常见中文名

The single most common given name character in China, carried by an estimated 3 million people. It represents grandeur and ambition, and peaked in the 1970s–80s as parents embraced aspirational single-character names.

The most common female given name in China for decades. 芳 evokes the scent of flowers and moral beauty, reflecting the traditional Chinese ideal that a woman's name should suggest grace and pleasantness.

A two-character name that dominated mid-20th century naming. 秀 means elegant or refined; 英 means outstanding or heroic. Together they express the wish for a daughter who is both graceful and accomplished.

One of the most versatile given name characters, used for both men and women. 敏 implies sharp intelligence and quick reflexes — a universally admired trait that explains its enduring popularity across generations.

A perennially popular female name character meaning stillness and inner peace. 静 reflects the Confucian virtue of composure and the Daoist ideal of tranquility, making it beloved across social classes.

The archetypal masculine name of post-liberation China. 强 literally means strong or powerful, embodying the socialist-era ideal of the tough, resilient man who could build a new nation.

Composed of three 石 (stone) characters stacked together, 磊 symbolizes a person who is solid, honest, and upright. It became massively popular in the 1980s as parents gravitated toward names with strong visual character structures.

Originally meaning 'ocean' or 'vast,' 洋 took on connotations of modernity and openness to the outside world during China's reform era. It remains one of the most common given name characters nationwide.

A classic female name meaning dazzling beauty and vibrant color. 艳 was enormously popular from the 1960s through the 1980s, reflecting an era when parents wanted names that were joyful and visually vivid.

The quintessential 'tough guy' name of 20th-century China. 勇 means courage and bravery — a straightforward, no-nonsense character that reflects the martial values of the generation born in the 1950s–70s.

A name born from China's revolutionary era. 军 literally means 'army' or 'military,' and was given to millions of children born to parents in or connected to the People's Liberation Army during the 1950s–70s.

Meaning distinguished or heroic, 杰 is one of the most common single-character names for men in China. It conveys the hope that the child will stand out from the crowd and achieve greatness.

A classic female name meaning graceful beauty, often associated with the image of flowing silk. 娟 was one of the most common names given to women born between the 1950s and 1980s.

Meaning surging waves, 涛 conveys power, momentum, and unstoppable force. It became one of the most popular male names in the 1970s–80s, reflecting an era of social transformation and rising ambition.

One of the most fundamental characters in Chinese naming, 明 means bright, clear, and understanding. Its simplicity and universally positive meaning have made it a top-20 given name for over half a century.

Literally meaning 'to surpass' or 'to exceed,' 超 expresses the parental hope that the child will go beyond expectations. It surged in popularity during the 1980s reform era as China embraced ambition and progress.

A two-character name combining 秀 (elegant) with 兰 (orchid), the traditional Chinese symbol of refined beauty. This name was among the most common female names of the 1950s–70s generation.

Meaning the colorful glow of sunrise or sunset, 霞 is a poetic and visually stunning name. It was extremely popular for women born in the 1960s–80s, evoking hope and natural beauty.

A deceptively simple name meaning peace and equality. 平 carries profound cultural weight in China, associated with both Confucian harmony and the reform era. It is one of the most widely used name characters across all generations.

Meaning hard, firm, and resolute, 刚 is a quintessential masculine name that peaked in the 1960s–70s. It conveys unyielding strength of character — the kind of name a steelworker or soldier might carry with pride.

One of the most common female name characters in China, 丽 means beautiful and magnificent. Its popularity has endured for decades, making it a truly timeless choice that transcends naming trends.

Named after the Peng (鹏), the giant mythical bird from Zhuangzi's philosophical writings that transforms and soars thousands of miles. 鹏 represents boundless ambition and potential — a favorite for boys born in the 1980s–90s.

Meaning radiance and brilliant light, 辉 conveys the wish for a shining, successful life. It became one of the top male names of the 1970s–90s, reflecting the optimism of a generation entering China's economic boom.

A warm, universally appealing name meaning happiness and joy. 欣 rose to prominence in the 1990s as parents shifted from revolutionary names toward characters expressing personal happiness and contentment.

Meaning graceful and poised, 婷 specifically describes a woman's elegant bearing. It became enormously popular in the 1980s–90s, embodying a generation's审美 (aesthetic) ideal of feminine beauty.

A classic female name meaning intelligence and wisdom. 慧 carries the deep cultural wish for a daughter to be sharp-minded and perceptive — a quality valued far more than physical beauty in traditional Chinese parenting.

