Chinese culture uses mostly two to three words in a baby name. The first names depict the surname, the last names signify the given name, and if present, the middle names belong to the root generation.
The middle names are taken from the oldest member of the family generally. In many parts of Asia like Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, Macau, and Singapore, baby names are decided based on astrological factors such as the date and time of birth, the balance of the five elements, and similar attributes.
Whether you're embracing your own cultural or family traditions for your daughter or just enjoy the meaning and sound of Chinese girl names, there's bound to be one here that you'll love.
We've also got plenty of ideas for Chinese boy names, or you could look elsewhere in Asia for inspiration, such as with some lovely Taiwanese baby names instead.
Popular Chinese Girl Names
1. Ai, meaning "love". Ai Carina Uemura is a famous singer.
2. An meaning "peaceful". Chinese variant of the American name Ann or Anne.
3. Bao meaning "treasure," is pronounced like bow.
4. Chen meaning "morning". Li Chen is a popular Chinese actor.
5. Chun meaning "spring season". Chun-Chieh Wu is a famous scientist. This is a great baby name for a spring-born girl.
6. Hui meaning "intelligence", "cleverness", or "wise". Zhang Huiwen is a popular actress.
7. Jia meaning "family" or "kin" in Chinese. It is derived from the Italian name Gia. Hu Jia is a famous activist.
8. Jun meaning "truthful" or "obedient". A good name for babies born in June.
9. Kai/ Kaili (Hawaiian origin) meaning "beautiful" or "victorious" in Chinese. It is also the name of a Hawaiian goddess.
10. Li Hua meaning "pear blossom" is a name for a baby born in the spring season.
11. Li Mei meaning "pretty rose".
12. Ling meaning "delicate", "dainty", "soul" or "chime".
13. Mei meaning "beautiful". Some popular celebrities named Mei are Meiling Jin, Mei Nakabayashi aka May's, and Mei Yaochen. Hence, it has become the most popular Chinese girl name.
14. Ning meaning "peaceful". One of the good Chinese girl names for a unique baby name.
15. Nuan meaning "friendly" and "wholehearted".
16. Qing meaning "blue", "green" or "young". Pang Qing is an Olympic skater.
17. Shu meaning "warm-hearted" or "the kind one".
18. Xue meaning "snow" or "learning". Skater Shen Xue has won a gold medal in 2010 in the Olympics.
19. Yan meaning "pretty swallow".
20. Zhen meaning "innocent", "virtuous", "precious" and many more. Lady Zhen was honored as Empress Whenzhao upon her son, Cao Rui's ascension to the throne of Wei.
Unique Chinese Girl Names
21. Chu meaning "pearl" a precious jewel. Chu was a Zhou Dynasty state.
22. Cong meaning "intelligent".
23. Genji meaning "valuable as gold". 'Tale of Genji' is Japan's oldest novel, probably the world's first novel.
24. Hop (Vietnamese origin) meaning "agreeable", is a variant of the English word hope.
25. Hua meaning "beautiful flower" or "prosperous". Hua was a state of the Zhou dynasty in modern Yanshi, Henan Province.
26. Lai meaning "future". A good baby name for an independent girl.
27. Mey meaning "gorgeous", "stunning" or "pretty".
28. Qiao meaning "handsome" or "pretty". It is a gender-neutral name that can also be used as a middle name. Qiao Ting is a Chinese volleyball player.
29. Qing yuan meaning "a clear spring" or "deep water".
30. Qinyang meaning "sunshine of my heart". Qinyang city of Henan province was known as Yewang during the Qin dynasty.
31. Ushi meaning "a plant".
32. Wenling meaning "mild jade tinkling".
33. Xin-jin meaning "heart of crystal". This is a unique baby name.
34. Yanay meaning "she who loves".
Girls' Names From 19th Century China
35. Ching meaning "capable". Ching Shih was a Chinese pirate up to the mid the 19th century.
36. Cixi meaning "motherly" or "auspicious".
37. Fang meaning "fragrant", "virtuous". Fang Junying was a 19th century revolutionary.
38. Fu meaning "lotus" or "hibiscus". Fu Shanxiang was a Chinese scholar in the 19th century.
39. Jiang meaning "river" was the name of Chinese school pioneer Jiang Shufang.
40. Liang meaning "a bridge", "a mast". Liang Na was a Chinese Empress during the Han Dynasty.
41. Lu meaning "musical note". Lu Zhi was a ruthless and brutal empress in the Chinese Han Dynasty.
42. Qiu meaning "autumn", "hill" or "mound". Qui jin was a Chinese revolutionary.
43. Su meaning "plain", "simple". Su Sanniang was a Chinese rebel.
44. Tai meaning "extreme". Kong Tai Heong was the first Chinese woman to practice medicine in Hawaii.
45. Wang Shu; Wang meaning "to gaze" and "shu" meaning "comfortable" or "easy", was the charioteer of the moon according to Chinese mythology.
