A Chinese surname can connect to the sound of your original surname, its meaning, or something that matters to you personally. If you already have a Chinese family surname you want to keep, start there and choose a given name to go with it.
Chinese names commonly put the surname first. In 王京 (Wáng Jīng), the example used in the Open University’s lesson on names and introductions, 王 is the surname and 京 is the given name. If you are choosing a new surname, here is how to find candidates and try them in that first position.
Browse real surnames
《百家姓》 (Bǎijiāxìng, “Hundred Family Surnames”) is a traditional Chinese text that lists surnames. You can use it to find surname characters to explore, although it is neither a current popularity ranking nor a list of every surname. The text on Wikisource includes 李, 雷, 林, and 藍, the traditional form of 蓝 (Lán).
To begin, here are six surnames with pinyin to show their Mandarin pronunciation. Where two written forms appear, the simplified character comes first and the traditional character second.
| Surname | Mandarin pinyin |
|---|---|
| 林 | Lín |
| 李 | Lǐ |
| 陈 / 陳 | Chén |
| 王 | Wáng |
| 周 | Zhōu |
| 许 / 許 | Xǔ |
Compare a sound link carefully
If sound matters, say your surname in its original language. Spelling alone can hide how you pronounce it. Then choose the part of the sound you most want to keep. A Chinese surname may resemble that part without being an official translation or an exact match.
| Original surname and pronunciation | Candidate comparison | What stays or changes |
|---|---|---|
| Lee, like “lee” | 李 Lǐ | Has a similar l + ee sound, pronounced with Mandarin third tone. |
| Linden, beginning “lin” | 林 Lín versus 李 Lǐ | 林 retains the final n; 李 drops it. |
| Lane, in its English pronunciation | 雷 Léi versus 蓝 Lán | Both begin with l. 雷 has a similar vowel but drops the final n; 蓝 keeps the n but changes the vowel. |
Follow this order:
- Say your original surname in its original language.
- Choose the sound fragment you most want to keep.
- Look for two or three real surnames with a similar sound. If you cannot read Chinese yet, start with the pinyin in this article. For characters you find in 《百家姓》, ask a Chinese speaker for the pronunciation or look them up in a dictionary that lists surnames and pinyin.
- Write down which sound each candidate keeps and loses.
- Hear the Mandarin syllable with its tone, then test it in the complete name.
Do not match only the first Latin letter. The English vowel and Mandarin vowel may also differ.
Choose a connection through meaning
You might choose 王 because the character also means “king.” The Open University’s Jim King → 王京 (Wáng Jīng) teaching example uses that connection: 王 links to “King,” while 京 echoes “Jim.” It shows one way to combine meaning and sound when choosing a name.
A connection can also come from your own life. The character 林 means woods or forest and is also a surname, as the Ministry of Education dictionary records. If you grew up near a forest, that might be your reason for liking it. You can explain both the character’s meaning and why it matters to you.
Put the surname into a complete name
Hold the given name 思远 (Sīyuǎn) constant and compare three surnames:
| Complete name | Pinyin |
|---|---|
| 林思远 | Lín Sīyuǎn |
| 陈思远 | Chén Sīyuǎn |
| 许思远 | Xǔ Sīyuǎn |
Ask someone to read each one separately. Follow along and repeat them yourself. Then ask whether any word, person, or unintended association comes to mind. This gives you information about the complete name while keeping the given name unchanged.
Use the Open University tone lesson when a tone is unfamiliar. If you expect to use Cantonese or another variety, ask a speaker of that variety too; Mandarin pinyin cannot answer every pronunciation question. The Open University’s overview of varieties of Chinese explains why this matters.
Make the decision
Choose two complete names and use each in a short introduction. Keep the one whose sound, characters, and personal connection you can explain plainly. If you still cannot decide, keep both for a few days and ask for feedback about a specific issue, such as pronunciation or an association.
For name order and complete-name checks, read What Makes a Chinese Name Feel Natural?. For the difference between a sound rendering, a meaning translation, and a new personal name, see What Is My Name in Chinese?.
A guided comparison
SoulName’s Basic plan provides three AI-generated name cards with meaning and pronunciation explanations, plus an AI recommendation. During the naming conversation, explain whether you want a connection to your original surname, then compare the complete names.