Meaning both handsome and outstandingly talented, 俊 is one of the most flattering characters used in Chinese male names. It conveys the parental hope for a son who is both good-looking and accomplished.

Literally meaning healthy and robust, 健 expresses the most fundamental parental wish — that the child will grow up strong and healthy. Its straightforward, positive meaning has kept it in the top ranks for decades.

One of the most culturally elevated name characters, 雅 means elegance and refinement. It appears in the title of the Book of Odes (诗经·大雅), one of China's oldest poetry collections, giving it literary prestige spanning millennia.

Meaning literature, culture, and refinement, 文 is one of the most fundamental characters in Chinese civilization. As a name, it expresses the wish for a scholarly, cultivated life — valued since Confucius declared the 'gentleman' ideal.

A deeply intellectual name meaning thought and contemplation. 思 gained popularity in the 1990s–2000s as part of a broader trend toward names suggesting introspection, wisdom, and emotional depth.

Meaning excellent, fine, and beautiful, 佳 is a versatile character used in both male and female names. Its clean visual form and unambiguously positive meaning made it one of the most popular name characters of the 1990s–2000s.

Meaning the universe or the cosmos, 宇 represents vastness and limitless potential. It surged in popularity from the 1990s onward as parents embraced names with a sense of grandeur and modernity.

Meaning morning or dawn, 晨 evokes fresh beginnings, hope, and the vitality of a new day. It became increasingly popular in the 1990s–2000s as parents moved away from revolutionary names toward nature-inspired choices.

A gentle, poetic name meaning rain — essential for life and harvests in Chinese agricultural culture. 雨 gained popularity in the 1990s as part of a trend toward soft, nature-inspired names with an artistic sensibility.

The defining male baby name of the 2010s — at one point, an estimated 100,000+ boys were named 子轩 in a single year. 子 is a classical honorific prefix; 轩 means a high, noble carriage or pavilion, evoking elegance and elevated status.

The single most popular baby girl name of the 2010s in China. 梓 is a type of catalpa tree associated with craftsmanship; 涵 means to contain or embrace, suggesting inner depth and tolerance. The combination became a cultural phenomenon.

Derived from Mencius's concept of the '浩然之气' (haoran zhi qi), meaning the vast, righteous spirit that fills the universe. This literary two-character name became one of the most popular boys' names of the 2010s.

A modern name meaning promise or vow, reflecting 2010s parents' emphasis on integrity and trustworthiness. The rise of 诺 in naming marks a shift toward names with moral weight expressed through contemporary language.

A double-happiness name combining 欣 (joy) with 怡 (cheerful), creating a name that literally radiates happiness. It dominated girls' naming charts in the late 2000s–2010s, sometimes nicknamed the 'universal girl name' of its generation.

The archetypal patriotic name of the 1950s–60s, 建国 literally means 'build the country.' Given to millions of children born around the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, it embodies revolutionary idealism.

Meaning 'National Day celebration,' 国庆 was given to children born on or near October 1st — China's National Day. Along with 建国, it represents the most iconic naming trend of the early PRC era.

Meaning both 'magnificent' and 'China' (中华), 华 carries patriotic and cultural pride. As a single-character name, it has been popular across multiple generations for its dual meaning of personal excellence and national identity.

A powerful single-character name meaning nation or country. 国 peaked during the 1950s–70s as a symbol of patriotic devotion, and remains common among older generations throughout China.

The most culturally significant gemstone in Chinese civilization, jade symbolizes purity, moral integrity, and beauty. As a name, 玉 has been one of the most common female name characters for centuries, reflecting the Chinese saying 'gold has a price, jade is priceless.'

The orchid is one of the 'Four Gentlemen' (四君子) in Chinese art, symbolizing refinement and noble character. 兰 has been a top female name character for generations, especially popular in rural areas.

A classic two-character female name combining 桂 (osmanthus/laurel, symbolizing honor) with 英 (outstanding). 桂英 was among the most common women's names of the 1940s–60s generation, also famous as the name of the legendary warrior woman Mu Guiying.

A patriotic-era name combining 建 (build) with 华 (magnificent/China), meaning 'build a splendid China.' Along with 建国, this was one of the most popular boys' names of the 1950s–70s, reflecting national pride.

A two-character name combining 志 (ambition/aspiration) with 强 (strong), expressing the wish for a son who is both driven and powerful. It was one of the most popular male names of the 1960s–80s.

