Popular Boy Names In Traditional Chinese (男生名字 — Nánshēng Míngzì)

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yak holding “Popular Chinese Boy Names” with name card icons

Chinese names balance sound, meaning, and character aesthetics. Most use a one-character surname followed by a one- or two-character given name. Traditional Chinese (繁體) is standard in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and many overseas communities. Below is a practical guide to name structure, meanings, patterns, and a large bank of boy names in Traditional Chinese with pinyin immediately after, plus concise glosses.

How Chinese Names Work (Essentials)

  • Order: Surname first, given name after. Example: 陳奕辰 Chén Yìchén.
  • Length: Given names are usually one or two characters; two is most common.
  • Meaning: Each character has a standalone meaning; stacked meanings create the name’s “story.”
  • Sound: Tones matter for flow; many families avoid tongue-twisty sequences.
  • Script: Use Traditional characters for Taiwan/HK/overseas communities; Mainland often uses Simplified.
  • Forms & Romanization: Older passports may show Wade-Giles (e.g., “CHEN” for 陳); modern systems often use Hanyu Pinyin (Chen).

Common Surnames You’ll See With Boy Names

陳 Chén, 林 Lín, 黃 Huáng, 張 Zhāng, 李 Lǐ, 王 Wáng, 吳 Wú, 劉 Liú, 楊 Yáng, 蔡 Cài, 許 Xǔ, 鄭 Zhèng, 謝 Xiè, 郭 Guō, 洪 Hóng, 邱 Qiū, 曾 Zēng, 蔣 Jiǎng, 吳 Wú, 邱 Qiū

Tip: Check surname + given name rhythm: hard/soft consonants and tone variety keep it smooth.

Evergreen Name Elements (High-Frequency Characters)

  • Virtue & character: 仁 Rén, 義 Yì, 信 Xìn, 誠 Chéng, 正 Zhèng, 毅 Yì
  • Wisdom & learning: 睿 Ruì, 哲 Zhé, 斌 Bīn, 文 Wén, 曜 Yào, 智 Zhì
  • Nature & breadth: 宇 Yǔ (cosmos), 宙 Zhòu (universe), 瀚 Hàn (vast), 霖 Lín (steady rain), 松 Sōng (pine), 柏 Bó (cypress)
  • Strength & achievement: 宏 Hóng, 浩 Hào, 凱 Kǎi, 勇 Yǒng, 鋒 Fēng, 傑 Jié, 翔 Xiáng (to soar)
  • Light & growth: 晟 Shèng (brightness), 昱 Yù (shining), 晨 Chén (morning), 曦 Xī (sunshine)

One-Character Given Names (Clean, Classic)

宏 Hóng “grand”; 浩 Hào “vast”; 智 Zhì “wisdom”; 霖 Lín “long, gentle rain”; 昊 Hào “expanse of sky”; 瀚 Hàn “wide, vast”; 睿 Ruì “sagacious”; 凱 Kǎi “victory”; 杰/傑 Jié “outstanding”; 凌 Líng “to rise”; 宇 Yǔ “cosmos”; 斌 Bīn “cultured and martial”; 祺 Qí “auspicious”; 翔 Xiáng “to soar”; 銘 Míng “inscribed remembrance”

Popular Two-Character Patterns (Feel Natural In Taiwanese Usage)

  • 宇 + X: 宇軒 Yǔxuān, 宇翔 Yǔxiáng, 宇霆 Yǔtíng
  • X + 宇/宸/辰: 奕宸 Yìchén, 亦辰 Yìchén, 宥宸 Yòuchén, 柏宥 Bóyòu
  • 承/昇/盛 系: 承恩 Chéng’ēn, 承翰 Chénghàn, 昇宏 Shēnghóng, 晟廷 Shèngtíng
  • 博/柏/栢 系: 博文 Bówén, 柏翰 Bóhàn, 柏毅 Bóyì
  • 俊/宸/睿 系: 俊傑 Jùnjié, 俊宇 Jùnyǔ, 子睿 Zǐruì, 宸翰 Chénhàn
  • 家/嘉 系: 家豪 Jiāháo, 家銘 Jiāmíng, 嘉宏 Jiāhóng

120+ Popular Boy Names (Traditional → pinyin → concise meaning)

Meanings are compact and interpretive; many characters carry layered cultural senses.

