Some Differences Between Western And Chinese Names

The pattern for naming we are used to in the West is reversed for Chinese names. Two types of nicknames customary in Eastern Asia are those called milk or caricatural. As part of a combined title, a generational one is added to the given appelation. As their society becomes aligned with the global economy, more people in China are taking on western nomenclature.

In China, contrary to Western naming conventions, first is the surname, or family name. Some have noted that it seems that many Asian people seem to have the same moniker, such as Lee or Chen. This is a bit of a confusion, since those surnames are common, equivalent to Smith or Jones. It has been estimated that out of about 700 patronyms, about 50 account for nearly 90% of the population of China.

The order is reversed so that the surname is first, followed by the given one. This is a common system in most of Eastern Asia, where one written character, often chosen for a positive personality trait, is chosen for the newborn child. The character, consisting of a sound and symbol, are normally gender traits such as bravery for a boy and beauty for a girl.

The given name in most cases is two syllables, made up of two characters. When a child is first born, the parents customarily give them a nickname known as a milk name, or one that is used for the first month. This habit developed since parents of a newborn are given a month to register with the authorities, and usually consult the grandparents on the given title.

A caricatural nickname is bestowed on a child by their friends. This is selected on the basis of some physical characteristic, or it may be a personality trait. These come in the form of a prefix meaning little, or A, and the given appellation follows.

The given name used after childhood is a combination of the original, with a generational one preceding it. A generational label is chosen far in advance, by the originators of a new family line. They designate one for each successive generation, and then all the male siblings of that group have the same generational combined with their given moniker.

Occasionally, parents make choices that are rejected by the government, when there is no written equivalent for the word or sound. It is becoming more common to take on Western, as well as Chinese names, because the countries economy is growing more aligned with the global economy.