Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
A surname; the sound of a sheep bleating; historically, the royal surname of the Chu state during the Zhou dynasty.
A type of wild rice; ancient name for a kind of millet.
Lush, luxuriant vegetation; describes flourishing grass or plants; used in names to convey vitality and natural beauty.
taro; a general term for tuber plants like potatoes and yams.
An ancient term for taro; also an archaic variant form of 芋 (yù).
Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora); specifically refers to the peony plant and its root used in traditional
Szechuan lovage (Ligusticum wallichii), a medicinal herb; often appears in the term 川芎 (chuānxiōng), a traditional Chinese medicinal plant.
A type of sedge plant (Cyperus malaccensis), also known as cyperus or
A type of plant, possibly referring to Rehmannia glutinosa in traditional Chinese; also an ancient place name.
A type of millet; a bitter vegetable; a plant with white bark.
awn, beard (of grain); sharp point; tip
An ancient term referring to a type of plant; also used as a variant form for certain characters meaning 'seedling' or
A rapid growth of plants; a variant form of 卉 (plants, vegetation); also used as an ancient variant of 卉.
A type of wild leek or scallion; also used in ancient place names.
An archaic character meaning 'to govern' or 'to settle'; also appears in ancient texts.
Fragrant herb; aromatic; used in names of places and plants
A plant name, historically referring to a type of fragrant plant; also used in the compound '芘芣' (bì fú), an ancient name for
lotus; used in the name of the hibiscus flower (芙蓉); also appears in plant names.
(of plants) sprouting; lush growth; (archaic) confused, muddled appearance.
A tender, new plant shoot; a bud or sprout.
overgrown with weeds; wild grassland; messy, chaotic
A type of fragrant mushroom or ganoderma (lingzhi); used in names to signify auspiciousness, rarity, and beauty.
A type of fragrant plant, sometimes identified as a specific aromatic herb; ancient name for a fragrant grass.
To cut grass or weeds; to mow; to eliminate
An ancient name for a kind of grass; used in historical texts and sometimes in names for its literary and
Gordon Euryale seed; a type of aquatic plant whose seeds are used as a thickener; also refers to the plant itself.
Ancient term for a type of plant; also used in ancient texts.
Used in the name of the plant 芣苢 (fúyǐ), referring to the
A hollow or scallion-like plant; in traditional Chinese medicine, a pulse that feels hollow like a scallion
mustard plant; mustard; small grass
Reed, rush (a type of plant); also used in place names.
1. (archaic) a type of oak tree; 2. (archaic) water chestnut; caltrop
A type of plant; specifically refers to the Chinese wild ginger (Asarum) or Bletilla striata (an
A type of reed or rush plant; specifically refers to Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese skullcap), a medicinal herb in traditional
Astragalus — a genus of plants used in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly
A type of plant, specifically the Chinese violet cress (Orychophragmus violaceus) or
fragrance, aroma; sweet smell; perfume
A type of fragrant plant; banana plant; used in names for various plants and in poetic contexts.
Small, soft appearance; refers to the Ruì River; a historical state
core; wick; heart (of something)
water caltrop; an aquatic plant producing edible fruit with horn-like projections.
flower; blossom; to spend (money, time)
An ancient variant form of 花 (flower); also used as a variant for 華 (magnificent, China).
fragrant; aromatic; virtuous
A type of plant (possibly referring to wild lettuce or similar); also used in classical texts as an adverb meaning 'suddenly' or 'abruptly'.
A type of plant; refers to the '芵明' plant (possibly Tribulus terrestris or similar).
A type of plant; also used as a variant form in some surnames.
Angelica (a fragrant plant); iris; used in names to convey purity, fragrance, and elegance.
rue (a fragrant herb); also used in names, often conveying elegance and fragrance.
celery; a humble gift or offering (in classical usage); modest contribution.
A type of bitter edible plant; Chinese motherwort.
To cut grass or fodder; hay; straw
To pick; to select; to pluck (vegetables or plants)
bud, sprout, shoot; to germinate; beginning stage of development
Luxuriant growth of vegetation; small; used in historical names and classical texts.
grass that grows again after being cut; regrowth of grass; weeds.
A type of plant or grass; an ancient name for a certain herb.
Describing the appearance of plants growing luxuriantly; used in the name of a medicinal herb (Cistanche deserticola).
A rare character referring to a type of plant; also an ancient variant form used in some contexts.
A type of grass or plant; an ancient term for a specific plant species.
Practical guidance for evaluating characters by radical, stroke balance, and cultural resonance.
Radicals group characters by their core semantic or structural elements. When you filter by radical, you surface characters that share meaning cues and writing patterns, making it easier to shortlist options with aligned symbolism.
Most parents stay within 6–16 strokes so signatures remain elegant and readable. Avoid extremes—overly complex forms slow writing, while ultra-simple characters may feel plain next to a more expressive partner character.
Chinese characters themselves are largely gender-neutral. Perceived gender comes from imagery and cultural associations, so review meanings and radicals together to find characters that match the tone you want.