  1. 宇軒 Yǔxuān — spacious + high/elegant
  2. 宇翔 Yǔxiáng — cosmos + soar
  3. 宇霆 Yǔtíng — cosmos + thunder might
  4. 宇晨 Yǔchén — cosmos + dawn
  5. 宏宇 Hóngyǔ — grand + cosmos
  6. 宏恩 Hóng’ēn — great + grace
  7. 宏偉 Hóngwěi — grand + magnificent
  8. 宏達 Hóngdá — broad + accomplished
  9. 宏毅 Hónyì — broad + steadfast
  10. 昊天 Hàotiān — vast sky + heavens
  11. 昊然 Hàorán — open sky + calm
  12. 昊宇 Hàoyǔ — sky + cosmos
  13. 浩然 Hàorán — vast + upright spirit
  14. 浩宇 Hàoyǔ — vast + cosmos
  15. 浩廷 Hàotíng — vast + hall/court
  16. 浩恩 Hào’ēn — vast + grace
  17. 晟睿 Shèngruì — bright + wise
  18. 昱辰 Yùchén — shining + morning star
  19. 昱軒 Yùxuān — shining + lofty porch
  20. 晨宇 Chényǔ — morning + cosmos
  21. 晨翰 Chénhàn — morning + literary brush
  22. 晨睿 Chénruì — morning + wise
  23. 晨哲 Chénzhé — morning + philosopher
  24. 晨恩 Chén’ēn — morning + grace
  25. 奕辰 Yìchén — elegant + stars/daybreak
  26. 奕宸 Yìchén — elegant + imperial eaves (grandeur)
  27. 亦辰 Yìchén — also + stars/daybreak
  28. 宥辰 Yòuchén — to forgive + stars/daybreak
  29. 宸翰 Chénhàn — hall of state + brush (learned)
  30. 宸宇 Chényǔ — imperial hall + cosmos
  31. 子睿 Zǐruì — son; person + wise
  32. 子傑 Zǐjié — person + outstanding
  33. 子豪 Zǐháo — person + heroic
  34. 子恩 Zǐ’ēn — person + grace
  35. 予恩 Yǔ’ēn — to grant + favor
  36. 禹辰 Yǔchén — legendary Yu + daybreak
  37. 柏翰 Bóhàn — cypress + brush (literati)
  38. 柏宇 Bóyǔ — cypress + cosmos
  39. 柏毅 Bóyì — cypress + resolute
  40. 柏丞 Bóchéng — cypress + to assist
  41. 博文 Bówén — erudite + letters
  42. 博宇 Bóyǔ — erudite + cosmos
  43. 博凱 Bókǎi — erudite + triumph
  44. 博彥 Bóyàn — erudite + learned man
  45. 俊傑 Jùnjié — handsome/talented + outstanding
  46. 俊宇 Jùnyǔ — talented + cosmos
  47. 俊凱 Jùnkǎi — talented + victory
  48. 俊偉 Jùnwěi — talented + great
  49. 俊廷 Jùntíng — talented + court
  50. 家豪 Jiāháo — home/family + heroic
  51. 家瑋 Jiāwěi — home + fine jade
  52. 家銘 Jiāmíng — home + inscription
  53. 家齊 Jiāqí — home + orderly
  54. 家誠 Jiāchéng — home + sincere
  55. 承恩 Chéng’ēn — to bear + grace
  56. 承翰 Chénghàn — to inherit + brush
  57. 承澤 Chéngzé — to receive + favor
  58. 承昱 Chéngyù — to carry + shining
  59. 承睿 Chéngruì — to carry + wisdom
  60. 宥嘉 Yòujiā — to forgive + excellent
  61. 宥廷 Yòutíng — to forgive + hall
  62. 宥任 Yòurèn — to pardon + entrust
  63. 宥佑 Yòuyòu — to forgive + to bless
  64. 宥丞 Yòuchéng — to forgive + assist
  65. 泓宇 Hóngyǔ — deep water + cosmos
  66. 泓睿 Hóngruì — deep + wise
  67. 泓達 Hóngdá — deep + accomplished
  68. 浚哲 Jùnzhé — to dredge, refine + wise
  69. 浚宇 Jùnyǔ — refined + cosmos
  70. 昀昱 Yúnyù — sun over clouds + shining
  71. 晉宇 Jìnyǔ — to advance + cosmos
