Chinese Girl Names: Meanings, Trends, and 40+ Beautiful Examples

If you only know a few Chinese girl names like Mei, Ling, or Xiao Li, it’s easy to imagine all Chinese girl names are about:

flowers, beauty, and being “pretty”.

Those are classic elements — but modern Chinese girl names go far beyond that:

• lots of names focus on intelligence, independence, and talent
• nature images now include sky, ocean, light, and universe, not just flowers
• styles have shifted from “virtuous and obedient” to “bright, confident, and free”

This guide takes you deep into Chinese girl names:

1. The basic structure of a Chinese girl’s name
2. How femininity actually shows up in Chinese names
3. Classic “feminine” components (flowers, beauty, grace)
4. Newer trends (nature, cosmos, independence)
5. Generational differences: grandma → mom → Gen Z
6. 40+ example Chinese girl names (characters, pinyin, meanings)
7. How to choose a Chinese girl name as a non-native speaker

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How a Chinese Girl Name Is Structured#

Same as for boys, a modern Chinese full name is usually:

[Surname] + [Given name (1–2 characters)]

Examples:

• 李芳 (Lǐ Fāng) – Li + “fragrance”
• 王静怡 (Wáng Jìngyí) – Wang + “quiet & joyful”
• 陈雨柔 (Chén Yǔróu) – Chen + “rain, gentle/soft”

Key points:

• Surname: almost always one character, like 李 (Lǐ), 王 (Wáng), 张 (Zhāng), 刘 (Liú), 陈 (Chén).
• Given name: often two characters for girls; one-character names exist but are less common in modern Mainland naming.

So when we talk about “Chinese girl names”, we really mean girl-style given names — the part after the surname.

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Do Chinese Names Have Gender?#

Yes, but not by grammar. There is no “-a = girl, -o = boy” rule.

Instead, gender in Chinese given names appears through culture and association:

• certain characters show up more in girl names (flowers, beauty, softness)
• others lean strongly male (martial, strong, heroic)
• some are genuinely used across genders (rain, morning, peace)

Linguistic and cultural research on Chinese given names points out that typical feminine naming themes include:

• beauty, grace, flowers
• softness, gentleness, calmness
• refined and artistic imagery

while more masculine names emphasize strength, bravery, achievement, and “big world” images like mountains and dragons.

But this is a tendency, not a rigid system. Many Chinese names are ambiguous, and you cannot reliably determine gender just from a name in every case — especially for modern, neutral-style names.

For Chinese girl names, though, we can clearly see patterns in meaning and sound.

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Classic Feminine Elements in Chinese Girl Names#

Historically and culturally, many girl names are built around three big themes:

1. Flowers & plants
2. Beauty & grace
3. Gentleness & refinement

1 Flowers & plants (花卉、植物)#

Some of the most common “girl characters” are:

• 花 (huā) – flower
• 芳 (fāng) – fragrant
• 英 (yīng) – flower, petal; also “outstanding”
• 兰 / 蘭 (lán) – orchid (elegant, noble)
• 梅 (méi) – plum blossom (hardy, graceful)
• 莉 (lì) – jasmine (used in 茉莉 mòlì)
• 薇 (wēi) – a kind of fern; now strongly associated with girl names
• 莹 / 瑩 (yíng) – originally “firefly / brightness”, visually looks like a flower/grass element

Many of these use the “grass” radical 艹, which is an instant feminine hint for many Chinese readers.

Example names:

• 李芳 (Lǐ Fāng) – “fragrant”; simple, very classic
• 王兰 (Wáng Lán) – “orchid”; elegant, old-school
• 陈美兰 (Chén Měilán) – “beautiful orchid”; strongly feminine
• 赵若薇 (Zhào Ruòwēi) – “like + fern”; modern, literary, feminine

2 Beauty & grace (美、雅、柔)#

Characters that directly encode “beauty” and “grace”:

• 美 (měi) – beautiful
• 丽 / 麗 (lì) – beautiful
• 娜 (nà) – graceful (borrowed sound; widely used in girl names)
• 娟 (juān) – graceful, elegant
• 婉 (wǎn) – gentle, compliant
• 媛 (yuàn) – (classical) beautiful woman
• 雅 (yǎ) – elegant, refined
• 妍 (yán) – beautiful, lovely

Typical names:

• 美丽 (Měilì) – literally “beautiful”; almost cliché, but also used
• 娜娜 (Nànà) – doubled “graceful”; cute, very feminine
• 雅静 (Yǎjìng) – “elegant and quiet”
• 丽娟 (Lìjuān) – “beautiful and graceful”

These are especially common among women born between the 1970s and early 2000s.

