Chinese naming guides
Practical guides to choosing a Chinese name.
What Is My Name in Chinese? 3 Ways to Find Yours
Choose between a sound rendering, a meaning translation and a new Chinese name, with examples and a clear request you can take to a teacher.
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79–84 of 258 guides
Ali in Chinese: keep 阿里 or choose the surname 阿 Ā?
Keep Ali as 阿里, or shorten it to the surname 阿 Ā? Consider the lost li syllable and why you may need to clarify the surname’s reading.
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Allen in Chinese: choosing a surname beyond 艾伦
Allen already has an established Mandarin transcription: 艾伦, written 艾倫 in traditional characters and pronounced Àilún. Microsoft’s Chinese statement about…
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Alvarez in Chinese: 阿 Ā, 安 Ān or 艾 Ài?
Compare 阿 and 安 for a short Chinese surname linked to Alvarez. Understand the readings, sound changes and limits of translating its family history.
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Choosing a Chinese Surname for Anderson
For an adult whose family name is Anderson, 安 Ān is my first choice for a Chinese surname. It keeps the beginning of 安德森 Āndésēn, an established Chinese tr…
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Bailey in Chinese: 贝 Bèi or 白 Bái?
贝 Bèi retains the shared opening of Bailey’s 贝里 and 贝利 spellings. Compare 白 Bái if you prefer a different vowel, tone and character.
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Baker in Chinese: 贝 Bèi for sound or 麦 Mài for meaning
Baker can lead to 贝 Bèi through 贝克, or to 麦 Mài through wheat and breadmaking. Decide whether sound or that indirect craft link matters more.
Read the guideA Chinese name that starts with you.
See how a guided conversation brings your preferences, meaning, and sound together.