品格与德行 · Character & virtue
Names that give a boy a moral compass — the most traditional category.
| Char | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 德 | Dé | Virtue, moral power |
| 仁 | Rén | Benevolence, kindness |
| 义 | Yì | Righteousness, honour |
| 诚 | Chéng | Sincerity, honesty |
| 信 | Xìn | Trust, integrity |
| 谦 | Qiān | Modesty |
| 毅 | Yì | Resolute, unwavering |
| 恒 | Héng | Constancy, endurance |
| 勇 | Yǒng | Brave, bold |
| 勤 | Qín | Diligent, industrious |
山水自然 · Mountains & nature
Mountain and water imagery gives a boy depth and scale — classic and enduring.
| Char | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 岳 | Yuè | Towering peak |
| 峰 | Fēng | Summit |
| 海 | Hǎi | The sea — broad, boundless |
| 江 | Jiāng | Great river |
| 川 | Chuān | River course, valley |
| 涛 | Tāo | Waves |
| 森 | Sēn | Forest, thriving green |
| 柏 | Bǎi | Cypress — evergreen and strong |
| 楠 | Nán | Nanmu, fine fragrant timber |
| 昊 | Hào | Vast sky |
气度抱负 · Ambition & bearing
Characters that set a high ceiling — success, majesty, a wide horizon.
| Char | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 宇 | Yǔ | Universe, space — a spacious mind |
| 轩 | Xuān | Lofty carriage, distinguished |
| 瑞 | Ruì | Auspicious omen |
| 凯 | Kǎi | Triumphant, victorious |
| 铭 | Míng | Inscribed, to be remembered |
| 伟 | Wěi | Great, mighty |
| 杰 | Jié | Outstanding, heroic |
| 晟 | Shèng | Bright, prosperous |
| 鸿 | Hóng | Vast; the great swan |
| 承 | Chéng | To inherit, to carry on |
学识才思 · Learning & wit
For families who prize scholarship and inner refinement.
| Char | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 睿 | Ruì | Far-sighted wisdom |
| 哲 | Zhé | Philosophy, insight |
| 博 | Bó | Broad, erudite |
| 文 | Wén | Culture, letters |
| 翰 | Hàn | Writing brush; an essayist |
| 斌 | Bīn | Refined, accomplished |
| 启 | Qǐ | To enlighten, to open |
| 嘉 | Jiā | Excellent, praiseworthy |
| 思 | Sī | Deep thought |
| 敬 | Jìng | Respect, reverence |
Putting names together
A good combination reads as one idea. A few common patterns:
- 浩然 Hàorán ("great + generous") — bold and upright.
- 宇轩 Yǔxuān ("space + lofty") — big-minded and distinguished.
- 泽瑞 Zéruì ("grace + omen") — kindness that draws fortune.
- 铭杰 Míngjié ("inscribed + outstanding") — a life that leaves a mark.
- 昊然 Hàorán ("vast sky + natural") — open, honest, free.
Before finalising: check the five-element balance of the characters against your child's birth chart, and always listen for awkward homophones in your family's dialects.