Chinese Name Generator

How the names are put together

Every result has two parts, the way a real Chinese name does:

• A family name drawn from the most common Chinese surnames. Common surnames such as 王, 李 and 张 come up more often, just as they do in real life, so the results feel natural rather than exotic.
• A given name taken whole from our directory of real names, filtered by the gender and style you pick. Characters are never combined at random, so you won't get a pair that no parent would choose.

Each result shows the characters, pinyin with tone marks, the meaning of every character and what the name suggests as a whole, with audio so you can hear it.

Reading a result

Take a result such as 林思远 (Lín Sīyuǎn):

• 林 Lín is the family name, "forest". It comes first and doesn't need to match the given name.
• 思远 Sīyuǎn is the given name: 思 "to think" and 远 "far". Together, "thinking far ahead", a name that suggests a thoughtful, forward-looking person.
• The tones (2-1-3) vary from syllable to syllable, which makes the name easy to say.
• The impression is calm and educated, leaning masculine but usable for anyone.

Use the same four questions on any name you like: what does each part mean, what does the whole suggest, how does it sound, and who does it sound like?

Choosing a style

The style option changes which given names are drawn:

• Classic names use characters that have been popular for decades, such as 文, 明 and 华. They sound steady and grown-up.
• Modern names reflect what parents choose today, such as 子涵, 一诺 or 宇轩. They sound young, which suits a child or a fresh start but can feel trendy on an older adult.
• Literary names borrow from poetry and classical texts. They sound refined, and some characters are less common in daily life.

If you aren't sure, leave the style on "Any" and generate a few rounds. You'll quickly notice which kind of name you like.

Using random names well

A random generator is best for exploring. Some ways people use it:

• Getting a feel for Chinese names. Generate twenty names and you'll start to see which characters are common, how two-character given names are balanced and how surnames pair with them.
• Finding characters you like. Note the individual characters that appeal to you, then look them up in names by meaning to find other names that use them.
• Naming characters in fiction or games. Real names drawn from real data sound more convincing than invented ones.
• Classroom practice. Teachers use random names for role plays and listening drills.

Before you adopt a name

A generated name is a plausible name, not a name chosen for you. Before you use one as your own:

1. Check the gender impression. Even with the gender filter, some names lean one way more than you might want.
2. Check the era. A name popular with babies today can sound odd on an adult, and a classic one can sound old-fashioned.
3. Say it aloud and listen for puns. Our guide to funny Chinese names shows what to watch for.
4. Consider your own surname. You might swap the random family name for one that echoes your own, as explained in how to choose a Chinese name.
5. Ask a native speaker to say the name back to you and tell you their first impression.

Generator, converter or a chosen name?

• Use the generator when you want ideas and real Chinese names to browse.
• Use the name converter when you need your existing name written in characters.
• Get a name chosen for you when you want a Chinese name that fits your name, personality and where you'll use it.