3 Gentleness & softness (静、柔、宁…)#

Gentler traits show up as:

• 静 / 靜 (jìng) – quiet, still
• 柔 (róu) – soft, gentle
• 舒 (shū) – comfortable, relaxed
• 宁 / 寧 (níng) – peaceful
• 彤 (tóng) – reddish; often feminine, warm
• 雪 (xuě) – snow (soft, pure)

Pairing these yields names like:

• 静怡 (Jìngyí) – quiet & joyful
• 柔嘉 (Róujiā) – gentle & good / auspicious
• 宁雪 (Níngxuě) – peaceful snow
• 彤雪 (Tóngxuě) – red snow (poetic, soft but vivid)

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Modern Trends in Chinese Girl Names#

While flowers & beauty names are still common, recent decades have brought new styles:

1. Nature & weather beyond flowers
2. Light, sky, universe imagery
3. Talent, intelligence, and individuality

1 Nature & weather#

Many modern parents choose nature characters that feel fresh and open, not just delicate:

• 雨 (yǔ) – rain
• 云 / 雲 (yún) – cloud
• 晨 (chén) – morning
• 岚 / 嵐 (lán) – mountain mist
• 潇 / 瀟 (xiāo) – flowing, free (often used in 潇潇 rain imagery)

Modern girl names like:

• 雨桐 (Yǔtóng) – rain + paulownia tree (poetic, widely used)
• 晨曦 (Chénxī) – morning light, dawn
• 云溪 / 雲溪 (Yúnxī) – cloud + creek
• 岚熙 / 嵐熙 (Lánxī) – mountain mist + bright/prosperous

These still read as feminine, but with a more outdoor, airy, and free feeling.

2 Light, sky, and universe#

Parallel to the “universe boy names” trend, girl names now also borrow from sky and light:

• 曦 (xī) – dawn light, first light of the sun
• 晴 (qíng) – clear sky
• 星 (xīng) – star
• 彤 (tóng) – warm red, used in sunrise imagery

Examples:

• 星彤 (Xīngtóng) – star + warm red → bright, vibrant
• 曦文 (Xīwén) – dawn light + culture/literature
• 晴悦 (Qíngyuè) – clear sky + joy

These names suggest brightness, optimism, and “big sky” feeling, not just appearance.

3 Talent, intellect, and independence#

Many modern parents want girl names that sound capable and smart, not just pretty:

Characters like:

• 慧 (huì) – clever, wise
• 颖 / 穎 (yǐng) – clever, outstanding (very common in girl names)
• 哲 (zhé) – philosophy, wise
• 思 (sī) – think, thought
• 涵 (hán) – contain, cultured, self-possessed
• 澜 / 瀾 (lán) – big waves, metaphorically depth and power

Example names:

• 慧颖 (Huìyǐng) – wise + clever; very “top-student” vibe
• 思涵 (Sīhán) – thoughtful + inner depth
• 若哲 (Ruòzhé) – like + wise; can be unisex but often seen in girls now
• 欣然 (Xīnrán) – joyful, at ease; suggests emotional strength

These names read as feminine but not fragile — more “bright and talented”.

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Generational Style: Grandma → Mom → Today’s Girls#

You can roughly see three waves of Chinese girl naming:

1 Grandma generation (born ~1940s–60s)#

Names often simple and virtue-oriented:

• 英 (Yīng – hero / outstanding)
• 华 / 華 (Huá – splendid, China)
• 秀 (Xiù – elegant / refined)
• 琼 / 瓊 (Qióng – beautiful jade)

Full names like:

• 秀英 (Xiùyīng) – elegant and outstanding
• 桂英 (Guìyīng) – osmanthus + outstanding
• 玉华 (Yùhuá) – jade + splendid

These now sound older-generation; still beautiful, but not fashionable for babies.

2 Mom generation (born ~1970s–90s)#

More “pretty + gentle” combos and “double syllable” cuteness:

• 美丽 (Měilì – beautiful)
• 丽娜 (Lìnà – beautiful + graceful)
• 静静, 燕燕, 娟娟 (doubled names, especially for nicknames)
• Names with 芳, 娟, 丽, 娜, 静, 婷, 婷, 红 / 紅 etc.

Full names like:

• 婷玉 (Tíngyù) – graceful + jade
• 静怡 (Jìngyí) – quiet + joy
• 丽华 / 麗華 (Lìhuá) – beautiful + splendid

These are still very common among adult women.

