Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Fetters, shackles; to shackle, to chain; also refers to metal rings or hoops.
Ancient Chinese unit of weight for gold and silver, approximately equal to; also refers to a small amount of metal.
A type of ancient cooking vessel or tripod with legs; also refers to a type of metal container or vessel in ancient
To carve; to engrave; to inscribe
Shen — an ancient term for iron; also appears in some historical texts and names.
Han — a rare character meaning 'to contain, to hold'; also appears in some ancient texts and place names.
An ancient term for a type of metal ring or loop; also refers to a type of decorative metal fitting or clasp.
Ye — used exclusively in the name of the legendary sword Ganjiang; refers to the sword Moye.
Hoe — a farming tool for loosening soil and weeding; to hoe; to weed
Bright, shiny, polished — describes objects with a gleaming, lustrous surface, often
Curium — a radioactive metallic element with symbol Cm and atomic number; also refers to a type of metal clamp or cramp used in
A small, sharp tool or implement; a pointed instrument used for fine work.
Osmium — a chemical element (symbol Os, atomic number 76), a hard,
Point of a sword; blade tip; sharp point
To spread out; to arrange; to pave
A rare character meaning a type of metal or possibly a variant
Handle; loop; bail — a handle or loop attached to a vessel or object
Sharp; acute; keen
Cheng — a type of ancient weapon; also used in personal names, particularly as a given name component.
Zirconium — a chemical element (symbol Zr, atomic number 40), a strong,
Lithium — a soft, silvery-white alkali metal, chemical element with symbol Li
Terbium — a metallic chemical element with symbol Tb and atomic number
Tack, rivet, stud — a small metal fastener used for securing objects
Cast; to cast metal; to found
A rare Chinese character used primarily in personal names; no established meaning in classical Chinese dictionaries.
A rare character referring to a type of metal or chemical element,
Liu — a chemical term referring to a sulfonium ion or sulfonium; also used in some specialized technical contexts.
A component or variant form related to tools or mechanisms, possibly a
Saw — a tool with a toothed blade used for cutting hard; to cut with a saw.
Greedy, avaricious, covetous; describes someone who is insatiably desirous of wealth or possessions.
A unit of weight for gold and silver in ancient China; a bowl or basin, especially one made of metal.
To sharpen a sword; to polish; to examine carefully
Steel — a strong, hard alloy of iron and carbon; also used metaphorically to describe strength, resilience, or determination.
A broken or damaged cooking vessel; a defective or imperfect object; in ancient usage, refers to something flawed or incomplete.
A historical term for a type of coarse pottery or earthenware; also used as a variant form in some contexts.
To polish or grind jade; to make something smooth and lustrous through polishing.
A hypothetical chemical element (atomic number 111) named roentgenium (Rg) in modern; in historical contexts, refers to gold or golden items.
Gold ingot; gold nugget; small piece of gold or silver used as currency in ancient China.
A type of metal tool or implement; an ancient term for a specific metal object or component.
A type of hoe or farming tool; also used as a surname in ancient times.
Record; to record; to copy
Sharp edge of a weapon; ancient term for a sharp blade or point.
Patina — refers to the oxidation or tarnish that forms on the
Berkelium — a synthetic radioactive chemical element with symbol Bk and atomic
To curl; to bend; to twist (metal, wire, etc.)
Min — an ancient term for gold; also used in names.
A type of gold or gold-like substance; an ancient term for a specific kind of metal or alloy.
A type of ancient weapon; an arrowhead; also refers to a kind of metal tool or implement.
An — a rare character referring to a type of metal or
Ancient weapon — a type of arrowhead or spearhead; also refers to a tool for splitting or cutting.
To fall into a trap; to be ensnared; to sink into
Yttrium — a rare earth metallic element (symbol Y, atomic number 39); also refers to protective armor plating.
Awl — a pointed tool for piercing holes; anything shaped like an awl or cone; to concentrate on a single point.
Tool for smoothing wood; ancient term for a carpenter's plane or scraper.
Actinium — a radioactive metallic chemical element with symbol Ac and atomic
A rare character meaning 'to bend metal' or 'to forge metal', used
To cover; to sheath; a metal cap or ferrule
Kun — refers to a legendary ancient sword; used in the name of a famous swordsmith; appears in classical texts to denote a precious blade.
Ancient decorative headpiece worn by women in classical China; an ornamental hairpin or headdress accessory.
Ancient Chinese unit of weight equal to six zhū (铢); a small weight or measurement.
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.