Chinese naming conventions are fundamentally different from Western — a 3,000-year-old system where family names come first and given names carry deep meaning based on birth timing.
Structure
[Family Name] + [Given Name]. Surname is inherited; given name is chosen by parents and carries meaning. About 85% of Chinese people share just 100 surnames.
Birthday Timing
Names are often chosen based on Eight Characters (八字) of the lunar calendar — determining which elements and characters are most auspicious for the child.
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