms: Royal, royalty, morality, merit, inherent character, integrity, inner power, and virtuous deeds
- Description: It can also be written as “Te.”
- Due to its relevance to moral character and integrity, “De” is a key concept in Chinese philosophy. It makes this name a nice choice for your baby boy.
Dong
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: East
- Variations/Synonyms: Pillar, to supervise, to manage, beam, or from the east
- Description: It’s related to the name “Donghai,” meaning “eastern sea.”
- According to legend, “Dong” was the name given to Emperor Shun’s adviser for his ability to supervise and train dragons.
Fu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Fortune or good luck
- Variations/Synonyms: Wealthy, man, father, hibiscus (a tropical flower), lotus, begin, or origin
- Description: The name is popular across China because Fu is one of the three “star gods” (Fu, Lu, and Shou).
- The Chinese character for “Fu” (福) is displayed in many Chinese home entrances. It’s also associated with the traditional Chinese New Year celebration.
Hai
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Sea or ocean
- Variations/Synonyms: Flourishing or prosperous
- Description: It’s a common Chinese surname that’s also popularly picked as a boy’s given name.
Hao
- Origin: Chinese and Vietnamese
- Meaning: Open-minded and straightforward
- Variations/Synonyms: Vastness of the sky, good, perfect, pride, or heroic person
- Description: It’s a gender-neutral name.
Haoran
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Grand in manner
- Variations/Synonyms: Vast, expansive, overwhelming, integrity, awe-inspiring righteousness, or positive
- Description: It can also mean “a person who has a great goal.”
Heng
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Permanent or constant
- Variations/Synonyms: Eternal
- Description: It’s a surname that also doubles as a given name.
- This name is related to the romanized Chinese surnames “Wang” and “Xing.”
Hong
- Origin: Chinese and Vietnamese
- Meaning: Rainbow
- Variations/Synonyms: Vast, expand, wide, big, wild swan, water, flood, pink, red, and rosy
- Description: It’s one of the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China but is also considered as a popular given name.
Hu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Tiger
- Variations/Synonyms: Butterfly, long-lasting, far-reaching, and part of a dagger-ax
- Description: This name shares the same Chinese character for “how,” “why,” and “what.”
Huan
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Happy or joyous
- Variations/Synonyms: Satisfaction or pleased
- Description: “Huan” can be spelled with different Chinese characters, producing different meanings. One character means “imperial official or court eunuch,” while another means “Chinese soapberry or pillar.” Another character also means “model or pattern.”
Hui
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Benevolent
- Variations/Synonyms: Splendor, brightness, wise, intelligent, clever, favor, or benefit
- Description: It’s a unisex name that is also popularly used for baby girls.
Jian
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Strong and healthy
- Variations/Synonyms: Build, establish, tiger, or simple
- Description: It’s a popular name choice for baby boys because it also means “man of strength.”
Jie
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: One who rises above the rest
- Variations/Synonyms: Heroic, outstanding, clean, military governor, prominent, and successful
- Description: It’s a simplified version of the traditional Chinese name “Jiédùshǐ,” meaning “regional commander” or “military commissioner.”
Jin
- Origin: Chinese and Japanese
- Meaning: Gold
- Variations/Synonyms: Bright or beautiful
- Description: It’s also used as a girl’s name.
Is Kai A Chinese Name? Kai
- Origin: Chinese, Japanese, and Hawaiian
- Meaning: Victory
- Variations/Synonyms: Start, origin, ocean, shell, food, meal, autumn, hill, mound, restoration, or recovery
- Description: Kai is also a popular name in other languages, including Hawaiian, meaning “sea.”
Kang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Healthy
- Variations/Synonyms: Peaceful or abundant
- Description: It’s considered one of the historical “Nine Sogdian Surnames” but is also a modern-day name for boys.
Li Qiang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Reason and power
- Variations/Synonyms: Beautiful, dawn, logic, establish, black, strong, powerful, or energetic
- Description: It’s a combination of “Li” (reason or logic) and “Qiang” (strong and powerful).
Liang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Bright or brilliant
- Variations/Synonyms: Bridge, elevation, mast, beam, good, fine, and bright one
- Description: Like other popular Chinese given names, it’s also a common surname across China.
Liu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Destroy
- Variations/Synonyms: Kill
- Description: You can also write this name as “Liao” or “Liú.”