46. Wei meaning "power", "extraordinary" or "high". Chinese Tang Dynasty had an empress named Wei.
47. Wu meaning "affairs", "business". Wu Zetian was a Chinese empress in the Tang Dynasty. She was also the only female emperor in Chinese feudal history.
48. Yun meaning "cloud". Yun Zhu was a Qing dynasty poet.
49. Zhi Rou meaning "the two Chinese herbal plants angelica and polleir". It is the name of a famous character in 'The Heaven Sword' novel by Jin Yong. Also, ancient Chinese people preferred baby names based on herbs.
Even More Chinese Baby Names
50. Diu meaning "down to earth" or "practical person".
51. Fen meaning "fragrance", "perfume" or "aroma".
52. Hanna meaning "beautiful flower".
63. Huan meaning "pleased" or "happy".
54. Huang meaning "bright", "shine".
55. Lian meaning "lotus".
56. Ling meaning "spirit" or "bell".
57. Ming meaning "shining bright". It is Mandarin Pinyin and Wade-Giles Romanization of a Chinese surname written in Chinese characters and symbols.
58. Ming Yue meaning "bright moon". It is a gender-neutral name with celestial connotations.
59. Peng meaning "friend" in mandarin Chinese. Peng is also used to refer to a giant mythological bird that transforms from a Kun (fish).
60. Ping meaning "level-minded". King Ping was the 13th king of the Zhou Dynasty.
61. Xiu meaning "elegant", "beautiful", "charming", "luxuriant".
62. Xiulin meaning "beautiful orchid". It represents "love" and "beauty".
63. Yu-yan meaning "women with a beautiful smile". This name comes from the phrase "yu xiao yan ran" from the famous character made by Jin Yong. Yu Yan is a Chinese singer and actress.
64. Qiuyue meaning "autumn moon".
65. Ying Yue meaning "moon's reflection".
66. Yong meaning "brave".
67. Yue meaning "moon". The name has an animated character in the movie 'Avatar'.
68. Yuèhai meaning "beautiful moon".
69. Yuèqín meaning "moon-shaped lute". Yueqin Hou is a well-known actress.
Chinese Girl Names That Mean Beautiful
70. Liena meaning "a woman as beautiful as a lotus flower".
71. Lifen meaning "beautiful fragrance". Lifen Zhang is a famous British Chinese journalist, author, and broadcaster.
72. Lì húa meaning "beautiful pear blossom".
73. Lihua meaning "beautiful and flourishing".
74. Lijuan meaning "beautiful and graceful".
75. Liling meaning "beautiful jade tinkle". Liling-PO is a Japanese manga written by Ako Yutneji.
76. LiMei meaning "beautiful plum flower". Lingmei Kong is a famous actress in movies like 'Whereabouts' and 'Dearest'.
77. Li mei meaning "beautiful plum blossom". The Chinese name Li Mei Chang belongs to an actress in Japan.
78. Li ming meaning "beautiful and bright".
79. Lin meaning "beautiful jade".
80. Li Na meaning "beautiful and graceful". The Chinese name Lina can be linked to the popular protagonist of German movie, 'Lina Braake'.
81. Linqin meaning "pretty zither".
82. Li Qin meaning "beautiful stringed musical instrument". The Chinese name Wang Li Qin belongs to a retired table tennis player from China.
83. Liqiu meaning "beautiful autumn"
84. Li Rong meaning "beautiful lotus".
85. Li Wei meaning "beautiful rose".
86. Mayleen meaning "beautiful". Mayleen Ramey is a popular television presenter.
87. Méh-è meaning "beautiful posture".
88. Méh-fùnh meaning "pretty or beautiful phoenix".
89. Meifen plum meaning "fragrance".
90. Meifeng meaning "pretty wind".
91. Meihui meaning "pretty wisdom".
92. Mei Lien meaning "pretty lotus".
93. Mei Xiang meaning "beautiful fragrance".
94. Mei Xing meaning "pretty star".
95. Meiyin meaning "very beautiful or beauty".
96. Mei Zhen meaning "beautiful pearl". Luo Meizhen was a person who has claimed to be the world's oldest person. This baby name brings an essence of longevity.
97. Mingmei meaning "a bright and very beautiful girl". This can be one of the very good and graceful Chinese baby names for a Chinese baby.
Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English
Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English
With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature.
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.