Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Yttrium — a silvery-metallic transition metal chemical element with symbol Y and
needle; pin; injection
nail; to nail; to follow closely
To encourage, to exhort; to strive; to cut, to pare (archaic meaning).
Polonium — a rare, highly radioactive metallic element (atomic number 84), discovered
Ruthenium — a hard, brittle, silver-gray metallic element (atomic number 44); also used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Thorium — a radioactive metallic chemical element (symbol Th, atomic number 90).
A drill rod; a steel bar used for drilling or rock drilling.
bracelet; ornamental armlet or bangle, typically made of gold, jade, or other precious
Samarium (chemical element, Sm); also refers to a type of long-handled sickle.
A type of ancient weapon, like a short spear or lance; also refers to plating with gold or silver.
Vanadium — a chemical element (symbol V); a hard, silvery-gray metal used in steel alloys.
to angle; to fish with a hook and line; to angle for (figuratively, to seek by artful means)
Mendelevium — a synthetic radioactive metallic element in the actinide series, atomic
Neodymium — a chemical element (symbol Nd, atomic number 60); a rare-earth metal.
Decorative metal plates on horse's forehead; ancient term for a type of shield; variant form of 鍚.
Hairpin; ornamental hair clasp worn by women in traditional Chinese attire.
Ancient vessel — refers to a type of ancient Chinese bronze wine; also a historical variant of the character for 'ingot'.
Calcium — a chemical element (symbol Ca, atomic number 20); essential mineral for bone health and biological processes.
Plutonium — a radioactive metallic chemical element (atomic number 94) used in
Titanium — a strong, lightweight, silvery metallic chemical element (symbol Ti, atomic
Giant, huge, immense; also refers to a type of hard iron or steel; used in names to convey strength, greatness, or durability.
dull; blunt; stupid
paper money, banknote; to plagiarize; also used in historical contexts for notes or documents.
Bell; clock; timepiece
Sodium — a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metallic element (symbol Na, atomic
Barium — a chemical element (symbol Ba, atomic number 56); a soft, silvery alkaline earth metal.
Steel — a hard, strong alloy of iron and carbon; metaphorically indicating strength, resilience, and determination.
Metal plate or sheet; a flat piece of metal.
To seal; a seal; a tally
Key — an instrument for locking and unlocking; crucial element or solution.
to respect, admire; by imperial decree; used in names to imply respect or imperial favor.
An ancient unit of weight equal to 30 catties; a potter's wheel; honorific term meaning 'your' (used to address superiors)
Tungsten — a hard, dense, gray-white metallic element with high melting point,
Hook — a curved implement for catching, holding, or pulling; a checkmark; a stroke in Chinese calligraphy
Scandium — a rare metallic chemical element (atomic number 21) used in
Francium (chemical element Fr); an ancient wine vessel, a square-mouthed bronze wine jar.
Holmium — a chemical element with symbol Ho and atomic number 67; a rare-earth metal in the lanthanide series.
A type of wine vessel in ancient China; also a rare Chinese surname.
Button, knob; a surname; to fasten or connect
Palladium — a rare, silvery-white transition metal; also refers to a rake-like farm tool.
Jade; precious stone; treasure
Money — currency, cash, wealth; also a common Chinese surname.
A bronze bell used in ancient China for military commands and ceremonies; also refers to a small metal percussion instrument.
Pliers, pincers, tongs; to clamp, to grip, to restrain; to silence or suppress.
Cobalt — a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metallic element used in alloys, magnets,; also refers to cobalt blue pigment.
Bowl — refers to a bowl or alms bowl, especially a monk's; also used for various types of bowls and containers.
Columbium (obsolete name for Niobium, a chemical element); also refers to a small tripod or cauldron in ancient usage.
Promethium — a radioactive metallic element with atomic number 61, belonging to
Plutonium — a radioactive metallic chemical element with symbol Pu and atomic; also refers to metal plates or sheets.
Cymbals — a percussion instrument consisting of two round brass plates that
A battle-axe used in ancient China, especially as a ceremonial weapon symbolizing; also used in names.
To drill, bore, or penetrate; to study intensively; to curry favor
Molybdenum — a silvery-white metallic chemical element (symbol Mo, atomic number 42),
Tantalum — a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly
Potassium — a soft, silver-white metallic element (symbol K, atomic number 19),
Inlaid with gold, silver, or jewels; decorative inlay work; also refers to an ancient coin or hair ornament.
Uranium — a radioactive metallic chemical element with symbol U and atomic
Iron — a hard, strong, magnetic metal; metaphorically meaning strong, firm, unyielding, or unbreakable.
Platinum — a precious, silvery-white metal, chemically inert and highly valuable; used in jewelry, industrial applications, and as a symbol of rarity and
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.