- It started with a character that originally meant “kill” and was used by Chinese emperors of the Han dynasty to make them feel braver. In modern times, this surname has been widely used as a brave given name for boys.
Longwei
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Dragon greatness
- Variations/Synonyms: Great dragon
- Description: It’s related to the given name “Longxu.”
Manchu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Pure
- Variations/Synonyms: Refined and clear
- Description: The name also translates to “a person from Manchuria (an ancient historical region in China).”
Ming
- Origin: Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean
- Meaning: Bright
- Variations/Synonyms: Light, clear, engrave, inscribe, tomorrow, shining bright, and enlightening
- Description: It’s a common surname and unisex given name that can be used on its own or as a combination with other names. For example, it can be Ming-Ue, Ming-Hoa, or Ming-Qiu.
Qiang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Strong, powerful, and energetic
- Variations/Synonyms: Rose (flower) and strength
- Description: It’s a primarily masculine name that’s sometimes used as a girl’s name because of its association with the red rose.
Qiu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Autumn or season of fall
- Variations/Synonyms: Hill or mound
- Description: “Qiu” is the little-known given name of the famous 6th-century BC Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Rong
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Harmonious and prosperous
- Variations/Synonyms: Glory, harmonize, martial (military), appearance, form, fuse, thriving, and honor
- Description: It’s a gender-neutral name but is usually used by males.
Syaoran
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: He who is a little wolf
- Variations/Synonyms: Strong and expressive
- Description: Its direct translation is “little wolf.”
Tài Sun
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Bamboo shoot of great growth
- Variations/Synonyms: Walking on the fragrant grass, victory, start, origin, and great extreme
- Description: In Chinese culture, this name can also mean “trampling down or winning over disease.”
Taio
- Origin: Chinese and Vietnamese
- Meaning: A great or distinguished person
- Variations/Synonyms: Peach, long life, large waves, talented, and a gift of God
- Description: It’s a variation of “Tao.”
- This name can also mean “from Thai (or Thailand).”
Tu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Intelligent
- Variations/Synonyms: Soil, earth, or suddenly
- Description: It’s a variation of “Du.”
- This name is an adaptation of the characters from the ancient Chinese city of Zoutu. Both the characters from that name (Zou and Tu) became common given names and surnames in China.
Wei
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Mighty
- Variations/Synonyms: Lofty, high, towering, robust, extraordinary, powerful, brilliant, or great
- Description: In feminine form, this name means “small,” “fern (a plant),” or “rose (flower).”
Wu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Military or martial
- Variations/Synonyms: Business affairs
- Description: It’s among the most common of the Song Dynasty classic “Hundred Family Surnames.” Like other Chinese surnames, it’s also popularly used as a given name.
Xiang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Lucky
- Variations/Synonyms: Fragrant, good luck, soaring like a bird, or soars above others
- Description: It’s a unisex given name that’s also used as a surname in China.
Yang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: The male principle of the universe
- Variations/Synonyms: Male, ocean, light, or sunny
- Description: It’s the male half of the “Yin Yang” Chinese philosophy and is balanced by the female “Yin.”
Ying
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Brave
- Variations/Synonyms: Answer, intelligent, clever, brave, hero, flower, petal, and cause
- Description: It originated as a surname but is now more popularly used as a given name.
Yuze
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Friend
- Variations/Synonyms: Rain, pool, brilliance, or high house
- Description: This name can also mean “generation.”
What Is The Coolest Chinese Name? Zhang Yong
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Brave archer
- Variations/Synonyms: Stretch, extend, eternal, or perpetual
- Description: It’s a combination of the names “Zhang” (archer or extend) and “Yong” (brave or eternal).
Zhao
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Excellent
- Variations/Synonyms: A person from Zhao (an ancient Chinese city that’s now Shanxi province)
- Description: According to Chinese legend, King Mu rewarded the city of Zhao to his chariot driver, who took its name as his surname.
Zhou
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Boat or ship
- Variations/Synonyms: Royalty
- Description: It’s a unisex name that has roots in the Zhou dynasty.
- This given name is also a surname related to “Chou” or “Chow.”
Zihan
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Child
- Variations/Synonyms: Brightness, whiteness, drought, or courtesy
- Description: It’s a Chinese given name that can also mean “generation.”
Popular Chinese Baby Names for Girls
Chinese baby girl names have close ties with nature or moral values and characteristics like the boy names.
