How do I choose a Chinese name for a baby girl?

For a girl, choose characters that look like a girl's name on the page — not only a sound match for her English name. Compare Mia (美雅), Olivia (莉雅), and Luna (明月 or 露娜). 美, 雅, 莉, and 娜 keep the writing looking like a girl's name; 明月 writes bright and moon in two characters. Pick the pair whose look you want her to keep. Artist Lina Sun brushes that pair once, in ink on rice paper.

How do I choose Chinese characters for a baby girl, and how should they look?

Look at the two characters as ink on paper, not as English letters. Mia 美雅 and Olivia 莉雅 share 雅, a grace character used in girls' names. Luna 露娜 uses 娜, a character used in women's names; 明月 is a different look — bright and moon. Skip a pair that reads as a boy's name. When Artist Lina Sun brushes the pair, stroke weight and spacing are the look to judge.

Names · For Babies

A Chinese name
for your little one.

Many parents want their child's name to carry meaning in Chinese too — for a grandparent, a heritage, or simply because the characters say something they love. These are written forms you can give with care.

A Chinese name is rarely a literal translation. You choose between two instincts: matching the sound of the name your child already has, or choosing characters for what they mean — peace, grace, strength, a bright mind. Most families land somewhere in between, with a first character that echoes the sound and a second that carries a wish.

Chinese given names are usually one or two characters, and the characters matter more than length. Parents pick them the way a poem is chosen: for the feeling, for the tones that sit well together, and for the quiet hope folded inside. A name meaning "serene" (宁) or "steadfast" (坚) is a small blessing a child carries for life.

For each name below we offer a few options and explain the thinking, so you can choose the version that feels right — then read the full story of every character before you decide. When you've found it, it can be hand-brushed on rice paper to keep.

20 names so far

Common Questions

How do I choose a Chinese name for a baby girl?

For a girl, choose characters that look like a girl's name on the page — not only a sound match for her English name. Compare Mia (美雅), Olivia (莉雅), and Luna (明月 or 露娜). 美, 雅, 莉, and 娜 keep the writing looking like a girl's name; 明月 writes bright and moon in two characters. Pick the pair whose look you want her to keep. Artist Lina Sun brushes that pair once, in ink on rice paper.
How do I choose Chinese characters for a baby girl, and how should they look?

Look at the two characters as ink on paper, not as English letters. Mia 美雅 and Olivia 莉雅 share 雅, a grace character used in girls' names. Luna 露娜 uses 娜, a character used in women's names; 明月 is a different look — bright and moon. Skip a pair that reads as a boy's name. When Artist Lina Sun brushes the pair, stroke weight and spacing are the look to judge.

Keep exploring

All names → Character meanings → Make it a gift →

A Chinese namefor your little one.

How do I choose a Chinese name for a baby girl?

How do I choose Chinese characters for a baby girl, and how should they look?

A Chinese name
for your little one.