How do I choose a Chinese name for myself?

Start with the English name you already use, then open its page on this hub. Each entry shows a few written forms — matching the sound, the meaning, or both — with pinyin so you can say it. Compare Luna and Olivia to see how that choice looks, then pick the form you want to keep.

How do I choose a Chinese name for a newborn?

Decide whether the Chinese form should echo the child's given name or carry a wish in the characters. Open a page such as Mia or Olivia and read the options there; the baby names list gathers the same entries by feel. Artist Lina Sun can brush the pair you settle on, once, in ink on rice paper.

How do I choose a Chinese name for work?

For work, pick a short written form colleagues can say and that sits cleanly on a card or email signature. A name page such as James or William shows both a compact two-character writing and a longer sound-for-sound one, so you can choose what you will actually use at work.

Names

Your name,
in Chinese.

Not a machine translation — a thoughtful written form. For each name we offer a few ways to write it in Chinese: one that follows the sound, one that follows the meaning, and the characters behind each, with their full story.

Looking for a Baby name → or browse Character meanings →

Common Questions

How do I choose a Chinese name for myself?

Start with the English name you already use, then open its page on this hub. Each entry shows a few written forms — matching the sound, the meaning, or both — with pinyin so you can say it. Compare Luna and Olivia to see how that choice looks, then pick the form you want to keep.
How do I choose a Chinese name for a newborn?

Decide whether the Chinese form should echo the child's given name or carry a wish in the characters. Open a page such as Mia or Olivia and read the options there; the baby names list gathers the same entries by feel. Artist Lina Sun can brush the pair you settle on, once, in ink on rice paper.
How do I choose a Chinese name for work?

For work, pick a short written form colleagues can say and that sits cleanly on a card or email signature. A name page such as James or William shows both a compact two-character writing and a longer sound-for-sound one, so you can choose what you will actually use at work.

Why a written form matters

There's rarely one "correct" way to write a Western name in Chinese. A name can be matched by sound, or by meaning — and the characters you choose carry their own weight. The same name can feel calm, bright, or strong depending on the characters behind it.

That's why every name here comes with options and the reasoning behind each, plus a link to the full story of every character we use.

Browse the character library → Gift guides → Tattoo guide →

Your name,in Chinese.

How do I choose a Chinese name for myself?

How do I choose a Chinese name for a newborn?

How do I choose a Chinese name for work?

Your name,
in Chinese.