Note that unlike names from other languages, you can’t just create Chinese name variations by adding or changing a letter. A slight change in spelling could greatly change the name’s meaning.
For example, “Jia” means “family,” but “Jiang” means “river.” Similarly spelled “Jing” means “crystal,” while “Jingyi” means “quiet.”
You can find other interesting name meanings for Chinese girl names below:
What Is A Good Chinese Girl Name? Ai
- Origin: Chinese and Japanese
- Meaning: Love and affection
- Variations/Synonyms: Friendly, lush, indigo (color), bridge, or beautiful
- Description: It’s a common surname among overseas Chinese families but popularly used as a girl’s name, too.
An
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Quiet
- Variations/Synonyms: Peace, splendid, illustrious, flower, or blossom
- Description: It’s also a shortened version of the Chinese name “Anxi.”
Bai
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Pure
- Variations/Synonyms: White, cypress tree, cedarwood, one hundred, or many
- Description: It’s a Chinese surname with roots in Mongolian culture.
Bi
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Green jade
- Variations/Synonyms: Baby
- Description: “Bi” is also believed to symbolize the sun or heaven because the Chinese character resembles the ancient graph for “sun.”
Caihong
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Colorful
- Variations/Synonyms: Rainbow in the sky
- Description: “Caihong” was a small dinosaur that lived in China during the Late Jurassic period. It was discovered at a quarry site in Gangou, Qinglong. It’s believed to be a feathered dinosaur that was smaller than a chicken.
Chang
- Origin: Old Chinese
- Meaning: Prosperous or flourishing
- Variations/Synonyms: Prosper, good, sunlight, often, constant, smooth, free, unhindered, or long
- Description: It’s both a popular given name for girls and a common surname.
Chen
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Dawn or morning
- Variations/Synonyms: Ancient, to describe, loveliness, or great
- Description: It’s a gender-neutral name.
Chun
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Spring (season)
- Variations/Synonyms: Joyful, youthful, love, life, to explain, to narrate, to display, a sheet of paper, or to spread
- Description: It’s related to Chinese surnames “Zhang” and “Chen.”
Fang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Virtuous and beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Fragrant, square, pleasant, or wind
- Description: It’s a name from the ancient Chinese state of Fang that’s now Henan province.
Fen
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Perfume or fragrance
- Variations/Synonyms: Peace, marshland, white, fair, and shoulder
- Description: It’s a unisex name that also means “strive” or “exert” when used in masculine form.
Feng
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Phoenix
- Variations/Synonyms: Maple or summit
- Description: It can also be a boy’s name or a surname.
Gho
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Responsible
- Variations/Synonyms: Generation, inspirational being, high, or tall
- Description: It’s a common girl’s name and surname in mainland China.
Hai Rong
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Coming from the seas
- Variations/Synonyms: Flourishing, prosperous, country, glory, honor, prosper, harmonize, or fuse
- Description: It’s a combination of “Hai” (sea) and “Rong” (glory).
Hua
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Illustrious
- Variations/Synonyms: Splendid
- Description: It’s a unisex name that also means “flower or blossom” when used in feminine form.
Huang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Phoenix
- Variations/Synonyms: Yellow, bright, shining, and luminous
- Description: It’s related to other Chinese names, “Wong,” “Hwang,” and “Hwong.”
Jia
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Outstanding person
- Variations/Synonyms: Home, family, kin, or good
- Description: It’s a unisex name.
Jiang
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: River
- Variations/Synonyms: Yujiang (the god of water in ancient China)
- Description: It’s a gender-neutral name that’s also related to “Qiang” and “Chiang.”
Jing
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Calm and quiet
- Variations/Synonyms: Crystal, energy, perfect, essence, spirit, or the capital city
- Description: It’s also a common surname that means “perfect.”
Jìngyi
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Joy and harmony
- Variations/Synonyms: Quiet, gentle, or still
- Description: It’s from the combination of “Jing” (gentle) and “Yi” (joy).
Ju
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Chrysanthemum
- Variations/Synonyms: Daisy (flower)
- Description: It’s a unisex name that means “big or enormous” when used in masculine form.
Kun
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Universe
- Variations/Synonyms: Earth or female
- Description: It’s also used as a surname.
Lan
- Origin: Chinese and Vietnamese
- Meaning: Elegant
- Variations/Synonyms: Orchid flower, mountain mist, or blue wave
- Description: It can also be used as a boy’s name.
