Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Lou — refers to various species of artemisia or mugwort plants; also used in place names and personal names.
To gather; cluster; a frame for raising silkworms
A type of aquatic plant, historically used as a vegetable; refers to a specific water plant mentioned in ancient texts.
Cai — a common Chinese surname; also refers to the ancient state of Cai; turtle (archaic).
Used in the word 蔢蔢 (pópó), referring to a type of plant; also appears in 蔢莎 (pósuō), describing the appearance of plants with spreading
Jiang — primarily a Chinese surname; also refers to a type of aquatic plant (Zizania latifolia, wild rice; historically used in place names.
Mì — lotus root, specifically the edible rhizome of the lotus plant
Scallion, green onion, spring onion; also refers to the color greenish-blue or pale green.
Dodder — a parasitic climbing plant of the genus Cuscuta; also refers to ivy or other climbing vines in literary contexts.
Broom — refers to a type of plant used for making brooms,
A type of plant, specifically referring to the Solanum nigrum (black nightshade)
A type of edible fungus or mushroom; also refers to a kind of plant (possibly a type of vine
To grow gradually; to sprout; to cut grass
Wilted, withered, faded; listless, spiritless; to wither, to droop
Vegetables — edible plants, typically referring to leafy greens and other plant-based
shade; shadow; (of a predecessor) to bless or protect
A rare character meaning 'to adorn with flowers' or 'floral decoration'; used in classical texts for decorative garlands or ornamental floral arrangements.
Chen — refers to a type of medicinal herb, specifically white mugwort
A type of plant or vegetation; an ancient term referring to a specific kind of plant cover or
An ancient name for a type of thorny plant, possibly referring to; also used in historical texts for certain plants with thorns.
An alternative/variant form of 蔻 (kòu), primarily used in the word 豆蔻; by extension, it metaphorically describes a young girl in her early teens.
An ancient term for a type of water plant; also used in historical place names.
Hemp — refers to the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) used for fiber,; also appears in place names.
This character '蔵' is not a standard Chinese character. It appears to
Ze — refers to a type of bamboo mat or screen; also used in ancient texts for certain plants or woven materials.
Rose — specifically refers to the rose plant; used in the name of the Chinese rose (月季) and in poetic
Root; clump; stump
vine; specifically refers to plants in the Ampelopsis genus, often used in traditional
Rush (a type of plant); a Chinese surname; also refers to the ancient state of Lin.
A plant, especially cardamom (豆蔻); used metaphorically for a girl in her early teens.
Friendly, amiable, gentle; also refers to lush vegetation or a harmonious atmosphere.
to cover; to conceal; to hide
Chenopodium — refers to plants in the goosefoot family, particularly Chenopodium album; also appears in classical names and compounds.
A type of plant; ancient surname; place name in ancient China.
A thorny plant; bramble; thistle
Nettle — refers to plants of the genus Urtica, known for their; also used in the name of certain plants like lamium.
Sesame — refers to the sesame plant, particularly in the context of
Luxuriant growth; flourishing; abundant
To exist; to be present; to have
Lotus root — the edible rhizome of the lotus plant (Nelumbo nucifera),
To complete; to finish; to accomplish
A type of plant; historically used to refer to a medicinal herb, possibly similar to plantain
Mushroom, fungus; specifically refers to umbrella-shaped fungi, including edible and poisonous varieties.
Banana — refers to the banana plant and its fruit; also used in names for certain plant varieties.
Stamen; pistil (botanical reproductive parts of flowers); also used metaphorically to mean the center/core or something delicate and clustered.
Flower bud; unopened flower; also refers to stamen or pistil in botany.
A type of wild onion or chive; refers to Allium chinense, also known as Chinese onion or rakkyo.
A type of plant; in ancient texts, refers to a kind of water plant or medicinal
Buckwheat — a type of grain plant (Fagopyrum esculentum) whose seeds are; also refers to the plant itself.
A wild boar; an ancient term for a type of pig, now obsolete or extremely
Hua — an ancient form of 華 (huá), meaning magnificent; splendid; flowery
Jian — refers to a type of fragrant plant, likely the Chinese; also used in classical texts as a variant of 蕳.
Mai — refers to a type of edible plant, often translated as; also used as a surname.
Yun — refers to the common rue plant (Ruta graveolens); also used in names as a variant of 芸 (artemisia).
Bao — an ancient term for a type of fragrant grass; also used as a surname.
Caryopteris — a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, commonly; also refers to a foul-smelling weed in Chinese literature.
Lotus flower — specifically refers to the lotus plant and its blossoms; used in classical Chinese literature and names.
Japanese butterbur; a type of edible wild plant (Petasites japonicus); also used in Japanese names and place names.
Rao — refers to firewood, brushwood, or faggots; also used to describe something crude or rough; historically used in names.
Orchid; a type of fragrant orchid plant; often used metaphorically for purity, elegance, and feminine virtue in classical literature.
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.