明 → 子晦
明 carries brightness; 晦 holds its quieter inward half. The contrast gives the pair tension instead of repetition.
A Hànzi naming ritual · 字 zì
Give your name
a second voice.
A Chinese courtesy name is traditionally used among peers, friends, and literary circles. It grows from your given name through meaning—not from a random pile of attractive characters.
This tool creates a cultural suggestion, not a legal name. Modern Chinese speakers do not usually use courtesy names in daily life.
01 / Find your 字
Start with your Chinese given name.
Type the given name only, such as 明澈, or use a full Chinese name. The result will explain which character it grows from.
02 / 名 · 字 · 号
Three kinds of name, three different jobs.
| Chinese | English | Traditional role |
|---|---|---|
| 名 | Given name | The everyday personal name, used by family, elders, and on records. |
| 字 | Courtesy name | A peer-facing name, traditionally used among friends and in intellectual or social settings. |
| 号 | Art name / studio name | A self-chosen literary or artistic identity. This page does not generate one. |
03 / The relationship matters
A 字 should explain the 名.
明 → 子昭
昭 belongs to the same field of light, but feels more formal and literary. It answers the name without copying it.
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