3 Today’s girls (born ~2000s–2020s)#

Trend: nature + light + talent + inner strength rather than just beauty.

Popular building blocks:

• Nature: 雨, 晨, 岚, 溪, 林, 沐, 泽 / 澤
• Light/sky: 曦, 晴, 星, 彤
• Talent/inner depth: 颖, 慧, 思, 涵, 澜, 安

Examples you’ll see a lot in modern lists and school rosters:

• 梓萱 (Zǐxuān) – catalpa tree + fragrant herb (very fashionable combo)
• 若曦 (Ruòxī) – like + dawn light (popularized by TV drama)
• 沐晨 (Mùchén) – bathe + morning (fresh, modern)
• 子萱 (Zǐxuān) – refined person + fragrant herb
• 一诺 / 一諾 (Yīnuò) – one + promise (unisex but quite common for girls)

These names sound more literary, modern, somewhat unisex in mood, while still being read as feminine.

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40+ Chinese Girl Names with Meanings#

Note: These are authentic-style patterns, not legal advice or must-use suggestions.
Always have a native speaker review a name before using it officially.

I’ll group them by vibe. All can be used as given names; you’d add a surname in front, e.g. 王若曦.

1 Flower & classic beauty names#

Name	Pinyin	Literal meaning	Vibe
芳华 / 芳華	Fānghuá	fragrance + splendor	Classic, literary, feminine
美玲	Měilíng	beautiful + tinkling jade	Very common 80s–90s; soft and pretty
兰香 / 蘭香	Lánxiāng	orchid + fragrance	Elegant, traditional
梅雪	Méixuě	plum blossom + snow	Poetic, winter beauty
丽娜 / 麗娜	Lìnà	beautiful + graceful	International-feel, very common
雅芳	Yǎfāng	elegant + fragrance	Feminine, polite, slightly old-school
若兰 / 若蘭	Ruòlán	like + orchid	Poetic, widely used in fiction

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2 Gentle, healing, “quiet power” names#

Name	Pinyin	Literal meaning	Vibe
静怡	Jìngyí	quiet + joyful	Calm, friendly, common in Mainland & HK
宁馨 / 寧馨	Níngxīn	peaceful + fragrance	Warm, gentle, literary
雨柔	Yǔróu	rain + soft	Healing, romantic, modern
慧心	Huìxīn	wise + heart	Intelligent and kind-hearted
舒然	Shūrán	comfortable + so/like-that	Relaxed, easygoing, modern
语嫣 / 語嫣	Yǔyān	speak + charming smile	Famous in wuxia novels; charming, classical
安然	Ānrán	peaceful + calm	Grounded, emotionally stable

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3 Nature & sky girl names#

Name	Pinyin	Literal meaning	Vibe
晨曦	Chénxī	morning + first light	Very popular, hopeful, bright
雨桐	Yǔtóng	rain + paulownia tree	Modern classic, gentle & poetic
云溪 / 雲溪	Yúnxī	cloud + creek	Clean, soft nature imagery
星晴	Xīngqíng	star + clear (sky)	Romantic, bright, youth drama vibes
岚熙 / 嵐熙	Lánxī	mountain mist + bright	Misty mountains + sunrise; literary
清岚 / 清嵐	Qīnglán	clear + mountain mist	Cool, fresh, slightly mature
雪凝	Xuěníng	snow + congeal/settle	Cold & pure; maybe more for fiction than real life

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4 Talent, intellect, and modern independence#

Name	Pinyin	Literal meaning	Vibe
颖儿 / 穎兒	Yǐng’ér	clever child	Very common in girl names (as 颖 X or X 颖)
慧琳	Huìlín	wise + beautiful jade	Smart and refined
思嘉	Sījiā	think + good/excellent	Thoughtful & excellent; “Scarlett O’Hara” Chinese dub uses 斯嘉丽, similar feel
书瑶 / 書瑤	Shūyáo	book + fine jade	Bookish and high-quality
子琪	Zǐqí	refined person + fine jade	Neutral but used often for girls
承妍	Chéngyán	inherit + beautiful	Implies inheriting beauty or virtue, modern structure
昕妤	Xīnyú	rising sun + pleasing / refined	Fresh, stylish, popular in baby name lists

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5 Slightly unisex but commonly used for girls#

These names could be unisex but skew feminine in real usage, making them good choices if you want a girl name that’s not too “pink”.

