How do Chinese people name their babies

In China, the method of naming children by their surname first and given name second has existed since ancient times. The surname is passed down from one’s ancestors and cannot be changed. Therefore, in order to express their hopes and wishes for their newborn, people pay great attention to the selection of given names. Generally, Chinese people follow several principles when choosing names:

Special meaning of commemoration: for instance, many babies born in 1949 or on October 1 were named 建国 (Jianguo; to found a country) or 新华 (Xinhua; New China). (Note: October 1, 1949 is the day the People’s Republic of China founded).

Avoidance of taboos: foreigners like to name their newborn after their ancestors as an act of remembrance. It is opposite in China, where people, in order to show respect, feel bound to avoid using their ancestors’ names;

Distinguishing sexuality: boys are often named with masculine Chinese characters, such as 鹏, 宏, 刚, etc. Girls are often named with graceful Chinese characters, such as 娜, 婷, 丽, etc.

Implied meanings: each Chinese character has its unique meaning. People prefer to combine such kinds of Chinese characters. For example, if a person has the surname 石, the name 石磊 represents a hope that he is strong.

In recent years, people try to avoid giving the same names as others. Some even choose Chinese characters from ancient Chinese or literary works. The methods of selecting names grow increasingly varied.