Lei
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Flower bud
- Variations/Synonyms: Thunder or pile of stones
- Description: It’s also a common surname.
Li
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Reason, logic, establish, black, and dawn
- Description: It also means “powerful” when used as a boy’s name.
Lian
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Graceful willow tree
- Variations/Synonyms: Lotus flower, grace, or favor
- Description: It’s a common unisex name in China.
Lin
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Gemstone
- Variations/Synonyms: Forest, heavy rain showers, or sun goddess
- Description: It’s used both as a girl’s name and a surname.
Ling
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Dawn
- Variations/Synonyms: Spirit, the sound of the dawn, chime, delicate, jade (gemstone), or bell
- Description: It’s also a common Chinese surname.
Mei
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Chinese plum and a great one
- Description: It’s a commonly used girl’s name in manga (comics) series.
Meilin
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Beautiful forest
- Variations/Synonyms: Plum, apricot, jade (gemstone), or rose (flower)
- Description: It can also be written as “Mei-Lin.”
Meiling
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Beautiful spirit
- Variations/Synonyms: Beautiful and delicate, beautiful bell, the tinkling of jade, or age
- Description: You can also spell this as “Mei-Ling.”
Na
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Elegant and delicate
- Variations/Synonyms: Graceful
- Description: It’s also a common Chinese surname.
Ning
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Peaceful
- Variations/Synonyms: Calm or serene
- Description: It’s a gender-neutral name.
Ping
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Stable
- Variations/Synonyms: Peaceful or level
- Description: It can also be used as a boy’s name.
Qing
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Young
- Variations/Synonyms: Blue, green, or clarity
- Description: It’s considered as a unisex name.
What Chinese Name Means Moon? Qiuyue
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Autumn moon
- Variations/Synonyms: Cloud patterns or fine jade
- Description: It means “enlightenment or wondrous” when used in masculine form.
Shi
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Honest and real
- Variations/Synonyms: History, stone, or time
- Description: It means “master” when used as a boy’s name.
Shu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Virtuous and charming
- Variations/Synonyms: Good or pure
- Description: It’s a clan name related to “Xiao” and “Xu.”
Shufen
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Good fragrance
- Variations/Synonyms: Pure, virtuous, charming, good, or perfume
- Description: It’s a unisex name.
Su
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Respectful
- Variations/Synonyms: Plain and simple
- Description: It’s also a common Chinese surname.
Is Tao A Boy Or Girl Name?
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Long life
- Variations/Synonyms: Peach or large waves
- Description: It’s also a popular name for boys.
Xiu
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Elegant and beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Graceful, cultivated, or luxuriant
- Description: It can be used as a name for boys and girls.
Xiulan
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Beautiful orchid
- Variations/Synonyms: Luxuriant, beautiful, elegant, or outstanding
- Description: It’s a combination of “Xiu” (beautiful) and “Lan” (orchid).
Xiuying
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Beautiful flower
- Variations/Synonyms: Petal, brave, hero, elegant, outstanding, luxuriant, or beautiful
- Description: It’s from the combination of “Xiu” (beautiful) and “Ying” (flower).
Xue
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Studious
- Variations/Synonyms: Snow or learning
- Description: It’s also related to “Hsueh.”
Ya
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Elegant and graceful
- Variations/Synonyms: Meritorious deed
- Description: It’s a primarily feminine Chinese given name.
Yan
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Dark red
- Variations/Synonyms: Full of happiness and liveliness
- Description: It’s both a girl’s name and a surname.
Yawen
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Graceful clouds
- Variations/Synonyms: Elegant, refined, culture, or language
- Description: It’s from the combination of “Yǎ” (elegant or graceful) and “Wén” (cloud patterns).
What Is The Prettiest Chinese Name? Yi
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Joy
- Variations/Synonyms: Ceremony, gift, suitable, proper, decisive, or appearance
- Description: It’s also a surname that can be spelled as “Yik.”
Yun
- Origin: Chinese and Korean
- Meaning: Cloud
- Variations/Synonyms: Consent or governor
- Description: It can also be spelled as “Yoon,” “Youn,” or “Yiun.”
Zhen
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Precious
- Variations/Synonyms: Real, rare, or virtuous
- Description: It can also mean “greatly astonished” when used in masculine form.
