No matter which country they come from or what their political views are, everyone has their own name. In some countries, some people consider that a name is just a simple code or symbol. However, for Chinese people, a name is not only a person’s symbol or title with your whole life but also a microcosm of their lives in a certain meaning.

CHINESE NAME HISTORY

Throughout history, Chinese people have attached importance to naming, and it can trace back to 5000 years ago. Before the Three Kingdoms Period (220-265 A.D.), a Chinese name consisted of a word. After the Jin Dynasty, many Chinese people have names with two words. This tradition is still practiced in the modern day.

“Hundred Family Surnames,” a Chinese masterwork, recorded five hundred and sixty-eight Chinese family names and their historical origins. There are common and off-used examples:

MEANING OF CHINESE NAME

From understandings of a Chinese name, people are able to experience their parents’ blessing, the family’s hope, the influence of culture and era, their own interests, hobbies, aspirations, sentiments, and ideals. Moreover, people also can detect friendship, customs, characteristics of the times, etc., from their Chinese names. In the long development of Chinese history and culture, a Chinese name is, to some extent, a kind of culture instead of a meaningless or arbitrary pronoun.

NAMING

Naming is very particular for the Chinese people. Parents will look through lots of books and consult many knowledgeable people when they give a name for their kids. A Chinese name should have a lucky meaning and a nice pronunciation that matches its visually pleasing and easy-to-write shape; meanwhile, the name exists with parent’s expectations as well as ideals, interests, and goals pursued. Sometimes, a name also represents memorable events before or after birth, such as time or place of birth.

Take my name, Yuhang Liu, to be an example. Liu is the surname followed by my father. “Yu” is a very famous leader in Chinese history with many crowning achievements. My parents took this name for me to wish I can be the person like Yu. Moreover, “Hang” is a city in China-Hangzhou, where they are many pretty girls. So my parents hope I can be a hardworking person, pretty and kind in my life.

For Chinese people, the name is the essence of Chinese culture, as well as their treasure. They are very proud of their name.