  72. 晉豪 Jìnháo — advance + heroic
  73. 晉丞 Jìnchéng — advance + assist
  74. 晉瑋 Jìnwěi — advance + fine jade
  75. 晉堯 Jìnyáo — advance + sage-king Yao
  76. 景彥 Jǐngyàn — scenery + talented man
  77. 景行 Jǐngxíng — admirable conduct
  78. 景澤 Jǐngzé — bright + favor
  79. 景曜 Jǐngyào — bright + shining
  80. 景宸 Jǐngchén — bright + grand hall
  81. 哲宇 Zhéyǔ — philosophy + cosmos
  82. 哲偉 Zhéwěi — philosophy + great
  83. 哲瀚 Zhéhàn — philosophy + vast
  84. 哲睿 Zhéruì — philosophy + sage
  85. 哲昱 Zhéyù — philosophy + shining
  86. 睿宸 Ruìchén — wise + grand hall
  87. 睿軒 Ruìxuān — wise + lofty veranda
  88. 睿哲 Ruìzhé — wise + philosopher
  89. 睿騰 Ruìténg — wise + rising
  90. 睿浩 Ruìhào — wise + vast
  91. 毅誠 Yìchéng — steadfast + sincere
  92. 毅然 Yìrán — resolute + assured
  93. 毅廷 Yìtíng — steadfast + hall
  94. 正宇 Zhèngyǔ — upright + cosmos
  95. 正豪 Zhèngháo — upright + heroic
  96. 正寬 Zhèngkuān — upright + broad-minded
  97. 祺軒 Qíxuān — auspicious + lofty
  98. 祺睿 Qíruì — auspicious + wise
  99. 宸皓 Chénhào — grand hall + bright
  100. 皓宇 Hàoyǔ — luminous + cosmos
  101. 晧然 Hàorán — bright + serene
  102. 智宸 Zhìchén — wisdom + grand hall
  103. 智遠 Zhìyuǎn — wisdom + far-reaching
  104. 智瀚 Zhìhàn — wisdom + vast
  105. 智揚 Zhìyáng — wisdom + to elevate
  106. 宇琛 Yǔchēn — cosmos + precious jade
  107. 宇鈞 Yǔjūn — cosmos + balanced/tonic
  108. 宇辰 Yǔchén — cosmos + stars/daybreak
  109. 宇承 Yǔchéng — cosmos + to carry on
  110. 宇寬 Yǔkuān — cosmos + broad
  111. 銘恩 Míng’ēn — inscribe + grace
  112. 銘宇 Míngyǔ — inscribe + cosmos
  113. 鋒宇 Fēngyǔ — edge/blade + cosmos
  114. 凱文 Kǎiwén — “Kevin” style Sinicized; victory + literature
  115. 凱宸 Kǎichén — victory + grand hall
  116. 凱翔 Kǎixiáng — victory + soar
  117. 勇丞 Yǒngchéng — brave + assist
  118. 勇宇 Yǒngyǔ — brave + cosmos
  119. 承祐 Chéngyòu — carry + bless/protect
  120. 曜宇 Yàoyǔ — radiant + cosmos
  121. 智謙 Zhìqiān — wisdom + modest
  122. 德宇 Déyǔ — virtue + cosmos
  123. 德軒 Déxuān — virtue + lofty
  124. 宥澤 Yòuzé — forgive + favor/benefit
  125. 昇陽 Shēngyáng — rise + sun
  126. 智堯 Zhìyáo — wisdom + enlightened (Yao)
  127. 睿堯 Ruìyáo — wise + enlightened
  128. 銘堯 Míngyáo — inscribed + enlightened
  129. 子喬 Zǐqiáo — person + tall/bridge (popular sound)
  130. 子謙 Zǐqiān — person + modest
  131. 景淵 Jǐngyuān — bright + deep spring
  132. 宏峻 Hóngjùn — grand + towering
  133. 昱霖 Yùlín — shining + steady rain
  134. 晟陽 Shèngyáng — bright + sun
  135. 亦凡 Yìfán — also + ordinary (humble, cool sound)
  136. 厚文 Hòuwén — deep + culture
  137. 翔宇 Xiángyǔ — soar + cosmos
  138. 逸宸 Yìchén — carefree + grand hall
  139. 朗宸 Lǎngchén — bright/clear + grand hall
  140. 朗睿 Lǎngruì — clear + wise

