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Names that (hopefully) go with Chinese middle names

mudmud
By mudmud
Updated Mon May 22 2023
I am ethnically Chinese and have a Mandarin "other" name (goes behind surname on my official identifying documents). We think it might be easier to have our children's Chinese names go in the middle. Chinese names are traditionally picked out by the paternal grandfather, so we need first names that are easy enough for him to work with. First names should also ideally be easy enough for non-native English speakers to pronounce.
  1. Callum

    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Columba, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "dove"

    • Description:

      Callum is a gentle, charming name of Scottish origin, that is a popular choice across the UK. In the US, it was a rare option until the late 2000s, however, since 2017 it's been rising up the ranks. Complete with easy, breezy and cool nickname Cal, it climbed more than 60 places in the US in 2024, placing it just outside the Top 150.
  2. Evelyn

    • Origin:

      English from French and German

    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"

    • Description:

      After decades of disuse, soft and feminine Evelyn has returned to the baby name stage in a huge way. It reached the Top 10 for the first time in 2017. Evelyn has now surpassed its former heights, joining a legion of contemporary little Evas, Avas, Eves, Evies, and Evelines.
  3. Cameron

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "crooked nose"

    • Description:

      With its friendly, sensitive, and approachable feel, Cameron is a 90’s favorite that remains popular today. It has a pleasing balance of soft and strong sounds, and holds unisex appeal, thanks to Cameron Diaz. Still, eight times more boys than girls are named Cameron in the US.
  4. Caleb

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "dog; whole heart"

    • Description:

      Caleb is an attractive Old Testament name that has been in the US Top 100 for nearly three decades now. Consistently popular but never too popular, Caleb feels more like a classic than a momentary trend.
  5. Conrad

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "brave counsel"

    • Description:

      Conrad has a somewhat intellectual masculine image, a solid name that has been consistently on the popularity lists, especially well used in the 1920s and 30s, and given a pop of rock energy by the Elvis-like character of Conrad Birdie in Bye, Bye, Birdie--("We love you Conrad, oh yes we do!").
  6. Christopher

    • Origin:

      Greek and Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"

    • Description:

      Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos, referring to Christ, and phero, meaning "to bear."
  7. Lincoln

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "town by the pool"

    • Description:

      Lincoln cracked the Top 50 for boys' names for the first time in 2016, more than 150 years after the death of its most famous bearer. This is especially remarkable because, as crazy as it seems now, Lincoln was deeply out of fashion as recently as the late 90s, consistently hovering near the bottom of the Top 1000.
  8. Connor

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "lover of hounds"

    • Description:

      Connor, the appealing name of an early semi-legendary king of Ulster in Irish mythology, sits firmly in the Top 100 and taken together with its alternate spellings would rank even higher. In its native Ireland the Conor version is one of the highest charting boys’ name.
  9. Cooper

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "barrel maker"

    • Description:

      The genial yet upscale and preppy Cooper was one of the first occupational last names to catch on -- and Cooper remains a pleasing option.
  10. Cedric

    • Origin:

      Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "bounty"

    • Description:

      Cedric was invented by Sir Walter Scott for the noble character of the hero's father in Ivanhoe, presumed to be an altered form of the Saxon name Cerdic. The name was later also given to Little Lord Fauntleroy, the long-haired, velvet-suited, and lace-collared boy hero of the Frances Hodgson Burnett book, who became an unwitting symbol of the pampered mama's boy.
  11. Rachel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ewe"

    • Description:

      Rachel was derived from the Hebrew word rāchēl, meaning "ewe." In the Old Testament, Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. International variations include the Spanish Raquel and Israeli Rahel.
  12. Clement

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "mild, merciful"

    • Description:

      Clement, the name of fourteen popes and several saints, has a pleasantly, positive, slightly antiquated feel, like the phrase "clement weather."
  13. Clay

    • Origin:

      English word name; diminutive of Clayton

    • Description:

      Clay is a rich, earthy one-syllable name with a southern-inflected handsome-rogue image, featured on soap operas and reality TV. Its longer forms are Clayton and Clayborne.
  14. Colby

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "coal town"

    • Description:

      Combining the sounds of Colton and Toby, Colby has been in the US Top 1000 since the 70s. It peaked in 2021, entering the Top 100 thanks to Colby Davidson's appearance on reality TV show, Survivor that same year. Currently on the rise in the UK, in the US, its popularity has been shaky, dipping one year, rising the next. Given to around 490 boys in 2024, it is also chosen for around 50 girls each year.
  15. Cedar

    • Origin:

      English and French from Latin tree name

    • Meaning:

      "cedar tree"

    • Description:

      Cedar is, like Ash, Oak, Pine and Ebony, one of the new tree/wood names that parents are starting to consider; this one is particularly aromatic.
  16. Craig

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "from the rocks"

    • Description:

      Craig is a single-syllable baby-boomer name, still common in its native Scotland, but most modern Americans would prefer something like Kyle.
  17. Curtis

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "courteous, polite"

    • Description:

      Curtis is an attractive if somewhat dated surname name that has been borne by several significant musicians and athletes--think Curtis Mayfield, Curtis James Jackson III--aka 50 Cent, and also director Curtis Hanson.
  18. Corey

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "from the hollow"

    • Description:

      Former teen idol name, now middle-aged. This name has been on a steady decline since the early-1990s.
  19. Cassidy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "curly-headed"

    • Description:

      A lean and lanky Irish cowboy name with great nickname potential to boot (Cass or Sid are both options). This is one of the great under-rated American names!
  20. Randall

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "shield-wolf"

    • Description:

      Medieval name without much of a future.