Chinese names are used in China and in Chinese communities throughout the world. Note that depending on the Chinese characters used these names can have many other meanings besides those listed here. See also about Chinese names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Ai艾Chinese From Chinese 艾 (ài) referring to the ancient state of Ai, which existed during the Shang dynasty in what is now Jiangxi province. Alternately it may be derived from the name of Xia dynasty official Ru Ai (汝艾) or Ai Kong (艾孔), a minister from the state of Qi.
AleongTrinidadian Creole, Caribbean, Chinese The surname Aleong is likely of Chinese origin, commonly found in Trinidad and Tobago and other parts of the Caribbean. It may be derived from the Chinese surnames Liang (梁), meaning "bridge" or "beam," or Long (龙), meaning "dragon," both of which carry symbolic cultural significance.
BaChinese Chinese from the name of the kingdom of Ba, which existed in Sichuan during the Zhou dynasty (1122–221 bc). Descendants of some of the ruling class adopted the name of the kingdom as their surname... [more]
Baili百里Chinese Means "hundred miles", from Chinese 百 (bǎi) meaning "hundred" and 里 (lǐ) meaning "inside, hometown, miles".
Bei贝, 貝Chinese From Chinese 贝 (bèi) referring to the ancient fief of Bei, which was part of the state of Jin during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Hebei province.
BiChinese Probably from the name of a people living to the west of China in ancient times, who integrated with the Han Chinese during the Han dynasty (206 bc–220 ad). The character also means ‘finish’, ‘conclude’.
Bi毕, 畢Chinese From Chinese 毕 (bì) referring to the ancient fief of Bi, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shaanxi province.
Bian卞, 边, 扁, 弁, 汴Chinese Romanization of a Chinese surname, which in Pinyin may be respectively Biàn, Biān or Biǎn. The former, written with the character 卞 means "to be impatient", "to be in a hurry" or "excitable" and is by far the most common... [more]
Bian卞Chinese From Chinese 卞 (biàn) referring to the ancient fief of Bian, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shandong province.
Bian边, 邊Chinese From Chinese 边 (biān) referring to the ancient state of Bian, which existed during the Shang dynasty in what is now Henan province.
CojuangcoChinese (Filipino) From the name of family patriarch Kho Giok Hoan (許玉寰), a 19th-century Chinese-Filipino businessman originally from Fujian. He was also known by his Hokkien nickname Khó͘ Hoân-ko (許寰哥) meaning "brother Kho Hoan", comprised of 許 (Khó͘), the Hokkien romanization of his surname, 寰 (Hoân), the second syllable of his given name, and 哥 (ko), a male honorific meaning "brother"... [more]
CokChinese Meaning 'the wall that surrounds a city.'... [more]
Cui崔Chinese From Chinese 崔 (cuī) referring to a place called Cui that existed in what is now Shandong province.
Dai戴Chinese From Chinese 戴 (dài) referring to the ancient state of Dai, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Henan province.
DarmadiChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Huo (霍) or Wang (汪). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
DarmawanChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Chen (陳), Guo (郭) or Huang (黃). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
DeChinese From the Chinese element de, meaning "ethics, moral, virtue".
Diao刁Chinese From Chinese 刁 (diāo) referring to the ancient state of Diao, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shaanxi province. It was adopted due to being homophonous with the character 雕, which was the actual name of the state.
Fang方Chinese From Chinese 方 (fāng) referring to Fang Shu, a minister and adviser to King Xuan of the Western Zhou dynasty. Alternately it may have come from a place called Fang Shan (方山), which existed in what is now Henan province.
Fang房Chinese From Chinese 房 (fáng) referring to the ancient state of Fang, which existed in what is now Henan province.
Fei费, 費Chinese From Chinese 费 (fèi) referring to the ancient state of Fei, which existed during the Xia and Zhou dynasties in what is now Shandong province. Alternately it may come from Feiyi (費邑), the name of a fief that existed in the state of Lu (during the Zhou dynasty) in what is now Shandong province.
Feng风, 風Chinese Derived from Chinese 风 (fēng) meaning "wind".
Fu傅Chinese From Chinese 傅 (fù) meaning "teacher, instructor", also referring to an ancient place named Fu Yan (傅岩) possibly located in what is now Shanxi province. It could also come from the name of the ancient fief of Fu, which existed during the Western Zhou dynasty in what is now Shandong province.
Gan甘Chinese From Chinese 甘 (gān) of uncertain origin, possibly from the name of Shang dynasty minister Gan Pan or from the name of an ancient territory called Gan that existed in what is now Shaanxi province.
Geng耿Chinese From Chinese 耿 (gěng) referring to the ancient city of Geng, which existed during the Shang dynasty in what is now Henan province. Alternately it may come from the name of an ancient state that existed during the Spring and Autumn period in present-day Shanxi province.
Gong龚, 龔Chinese From Chinese 龚 (gōng) referring to the ancient state of Gong (written as 共), which existed during the Shang dynasty possibly in what is now Henan province. This name was adopted in place of 共 by future descendants to flee persecution.
Gu顾, 顧Chinese From Chinese 顾 (gù) referring to the ancient state of Gu, which existed during the Xia dynasty in what is now Henan province.
Gu辜Chinese From Chinese 辜 (gū) meaning "crime, wrong, sin".
Gu谷Chinese From Chinese 谷 (gǔ) referring to the ancient fief of Qin Gu, which existed in what is now the province of either Gansu or Shaanxi. Alternately it may come from the name of the fief of Jia Gu, which was part of the state of Qi during the Zhou dynasty.