A broad, open-hearted name meaning the sea. 海 conveys vastness, generosity, and boundless potential — qualities that made it especially popular for boys born in coastal regions and during the 1960s–80s.

Meaning to fly or soar, 飞 expresses the wish for a child who will rise high and achieve great things. It became one of the most popular single-character names for men born in the 1970s–90s.

The dragon is the ultimate symbol of power, luck, and imperial authority in Chinese culture. As a given name, 龙 directly invokes these associations, making it perpetually popular especially for boys born in Dragon years.

Meaning red or cinnabar (a precious pigment), 丹 carries associations of loyalty, sincerity, and traditional Chinese medicine. It has been a consistently popular female name across multiple generations.

Composed of three 金 (gold) characters, 鑫 is a visual powerhouse of a name that literally screams prosperity. It became hugely popular in the 1990s–2000s as China's economic boom made wealth-oriented names aspirational.

Meaning clean and pure, 洁 is a classic female name expressing the wish for moral integrity and spotless character. Its simplicity and virtue-aligned meaning have kept it popular across generations.

Meaning beautiful jade or fine gems, 琳 carries the cultural prestige of jade symbolism — purity, beauty, and preciousness. It became especially popular for women born in the 1970s–90s.

Meaning learned, knowledgeable, and abundant, 博 reflects the traditional Chinese reverence for scholarship. It surged in the 2000s as education became the dominant aspirational value for urban families.

Meaning triumphant return or victory, 凯 carries the energy of success and achievement. It became one of the most popular boys' name characters of the 2000s–2010s, reflecting competitive, success-oriented parenting.

A poetic name meaning snow, symbolizing purity, elegance, and the beauty of winter landscapes. 雪 has been beloved in Chinese naming for centuries and remains one of the most common female name characters.

A classic female name meaning beautiful and elegantly poised. 倩 conveys a specific kind of beauty — one that is graceful, charming, and slightly playful. It was especially popular in the 1980s–90s.

Meaning the vast, limitless sky, 昊 draws from classical Chinese poetry describing the boundless heavens. It rose sharply in the 2000s as parents sought names with grandeur and classical literary credentials.

A slight variation of 梓涵 that shares its 2010s dominance. 子 is a classical honorific prefix used by philosophers and sages; 涵 means to contain, suggesting broad-mindedness. This became one of the defining names of its generation.

Derived from the idiom '一诺千金' (a single promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold), 一诺 became one of the hottest baby names of the 2010s. It expresses the virtue of keeping one's word — integrity made into a name.

A sweet, modern name combining 可 (can/be able to/delightful) with 欣 (joy), creating a name that radiates happiness and optimism. It was among the top girls' names of the 2010s, especially in urban areas.

Combining 浩 (vast, boundless) with 宇 (universe, cosmos), this name literally means 'the vast universe.' It was one of the most popular boys' names of the 2010s, expressing limitless ambition on a cosmic scale.

A literary name combining 诗 (poetry) with 涵 (to contain/embrace), suggesting a person of poetic sensibility and deep inner world. It became one of the most fashionable girls' names of the 2010s, reflecting a cultural turn toward artistic naming.

A two-character name combining 俊 (handsome/talented) with 杰 (outstanding/heroic), creating a name that means 'an outstandingly talented person.' The idiom 识时务者为俊杰 (those who understand the times are the truly outstanding) gives it classical weight.

A romantic modern name combining 梦 (dream) with 琪 (fine jade), evoking a sense of ethereal beauty and preciousness. It represents the 2010s trend toward names that feel like they belong in a novel.

One of the most elemental Chinese name characters, 天 means sky or heaven. Its cosmic grandeur and simplicity have made it a perennial choice, especially popular as a component of two-character names like 天佑 (heaven-blessed).

Meaning eternal and everlasting, 永 expresses the wish for permanence — a life and legacy that endures. It is also the first character traditionally practiced in Chinese calligraphy, giving it cultural resonance beyond naming.

Literally 'little red,' this name was extraordinarily common for women born in the 1950s–70s. Red is the luckiest color in Chinese culture, symbolizing joy and good fortune. While considered dated now, it remains one of the most recognizable Chinese names ever.

A classic two-character male name combining 志 (ambition) with 明 (bright), expressing the wish for a son whose aspirations shine clearly. It was one of the most popular names of the 1960s–80s generation.