Ethnic Chinese view name as an important factor of destiny, fortune and personality, so it would be a serious issue for parents naming their babies. When Parents name their babies, the name is reflections of what they wish the babies are going to be in the future. Some adults even change their original names with some character they want for better fate, self expectation or a mark of brand new start in the coming stage.(and yap some people change names for fleeing away from debt. We believe you don’t have that problem with your Chinese name :p)
Many ethnic Chinese would spent about USD$ 100 in average for their babies or themselves with a good name from fortune tellers or name experts.
For non-Chinese speakers like you, Chinese name is also a good start of having a new connection and conversation. It would be surprised and delighted by your Chinese partners and friends to hear that you have a Chinese name (we mean the real one with 3 meaningful characters, not just a direct translation from your English name with meaningless characters). Name is the first impression for almost everyone. If you got a Chinese name, your Chinese connections would also feel your respects to Chinese culture. The name creates similarity and shortens the distance between you guys. But beware, a bad name would cause backfires.
Here are some examples of local Chinese names and what it means:
| Local Chinese name | Romanization | Meaning |
| 陳宜臻 | lín yí jēn | “陳” is family name. “宜” means suitableness, comfy. Normally used in good terms. “臻” means perfection Overall meaning is a person who suitable for pursuit of perfection. The name characters used is suitable for female. |
| 王志剛 | wáng jr̀ gāng | “王” is family name. “志” means ambition, expectation and willingness. “剛” means hard, tough and strong. Overall meaning is a person who has a great ambition and tough mind. The name characters used is suitable for male. |
| 高哲偉 | gāu jé wěi | “高” is family name. “哲” means philosophy, wisdom and intelligence. “偉” means large, great and outstanding. Overall meaning is a person who has a great wisdom. The name characters used is suitable for male. |
| 林佳蓉 | lín jia róng | “林” is family name. “佳” means good, fine and pretty. “蓉” is a sort of flower and extended meaning is beautiful and elegance. Overall meaning is a person who is beautiful and elegance The name characters used is suitable for female. |
| 林嘉龍 | lín jia róng | “林” is family name. “嘉” means good, praise and kind. “龍” is dragon and imply it is powerful, outstanding and respectable. Overall meaning is a person who is good, outstanding and powerful. The name characters used is suitable for male. |
For the last 2 names, you can see they are the same pronunciation but with a little bit different in the meaning of the character. And it fits different genders. Actually, there are multiple meaning in Chinese character with a preferred gender used in name making.
If you want to have a Chinese name for a long term reputation, it is always a better way to turn into someone who knows the language well!
>>> See some bad cases you may laugh
Chinese-Advisor 