How to fill First Name / Last Name fields
| Full name shown | First Name / Given Name | Last Name / Family Name / Surname | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wang Xiaoming | Xiaoming | Wang | A typical romanized Chinese full name in Chinese order. |
| Li Meiling | Meiling | Li | Li is the family name. Meiling is the given name. |
| Chen Wei | Wei | Chen | Wei is the given name. It can be used by different genders depending on characters. |
| Amy Chen | Amy | Chen | This is Western order with an English given name first. |
| Chen Xiaomei Amy | Xiaomei Amy | Chen | For many English forms, keep Chen as the family name and put the personal names in the first/given name field. |
First name vs given name vs surname
- First name
- Usually means the personal or given name in English forms.
- Given name: 名 / 名字
- The personal name chosen after the family name in Chinese order.
- Family name / surname: 姓 / 姓氏
- The inherited family name. It usually appears first in a Chinese full name.
- Full name: 姓名
- The complete family name plus given name.
Polite addressing guide
Chinese given names are not always used casually, especially in formal or professional situations. If you do not know the person well, use the family name plus a title.
Chen Wei → Mr. Chen
Not Mr. Wei, because Chen is the surname.
Wang Xiaoming → Professor Wang
Use a title when the relationship is formal.
Chinese first name examples
These examples are given names, not family names. Characters decide the exact meaning.
| Characters | Pinyin | Meaning | Gender tendency | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 小明 | Xiao Ming | bright or clear; a familiar example name | neutral | Common teaching example, not a special recommendation. |
| 美玲 | Mei Ling | beautiful and delicate jade-like sound | female | A familiar feminine example in many learning contexts. |
| 伟 | Wei | great, strong, or impressive depending on character | male / neutral | One-syllable given name; character must be shown for exact meaning. |
| 雅静 | Ya Jing | elegant and quiet | female | Formal and refined feminine style. |
| 浩然 | Hao Ran | vast and upright | male | Classical virtue-oriented masculine style. |
| 思雨 | Si Yu | thoughtful rain | female | Soft and poetic feminine style. |
| 志远 | Zhi Yuan | ambition reaching far | male | Common aspirational masculine style. |
| 安宁 | An Ning | peace and calm | neutral | Calm meaning that can work across contexts. |
| 书瑶 | Shu Yao | learning and precious jade | female | Literary and elegant feminine style. |
| 俊杰 | Jun Jie | talented and outstanding | male | Familiar masculine given-name pattern. |
| 清和 | Qing He | clear and harmonious | neutral | Gentle and balanced meaning. |
| 晨安 | Chen An | morning peace | neutral | Modern calm style; Chen can also be a surname in other contexts. |
| 若溪 | Ruo Xi | like a clear stream | female | Modern poetic nature image. |
| 博文 | Bo Wen | learned and literary | male | Education and culture oriented. |
| 星瑶 | Xing Yao | star and precious jade | female | Bright decorative feminine style. |
| 明澈 | Ming Che | bright and clear | neutral | Clean clarity-focused style. |
| 嘉言 | Jia Yan | admirable words | neutral | Cultured communication-focused style. |
| 天宇 | Tian Yu | sky and universe | male | Broad modern masculine style. |
| 知夏 | Zhi Xia | knowing summer | female | Warm, modern, poetic style. |
| 亦安 | Yi An | steady and peaceful | neutral | Short modern calm style. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a first name in Chinese?
In most English forms, first name means the given name. In Chinese names, the given name usually comes after the family name in the full name.
Is the first name first in Chinese?
Usually no. Chinese full names usually place the family name first and the given name second. Wang Xiaoming is family name Wang plus given name Xiaoming.
What is the first name in Wang Xiaoming?
In an English form, the first name or given name is Xiaoming. Wang is the family name, last name, or surname.
Is Wang a first name or last name?
In the name Wang Xiaoming, Wang is the last name, family name, or surname. It appears first because Chinese name order puts the family name first.
What is the difference between first name and given name?
In English forms, first name and given name usually mean the same field: the personal name. For Chinese names, this is the part after the surname in Chinese order.
How do I fill first name and last name for a Chinese name?
Put the personal/given name in First Name or Given Name, and put the family name in Last Name, Family Name, or Surname. For Wang Xiaoming, use First Name: Xiaoming and Last Name: Wang.
Should I call a Chinese person by their first name?
Not always. In formal situations, use the surname plus title, such as Mr. Chen or Professor Wang, unless the person invites you to use their given name.