Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Calyx — the outer whorl of a flower, typically green and leaf-like,
A type of plant, possibly referring to a kind of millet or; an archaic term.
Sad, sorrowful, grieved — describes a state of deep sadness or grief.
A bundle of reeds used in ancient ceremonies; to mark or demarcate; to arrange in order
small, tiny; to gather, assemble; used in the compound 蕞尔 meaning 'very small' or 'petty'.
To issue, to send out; to launch; to express
Ru — a character used primarily in names; refers to silk floss, cotton wadding, or fibrous material; also appears in some ancient texts and place names.
Kui — a surname; a type of basket made of bamboo or rattan; also refers to plants of the genus Rumex (dock/sorrel).
Hibiscus syriacus — the rose of Sharon or shrub althea; a flowering plant known for its short-lived blooms, often used metaphorically for
Luxuriant, lush, flourishing — describes plants or hair growing thick and abundant; hanging down in profusion.
A character used in personal names, often for its elegant and refined; also appears in some historical texts and place names.
A type of edible plant, possibly referring to a kind of wild
A type of fern plant; specifically refers to the common brake fern or bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum).
Fern — refers to various species of ferns, particularly bracken; also used metaphorically for something primitive or ancient.
To cleanse, rinse; to sweep away, eliminate; to sway, swing
Overgrown with weeds; luxuriant but disorderly growth; tangled vegetation
Dong — a surname; also used in historical names and as a variant form of 董.
Silk; fine threads; a type of aquatic plant
Xiao — a common Chinese surname; desolate, dreary, bleak; also refers to the xiao (a vertical bamboo flute).
A type of aquatic plant; historically used to refer to certain water plants in classical texts.
This character appears to be a variant or misspelling of 薩 (Sà),
Wēn — to accumulate, to gather; to contain; also refers to algae or aquatic plants.
A rare character used in the word 蕱子 (shàozi), referring to a
Qi — refers to an ancient place name in modern Hubei province; also used in the name of Qi Chun county; appears in historical and botanical contexts.
A type of fragrant plant, possibly referring to a specific herb or; ancient usage for a kind of fragrant grass.
To accumulate; to contain; to hold within
A variant form of 蓀 (sūn), referring to an aromatic plant, often
Withered; drooping; refers to plants that have lost their vitality or are wilting.
Yam — refers to edible tubers, particularly Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita), used
Water-lily leaf; lotus leaf; specifically refers to the large floating leaves of aquatic plants like lotus.
Water spinach — a semi-aquatic tropical plant grown as a leafy vegetable,
Jí — refers to the Houttuynia cordata plant (fish mint/chameleon plant); also used in place names, particularly Mount Jiji in Shaoxing, Zhejiang.
Hong — lush, luxuriant growth of vegetables; also used in the name of a vegetable (雪里蕻).
A type of grass or plant mentioned in ancient Chinese texts; also refers to a kind of fine-toothed comb used in ancient times.
A type of rush plant; used in classical texts to refer to certain grasses or reeds.
Bud; flower bud; unopened flower
A variant form of 萱 (xuān), referring to the daylily plant (Hemerocallis
To accumulate; to gather; to contain
Chinese wild grape; a type of berry plant; also refers to the fruit of this plant.
lotus seed; specifically refers to the seed of the lotus plant (Nelumbo nucifera).
A type of water plant, specifically referring to a kind of rush
thin; slight; weak
To pull out (weeds); to remove by pulling; to pluck
to cover; to hide; to conceal
A type of fern or Osmunda plant; often used in names to represent delicate beauty, elegance, and natural grace.
luxuriant growth; flourishing; to gather
Overgrown with weeds; rank; wild
Thistle — a type of flowering plant with prickly leaves and purple; also refers to the ancient city of Ji, now Beijing.
Ci — refers to the common sowthistle plant (Sonchus oleraceus); an ancient term for a type of weed or unwanted plant growth; also used in historical place names.
Fragrant aroma of grains; fragrance of cooked rice; used to describe pleasant scents from food, especially grains.
Reed-like plant; refers to the Miscanthus reed species, particularly Miscanthus sacchariflorus, used for thatching
A rare, archaic Chinese character with uncertain meaning, possibly related to smallness; sometimes interpreted as a variant form.
Job's tears — a type of cereal grain (Coix lacryma-jobi); also refers to the seed of this plant used in traditional Chinese
Used only in the word 'spinach' (菠菜). The character 薐 has no
Ginger — a pungent rhizome used as a spice and in traditional; also used as a surname.
A type of grass or weed; an ancient name for a specific plant species.
Ginseng — refers to the medicinal plant Panax ginseng, highly valued in
Rose — refers to rose plants, particularly wild roses; also appears in compound words for specific rose varieties.
A type of reed or rush plant, often found in wetlands; historically used in names of plants like Miscanthus or similar grasses.
Spacious, roomy; leisurely, carefree; used in classical Chinese to describe a comfortable and unrestrained state.
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.