Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
To carve; to engrave; to chisel
Clang — the loud, resonant sound of metal striking metal, especially bells; used in classical texts to describe majestic, sonorous sounds.
A unit of weight in ancient China, equal to 6 liang (about; also refers to money or currency in ancient times.
Einsteinium — a synthetic, radioactive metallic element in the actinide series with
To plate, to gild, to coat with a thin layer of metal
Magnesium — a chemical element (symbol Mg, atomic number 12); a silvery-white metal that burns with a brilliant white flame.
To carve, engrave, or inlay; to work with intricate detail, especially in metal or wood; to chisel or hollow out.
Zi — hoe, an ancient farming tool; used in historical contexts for agricultural implements.
Fermium — a synthetic, radioactive metallic element with symbol Fm and atomic
Americium — a synthetic radioactive metallic element in the actinide series, atomic
Molybdenum — a chemical element (Mo, atomic number 42), a silvery-white metal
To suppress; to guard; a town or market town
Bo — an ancient Chinese bronze bell-shaped musical instrument; a type of ancient agricultural tool similar to a hoe or spade.
Cadmium — a soft, bluish-white metallic element used in batteries, pigments, and
Tweezers, forceps, pliers; to pick up or remove with tweezers.
A long-handled weapon with a three-pronged or crescent-shaped blade at the end,
To engrave, carve, or inscribe; to cut or chisel into a hard surface; to deeply impress or imprint.
Nickel — a silvery-white metallic element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28); hard, malleable, and resistant to corrosion; used in alloys, electroplating, and batteries.
Neptunium — a radioactive metallic element with atomic number 93, first synthesized
To plate with gold; to gild; also refers to a unit of weight in ancient China (equivalent to
Hao — ancient capital of the Western Zhou dynasty; also refers to a pickaxe or miner's tool.
Pound — refers to the British currency unit (pound sterling); also used historically as a unit of weight.
Yì — an ancient unit of weight, equivalent to 20 or 24; used historically for measuring gold and silver.
Gallium — a soft, silvery metallic element (atomic number 31) used in
Wrought iron; high-quality steel, especially Damascus steel.
To melt, fuse, or cast metal; to blend or combine; to mold or shape.
Dart, throwing weapon; a small projectile weapon; by extension, escort service for valuables.
To bore; to drill; a boring tool
Trowel — a flat tool used by masons for spreading and smoothing; also refers to a type of coin in ancient times.
Luó — refers to a spiral or helix; used in words related to spiral shapes or mechanisms.
A small coin; originally referred to a type of coin used during the Qing dynasty; now commonly used to mean money or coin in general.
Yong — a large bell or musical instrument used in ancient Chinese
Mirror — a reflective surface, typically glass coated with metal; also refers to lenses, optical instruments, and metaphorical reflection or examination.
Dysprosium — a chemical element (Dy, atomic number 66), a rare-earth metal; also an ancient term for an arrowhead or the whistling sound of
Arrowhead — the metal tip of an arrow; also used to describe something sharp or swift.
To lathe; to turn on a lathe; a rotary tool
Fine gold; pure gold; used historically in names, particularly referring to King Qian Liu (钱镠), founder
Sword guard; the crossguard or hilt of a sword; also a surname.
Jue — a large hoe, mattock, or pickaxe used for digging and
Fetters; shackles; leg irons
Protactinium — a rare, radioactive metallic chemical element with atomic number 91; also refers to a type of ancient weapon or tool.
Lutetium — a rare earth metal element with atomic number 71, silvery-white
To upset metal; to form a head on metal (as in riveting); to swage
Lanthanum — a soft, malleable, silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series,
Praseodymium — a chemical element with symbol Pr and atomic number 59; a soft, silvery, malleable and ductile metal in the lanthanide group.
Chisel — a metalworking tool with a sharp point for cutting or; also refers to an ice pick.
Strong acid; concentrated acid; also refers to money, currency, or wealth in classical usage.
Stirrup — the metal foot support on a saddle; also refers to an ancient oil lamp or lamp stand.
Wok — a large, round-bottomed cooking pan used in Chinese cuisine; historically also refers to a large cauldron used for boiling or punishment.
Radium — a radioactive metallic chemical element (symbol Ra, atomic number 88); metaphorically refers to something rare, valuable, or powerful.
Ring; circular object; bracelet
Bracelet — a circular band, typically made of precious metal or jade,
Sickle — a curved blade used for cutting crops, particularly grain; also refers to the crescent shape resembling a sickle.
Ytterbium — a soft, malleable, lustrous silver-white rare earth metal with atomic
Cymbal — a percussion instrument consisting of two concave brass plates that
Bit, horse bit; to part, to separate; a metal ornament on a bridle.
Solder — a fusible metal alloy used to join metal surfaces, typically
Chán — a sharp-pointed instrument; a probe or lancet used in traditional Chinese medicine; to pierce or stab
To inlay, set, mount, or border; to embed one material within another, especially decorative elements in a base
long; length; lasting
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.