Name	Pinyin	Literal meaning	Vibe
雨晨	Yǔchén	rain + morning	Fresh and modern; used for boys & girls
子萱	Zǐxuān	refined person + fragrant herb	Very popular, feels feminine but not sugary
沐晴	Mùqíng	bathe + clear sky	Clean, bright, Instagram-generation feel
晓彤 / 曉彤	Xiǎotóng	dawn / know + red	Warm, widely used in dramas/real life
安琪	Ānqí	peace + “angel” (loan from 法语 Angél)	Feels international, Christian-family friendly
悦兮	Yuèxī	joy + exclamative particle (classical flavor)	Poetic, weibo-style modern name
若溪	Ruòxī	like + creek	Especially common in online pen names & younger generation

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How to Choose a Chinese Girl Name (For Non-Native Speakers)#

Whether you’re naming:

• a baby girl,
• a character in a story/game, or
• yourself as a Chinese learner / creator,

here’s a robust approach.

Step 1 – Clarify context & era#

Ask:

• Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, overseas Chinese, or purely fictional?
• What decade is she born in? (Names carry a strong generational “flavor”.)
• Is this a legal name, a pen name, or an online handle?

If you want a believable modern Mainland girl born after ~2000, you’ll lean heavily into nature + light + talent themes with relatively modern combos.

Step 2 – Decide the vibe, not just “pretty”#

Write 3–5 adjectives:

• gentle, healing, quiet
• bright, sunny, optimistic
• cool, mysterious, literary
• ambitious, capable, sharp

These map to character clusters:

• gentle/healing → 柔, 宁, 慧, 安, 雨, 晨
• bright/optimistic → 曦, 晴, 星, 彤, 悦
• literary/cool → 墨, 澜, 书, 言, 兮, 若, 岚
• ambitious/capable → 颖, 慧, 思, 嘉, 诗 / 詩, 瑶, 琪

Step 3 – Build a small character pool#

Collect 8–15 characters that match the vibe:

• examples: 雨, 晨, 曦, 晴, 星, 岚, 慧, 颖, 思, 安, 涵, 澜, 雅, 柔, 怡

Check:

• their core meanings (in a reliable dictionary)
• whether they’re commonly used in names (some rare characters look cool but are impractical)

Step 4 – Combine into 2-character given names#

Patterns that work well:

• [nature/sky] + [emotion/virtue]

  • 雨 + 柔 → 雨柔 (rain + gentle)
  • 星 + 彤 → 星彤 (star + warm red)

• [light/sky] + [joy/peace]

  • 晨 + 曦 → 晨曦 (morning + dawn light)
  • 晴 + 悦 → 晴悦 (clear sky + joy)

• [talent/virtue] + [jade/beauty]

  • 慧 + 瑶 → 慧瑶 (wise + jade)
  • 颖 + 嘉 → 颖嘉 (clever + excellent)

Say them aloud:

• Do they flow?
• Can you pronounce them without pain?
• Do they sound too similar to a common word with a strange meaning?

Step 5 – Native speaker review (crucial)#

Show 2–5 candidate names to at least one native speaker:

Ask:

1. “Is this natural as a Chinese girl name?”
2. “Does it feel old-fashioned, current, or super trendy?”
3. “Any weird associations, slang meanings, or famous people?”

Be open to feedback like:

• “This is pretty but very overused.”
• “This sounds older-generation.”
• “This combination feels like an online pen name more than a legal name.”

Adjust accordingly.

Step 6 – Add surname & check full name#

If this is a full identity:

• Choose a common surname (e.g. 王, 李, 陈, 林, 赵) unless you have a specific family context.
• Say the full name with surname several times.
• Check that together they don’t accidentally form a pun, brand name, or meme.

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Common Mistakes with Chinese Girl Names#

1. Choosing characters only by how they look

   • Some pretty characters have odd meanings or are rarely used in names.

2. Overloading “beauty” characters

   • Names like 美丽丽 (“very very beautiful”) feel cartoonish, not elegant.

3. Ignoring generational flavor

   • For a 2020s baby, something like 秀英 will sound like a grandma name.
   • For a 1960s character, 若曦 will feel out of time.

4. Assuming any kanji/hanzi tattoo list works as a name

   • Many random kanji examples online are not suitable as Chinese given names.

5. Not checking with native speakers

   • Cultural associations, drama character fame, and internet memes change fast.
   • You might accidentally pick the name of a notorious celebrity or meme character.

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Final Thoughts#

Chinese girl names weave together:

• traditional femininity (beauty, grace, flowers)
• modern values (intelligence, independence, inner strength)
• and a language where every character holds meaning and imagery.

That’s why a name like 晨曦 (morning light) or 思涵 (thoughtful depth) can feel:

• poetic and expressive
• properly feminine,
• and still strong and modern.