Gu古Chinese From Chinese 古 (gǔ) possibly derived from Kucheng (古成 or 苦城), the name of an ancient fief that may have existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Henan province... [more]
Guan管Chinese From Chinese 管 (guǎn) meaning "administer, manage, control", also referring to the ancient state of Guan that existed in what is now Henan province.
Gui桂Chinese From Chinese 桂 (guì) referring to the ancient state of Gui, which existed during the Han dynasty in what is now Guangxi province.
Gui归, 歸Chinese From Chinese 归 (guī) referring to the ancient state of Gui, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Anhui province.
GunawanChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized version of various Chinese surnames (including 陳 Chen, 郭 Guo, etc.), under the social and political pressure during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia toward Chinese Indonesians.
HadinataChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Ji (紀). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
HandokoChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Fan (范), Han (韓) or Yao (姚). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
HarsonoChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Hu (胡) or Zhuo (卓). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
HendrawanChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as He (何) or Ye (葉). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
Huo霍Chinese From Chinese 霍 (huò) referring to the ancient state of Huo, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now the city of Huozhou in Shanxi province.
Hwang黃, 黄Korean, Chinese Korean form of Huang, from Sino-Korean 黃 (hwang). It is also an alternate transcription of the Chinese name.
Ji纪, 紀Chinese From Chinese 纪 (jì) referring to the ancient state of Ji, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shandong province.
Ji季Chinese From Chinese 季 (jì) meaning "youngest brother".
Jia甲Chinese From Chinese 甲 (jiǎ) meaning "one, first", also referring to an ancient fief or small state named Jia located in what is now either Henan or Hebei province.
Jia贾, 賈Chinese From Chinese 贾 (jiǎ) referring to an ancient state and fief named Jia, both located in what is now Shanxi province.
Jian简, 簡Chinese From Chinese 簡 (jiǎn) meaning "simple, uncomplicated", taken from the given name of several individuals.
Jiang蒋, 蔣Chinese From Chinese 蒋 (jiǎng) referring to the ancient state of Jiang, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Henan province.
Jiao焦Chinese From Chinese 焦 (jiāo) referring to the ancient state of Jiao, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now the provinces of Shaanxi and Henan.
Juan阮Chinese Alternate transcription of Chinese 阮 (see Ruan).
JuandaChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Zhou (周) or Zhuang (莊). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
Kang康Chinese, Korean From Chinese 康 (kāng), derived from Kangju (康居), the Chinese name for an ancient kingdom in Central Asia (now known as Sogdiana). It may also refer to the city of Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan, which was called 康 in Chinese.
Kay凱, 凯Chinese From Chinese 凯 (kǎi) meaning "triumphant, victorious, triumphal".
Ke柯Chinese From Chinese 柯 (kē) meaning "axe handle, stalk, branch".
KhooChinese (Hokkien) Hokkien spellig of the surname Qiu. This Means a person who lived near a mound, dune or hill. This spelling is found amongst Hokkien and Hakka families in Southeast Asia
Kong孔Chinese From Chinese 孔 (kǒng) meaning "hole, opening". According to legend, this name was created by Cheng Tang, the founder and first king of the Shang dynasty. He formed it by combining the character for his family name, 子 (zǐ) (his full personal name was Zi Lü), with 乙 (yǐ), the second part of his style name, Da Yi (or Tai Yi)... [more]
Koo辜Chinese Alternate transcription of Chinese 辜 (see Gu).
KusnoChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Gu (古) or Xu 2 (許). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
Kuyeng鄺, 邝Chinese (Russified) Russified form of Kuang used by ethnic Chinese living in parts of the former Soviet Union (based on the Cantonese romanization of the name).
Kvon鄺, 邝Chinese (Russified) Russified form of Kuang used by ethnic Chinese living in parts of the former Soviet Union (based on the Cantonese romanization of the name).
Lai赖, 賴Chinese From Chinese 赖 (lài) meaning "rely", also referring to the ancient state of Lai that existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Henan province.
Lan蓝, 藍Chinese From Chinese 蓝 (lán) referring to a place called Lantian that existed in what is now Shaanxi province.
Leng冷Chinese From Chinese 冷 (lěng), which was probably derived from 泠伦 (línglún), an ancient title used by court officials in charge of music.
LesmanaChinese (Indonesian) Indonesianized form of Chinese surnames such as Li 1 (李) or Shi (施). Surnames like these were instituted during the New Order era (1966–1998) in Indonesia due to social and political pressure toward Chinese Indonesians.
Ling凌Chinese From Chinese 凌 (líng) meaning "ice", originally used as an occupational name for a palace official who was in charge of storing and handling ice.
Lou楼, 樓Chinese From Chinese 楼 (lóu) meaning "storey, level, building".
Lou娄, 婁Chinese From Chinese 娄 (lóu) referring to the 16th constellation of the Twenty-Eight Mansions in traditional Chinese astronomy. It may also refer to the ancient state of Zhu Lou, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shandong province, or the ancient fief of Lou, which existed in the ancient state of Chu in present-day Shandong province.
Lu陆, 陸Chinese From Chinese 陆 (lù) referring to the ancient territory of Lu, which existed in the state of Qi in what is now Shandong province. Alternately, it may be from 陸渾 (Lù Hún), the name of an ancient nomadic tribe that established a state in the area that is now Henan province.
Lu鲁, 魯Chinese From Chinese 鲁 (lǔ) referring to the ancient state of Lu, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shandong province.