I need help choosing a Chinese name. I know it is hard to make a suggestion if you don't know me, but maybe you could tell me about feminine names that you like. I'm interested in meaning, and I don't care if the name sounds similar to my original name, or not. I'd like a name that refers to silence, peace, reflection or something similar.

 

Monica

 

 

In China, parents usually choose a name for their son or daughter from Xinhua Dictionary and will spend weeks, even months, to pick the right one. A good name means everything.

 

You want a name with the combined meanings of silence, peace, and reflection, so two characters are better. I've chosen some names and hope you like them. The surname is 莫 (mo), which sounds similar to your original name (Monica).

 

莫問蘭 (mo wen lan) - 問 (wen) means ask questions and infers that you are the kind of girl who likes thinking. 蘭 (lan) is orchid, which in China has associations with silence and peace.

 

莫憶柳 (mo yi liu) - 憶 (yi) means being nostalgic. 柳 (liu) is a willow tree, which is associated with quiet.

 

莫語琴 (mo yu qin) - 語 (yu) means talk with someone about something good. 琴 (qin) is a wonderful musical instrument to play relaxing music.

 

Phoenix

 

I like the name 文婷 (wen ting), which means delicate, wise and good at writing poems. Girls are often given the name.

 

Flyflag

 

Get Chinese friends and let them choose one. The most important issue is not to make your name sound too eerie.

 

Apollo

 

What about 靜怡 (jing yi), which means peaceful, sweet and special?

 

Cherry

 

How about 寧靜 (ning jing), which means silent and peaceful and is also the name of a Chinese movie star?

 

Beautiful D

 

孟林裳 (meng lin shang). It sounds close to your English name and describes a beautiful scene in the woods.

 

Subhuman

 

I suggest that you go to a temple and ask the monk to give you a name.

 

Chris

 

Feedback comments are taken from the forum section of chinadaily.com.cn

 

(chinadaily.com.cn January 4, 2008)