Theme-Based Name Ideas (Build Your Own)

  • Wisdom tone: 睿 Ruì, 哲 Zhé, 智 Zhì, 彥 Yàn
    • 睿哲 Ruìzhé “wise + philosopher”
    • 彥廷 Yàntíng “talented + court”
  • Sky & breadth: 宇 Yǔ, 昊 Hào, 瀚 Hàn, 宙 Zhòu
    • 昊宇 Hàoyǔ “sky + cosmos”
    • 瀚昊 Hànhào “vast + sky”
  • Light & morning: 昱 Yù, 晨 Chén, 曜 Yào, 晟 Shèng
    • 曜晨 Yàochén “radiance + morning”
    • 晟宇 Shèngyǔ “bright + cosmos”
  • Character & virtue: 誠 Chéng, 德 Dé, 仁 Rén, 義 Yì
    • 德宸 Déchén “virtue + grand hall”
    • 誠翰 Chénghàn “sincere + brush”

Nicknames, Courtesy Names, And Everyday Calling

  • Nicknames (小名): 小宇 Xiǎo-Yǔ, 小豪 Xiǎo-Háo, 阿哲 Ā-Zhé.
  • At home vs. formal: Families often use a nickname; school and documents use the full name.
  • Polite address: 陳先生 Chén xiānshēng “Mr. Chen”; 學校場合用全名 “full name” in school settings.

Writing & Tone Flow Checks

  • Avoid tongue-twisters: many consecutive third tones can sound heavy; mix tone heights when possible.
  • Homophone watch: ensure no unintended negative meanings when combined with the surname.
  • Character frequency: very rare characters can create form-filling headaches; choose clear, registrable forms.

Romanization Notes (Quick)

  • Surname legacy spellings: CHEN=陳 Chén; LIN=Lín; HUANG=黃 Huáng.
  • Given name choice: Keep pinyin with tone marks for study (e.g., Yǔxuān) and without for passports (Yuxuan).

Mini Dialogues (Copy-Ready)

A：小朋友取什麼名字
A: xiǎo péng yǒu qǔ shén me míng zì
What name are you choosing for the baby
B：考慮「宥辰」，讀起來穩，字義也好。
B: kǎo lǜ “Yòuchén”, dú qǐ lái wěn, zì yì yě hǎo
Thinking “Yòuchén”—sounds steady and the meanings are good.

A：想找兩個字、帶光感的名字。
A: xiǎng zhǎo liǎng ge zì, dài guāng gǎn de míng zì
Looking for a two-character name with a light/bright feel
B：可以試「昱霖」「曜宇」，一個柔、一個更亮。
B: kě yǐ shì “Yùlín” “Yàoyǔ”, yí ge róu, yí ge gèng liàng
Try “Yùlín” (softer) or “Yàoyǔ” (brighter).

Quick Reference: Character Meanings (Handy Bank)

宇 yǔ “cosmos”; 宸 chén “grand hall, imperial eaves”; 晟 shèng “bright”; 昱 yù “shining”; 曜 yào “radiance”; 晨 chén “morning”; 睿 ruì “wise”; 哲 zhé “philosophy”; 浩 hào “vast”; 昊 hào “sky”; 瀚 hàn “vast waters”; 凱 kǎi “victory”; 誠 chéng “sincere”; 德 dé “virtue”; 傑 jié “outstanding”; 翔 xiáng “to soar”; 宏 hóng “grand”; 泓 hóng “deep water”; 柏 bó “cypress”; 祺 qí “auspicious”

Five-Minute Practice Plan

  1. Read five full names aloud with tones: 宇軒 Yǔxuān、晟睿 Shèngruì、柏翰 Bóhàn、家豪 Jiāháo、宥辰 Yòuchén.
  2. Build two custom names from a theme bank (e.g., light/sky), then write a one-line meaning for each.
  3. Record a 20-second intro: surname + given name + quick gloss of characters.
  4. Write one polite line for forms: 「姓名：陳奕辰；羅馬拼音：Chen Yichen」。

Yak-Style Closing Spark

A good boy’s name in Traditional Chinese reads like a small poem: a sky-word for breadth, a light-word for direction, a virtue-word for backbone. Mix sound flow, clear meanings, and friendly characters, and you get names that wear well from kindergarten roll call to grown-up business cards.