What is my Chinese name?
A Chinese name is not a single translation of your English name. It is a short composition: a family name, one or two given characters, a sound, a meaning and an elemental quality. For a foreigner, the best name is usually composed rather than transliterated.
Translation versus composition
Transliteration turns the sound of your name into Chinese characters. Composition starts with who you are and what the chart asks for. Transliteration can produce accidental meanings; composition lets every character carry an intention.
The three parts to check
First, the surname: keep your family name if you have one, or use a respectful Chinese surname when composing a full name. Second, the given characters: check their meaning, tone and common associations. Third, the element: a name can add Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water to a chart that needs it.
Why birth time matters
Traditional BaZi uses the year, month, day and hour of birth. The hour pillar can change the balance of the whole chart, so two people born on the same day may need different names.
Read your own chart.
Three details — date, time and gender — produce a free chart, a balancing Chinese name and the first chapter of your year. The complete reading is a one-time $20 unlock.
Begin my readingQuestions
Can I keep my English name?
Yes. Many people use their English name socially and a composed Chinese name for Chinese contexts.
Does my Chinese name have to sound like my English name?
No. Sound similarity is optional; meaning and balance are usually more important.
Can I get a name without my exact birth time?
Yes, but the reading will mark the hour as approximate and the element balance may be less precise.