Solving The Question: What Does My Childs Name Mean?

[Nji13]

This comes up every month, and for the very happiest of reasons, so I think maybe a little cookbook of how to answer this question would be useful.

My first advice: is to always check the translation given to you for your childs referral documents and see how they translate the meaning of the name.  But since I know personally, through helping many folks via PM, that sometimes these translations are done in a very clinical manner and are not truly reflective of the meaning of the Chinese characters in terms of a childs name, here are the steps I recommend.

Tip:   Most waiting parents know this, but it's good to recap.  In China full names are expressed in reverse of English.  Most often as last name first, middle name, given first name.  In formal converasation or in writing, you always give a persons full name, in this manner.  Inside families,and with close friends, given name is used.  Friendly and diminutive variations of given names are common as well.  Using the given first name twice in succession denotes the term "little" to the meaning of the given name.   Caretakers may have particular nicknames they give to children in their care, and as part of your conversation on gotcha day, ask questions to find out what this is for your child.

Step 1:   you have to obtain the actual Chinese characters for your childs name.  Just having the pin yin is not going to help you very much. So get the actual Chinese characters.

Step 2:  once you have the Chinese characters, then you can go to http://www.mandarintools.com and use their tools to obtain the names meaning based on the actual characters.   From that point you can then get the correctly toned pin yin that coresponds.

Step 3:   now you are ready to move on to http://www.instantspeakchinese.com/dictionary/ where you can learn to actually correctly pronounce your childs name.

Caveat:  Mandarin is a poetic language.  The thousands of Chinese characters that are used in the Mandarin language are poetic pictograms with deep sense of meaning that goes way beyond western concepts of alphabets.  Chinese characters take on new meanings depending upon what other characters they are coupled with, and even depending on what the conversation is.  It is a very fluid and dymanic language in this respect.  So, on to step 4.

Step 4: Take some time to genuinely reflect on the photo of your child, on the actual Chinese characters of your childs name, and the translation of your childs name that you have arrived at and let them flow inside you.  Take time to consider, and connect them all with your heart.  If your heart (not your mind, but your heart) guides you to adjust the translated name a bit so that it gives a fuller (more resonant) meaning in connection with your child, go with it.  In doing so, you have taken a small step into the living characteristics of Mandarin and Chinese characters.  It is a language that breathes and flows meaning, if you let it.  It gives you a small glimpse into the rich culture and heratige that is so much a part of who your child is, and it connects you closer to it in the process, and in a personal and meaningful way (whether you decide to keep the name or not as you adopt).

Step 4 B:  Hey!  No skimming.  Step 4 is actually the most important step, so go back and spend some quality time on step 4 

Step 5:  Now go get packing!  You have a very important trip to get ready for!  Giddy-up!!   

[KathyP]

Step 4 B:  Hey!  No skimming.  Step 4 is actually the most important step, so go back and spend some quality time on step 4 

Thanks for this excellent guide, N! But how did you know I was skimming! 

[Pengyou]

Thanks!  I love the InstantSpeak site; it's a site I hadn't seen before  and is very easy to use. 

[oneblessedfamily]

 

[Waiting4baby#5]

Thanks a ton!
Question, why is it so common to see children with the name of Hong?
Is it because the translation, red, signifies luck or is there another reason?
I have always wondered this because I always see names that have Hong as a part of it.
Thanks again.

[gnanna]

Thanks so much.  I wish I had this last year.  Now I need to pull out all those documents and figure out which characters she has, etc.  I just took the translation I was given and figured that was it.

THANKS!

[Nji13]

   bumpity bump bump for all new parents receiving referrals in the next day or few.     

Congratulations to everyone receiving referrals this month   

[catherinethegreat]

thanks Nji13...this will be very helpful.

[LilyAnnsMommy]

Thank you Nji13- I can't wait to use this information!!!

[OBaby YBaby]

My first advice: is to always check the translation given to you for your childs referral documents and see how they translate the meaning of the name.  But since I know personally, through helping many folks via PM, that sometimes these translations are done in a very clinical manner and are not truly reflective of the meaning of the Chinese characters in terms of a childs name,
[

This is very true.  Ying's name was translated as "Autumn Hero", which seemed like an odd name for a girl to me.  When my Chinese friends saw the characters, they said that the Ying character also means a flower or a petal, and for a girl's name the translation is more likely Autumn Flower.   Then, when I was in Guangzhou, Susan of Susan's Place was looking at the characters and said that Ying is the provincial flower of Guangdong.  Translated into English, it is "hero flower" and is a very hardy flower.  Maybe someone wanted my tiny little baby to have a hardy name.  So, she became Shi (after the region she is from) Qiu (like all the girls found at the same time of year) Ying (the name she was called) -Stone Autumn Hero-flower.  Phew, poor kid will be 12 before she can write all of that and Elizabeth Grace Ying!

Donna

[sarah123]

Thanks for another great learning lesson Niji.  I can't wait to use these tips some day.   

[feelingthejoy]

I can't wait to see the actual referral package with the Chinese characters.  I'm going to see it tomorrow. Then I'll definitely need these tools.  Thanks Nji13!

[LilyAnnsMommy]

Nji13, My daughter and I did steps 1 -3 today. We had fun comparing the Characters-it's so amazing how many there were for the same Pin Yin. I actually used mandarin tools forthe pronunciation too. Now, I alone am on step 4. What a beautiful way to consider and create. I will spend more time on this one, Thank you for the teaching you do. I really appreciate it. And what a great reason to continue to stare at my daughters photo!
Cyndi

[manxdjm]

Awesome explanation, nji13! 

Four years ago, I did steps 1-2 for my daughter's name.  This weekend, I will work on steps 3&4.  My husband and I don't fully agree on the pronunciation and tone of our five year old daughter's Chinese name.  This will help immensely.  I may be inspired to draw when reflecting.  This will also be useful when we get Miss Pickle's referral.

[Nji13]

It's bumpity bump time for this thread again, because it is that time of the month.    

Congratulartions to all parents this month who have received referrals.