I find the movie clip above aptly tells my feelings about our names in Chinese.

Zhang Ziyi 章子怡, the international Chinese film actress said in the clip above (starting at 0:14):

I am translating it.

"Then they called your name.

Then you are a Chinese.

Calling your Chinese name.

I feel at that time,

I am excited, I feel.

I have never thought of

I change my name

to English name.

I have also never thought of suiting their wishes

and to get an English name.

My name is given by my father and mother.

This is mine.

You want to remember me,

you must then think of

how to read this sound.

This is mine.

So I will feel touched."

Way to go! Wear your Chinese name with pride.

Whenever someone asks whether I have an English name? I tell them: It's Ding Shourong (my romanized Chinese name).

Chinese parents usually only give their children Chinese names. They don't give their children English names. However, in some countries on the birth certificates, Chinese parents are registering their children's Chinese names together with English names. Example, John Chang Zicheng (I made this up).

There are also people that I know who do not have a given Chinese name. It's just simply John Chang.

What's up with that, man?

Probably due to the lack of Chinese language knowledge, these parents are shying away from Chinese names for their children. It's rather sad, isn't it? A Chinese without a Chinese name. Sigh.

Come on. This is really ironical. Many westerners do want to get a Chinese name! Yet, these Chinese want to be known by their English names.

And there are also Chinese parents who have their children's names in Chinese sounding similar like English names. Example, Li Aiwei. Aiwei sounding like Ivy.

They want their children's name to sound English-like. Hoping that the westerners that she will meet in the future can pronounce her name easily.

Parents, let their friends learn how to pronounce their names in Chinese. Give your baby a Chinese name. Even if s/he is half Chinese. ;-) (I have helped a relative with selecting a Chinese name for her half-Chinese daughter.)

Not happy with your own Chinese name? Want to change it? No problem. Tell me why you don't like it. And give the details as below. In this case, the 'baby' is you. :-)

Tell me your:

• First name (name of requester)
• Email address (won't be published)
• Chinese surname of the baby
• Baby's gender
• Baby's expected date of birth (only the year will be published)
• What meanings you would love to associate with the baby?
• Both parents' date of birth (won't be published)
• Both parents' name in Chinese and romanized (not applicable if the parent has no Chinese name)
• Country of origin

Is my name a good name for me?  Not rated yet
My Chinese name is 馬旭媖(Ma Xuying)
I don't know if it is a good name for me or not.
I don't know much about the 5 elements.
I hope ...

Calvin Yi  Not rated yet
I would like a great Chinese name for my daughter, Lilian Yi and my Son, Winston Yi.
They both have not have a Chinese name yet.
Lilian ( F )was born ...

Are my 2 children's name good?  Not rated yet
Name (of requester): 温淑贤 Wen Shuxian
Email address: **info not published**

1)Chinese name of the baby: 赖彦丞...

Whether my Chinese name is good ?  Not rated yet
Name: 彭振雄
D.O.B : (removed)
Time of birth : (removed)



Ding writes:

Thanks for writing in.

The name sounds alright....

baby boy name  Not rated yet
Name (of requester) : ???


Chinese surname of the baby : ?
Baby's gender : Male

Baby's expected date of birth (only the year will be published)...