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Your name in Chinese

A good Chinese name sounds real and means something. Surname first, then one or two characters.

Your name in Chinese
OrderSurname first, then given name
LengthUsually two or three characters
Common surnamesWang, Li, Zhang, Liu, Chen
Often carved onA stone seal, stamped red

How to choose a name that works

1

Take a real surname

Pick one close in sound to yours. Lee becomes 李, Martin might take 马, Anderson 安.

2

Choose a given name by meaning

Pick a quality you like: 文 for learning, 明 for brightness. Then hear how it sits after the surname.

3

Say it out loud

Test the tones and ask a native speaker. 杜子腾 looks fine on paper but sounds like stomachache.

A name is for other people to say.

Before you order a seal

选Approve the exact characters before carving or engraving starts.
选Ask whether it will use simplified, traditional or seal script.
选Choose red characters on white, or white on red.
选Get proper seal paste with it. A stamp pad looks thin.

Never tattoo characters from a translation app. Ask a native speaker to read them first.

Your name in Chinese

Hand-picked pieces are on the way.

Good to know

How do I get a Chinese name?

Ask a Chinese teacher or friend, or start from a real surname and a meaning you like. Have a native speaker check it before you use it.

Can I just translate my name into Chinese?

You can. Translating by sound gives names like 珍妮 for Jenny, which work but read as foreign. Historian John Fairbank took a real Chinese name instead: 费正清.

Is it okay to have a Chinese name if I'm not Chinese?

Yes. Chinese teachers give names to their students all the time, and friends are often glad to help. Treat it with care and use it.

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