Chinese Names that Start with C

Here is a list of Chinese names that start with C. The page includes both family names and given names for boys and girls, along with their translations.

The list is divided into multiple sections. All the names are drawn from the Chinese Name Database (1930–2008), which contains data on over one billion people, nearly everyone born in China during that period. I analyzed the data in several ways:

I removed the most uncommon (less than 1 in 100,000) names from the list.
I categorized the given names by gender. Male or names are those given to boys or girls more than 75% of the time, while androgynous names appear have a more even distribution.
Traditional names were more common in the late 1900s, while modern names are more common with people born in the 2000s.
I also added translations to all the names.

How to Use the List of Chinese Names

This list includes the individual characters that appear in Chinese names. In China, the family name comes first (for example, Xi Jinping, 习近平), followed by the given name. While 95% of family names consist of a single character (Xi, 习), given names more often consist of two characters (Jinping, 近平). However, single-character given names are also common.

If you’re using these lists to create a fictional character, you can either use a single-character given name or combine two characters that work together.

You can use the buttons below to jump into different sections:

Traditional Male Chinese Names that Start with C
Modern Male Chinese Names that Start with C
Traditional Female Chinese Names that Start with C
Modern Female Chinese Names that Start with C
Traditional Male/Female Chinese Names that Start with C
Modern Male/Female Chinese Names that Start with C
Chinese Family Names that Start with C

Traditional Chinese Boy Names That Begin with C

Cái, 才: ability; talent; sb of a certain type
Cái, 材: material; timber; ability
Cái, 财: money; wealth; riches
Cāng, 仓: barn; granary; storehouse
Cāng, 苍: dark blue; deep green; ash-gray
Cāo, 操: to grasp; to hold; to operate
Cáo, 曹: Zhou Dynasty vassal state; class or grade; generation
Cè, 策: policy; plan; scheme
Chǎn, 产: to give birth; to reproduce; to produce
Chǎng, 厂: factory; yard; depot
Chāng, 昌: prosperous; flourishing
Cháng, 长: length; long; forever
Cháo, 潮: tide; current; damp
Chāo, 超: to exceed; to overtake; to surpass
Chén, 忱: sincerity; honesty
Chén, 臣: state official or subject in dynastic China; I, your servant (used in addressing the sovereign); Kangxi radical 131
Chéng, 呈: to present to a superior; memorial; petition
Chéng, 城: city walls; city; town
Chéng, 成: to succeed; to finish; to complete
Chéng, 承: Cheng (c. 2000 BC), third of the legendary Flame Emperors; Farmer God; to bear; to carry
Chéng, 程: rule; order; regulations
Chì, 炽: to burn; to blaze; splendid
Chōng, 冲: (of water) to dash against; to mix with water; to infuse
Chóng, 崇: high; sublime; lofty
Chōng, 翀: soar
Chū, 初: at first; (at the) beginning; first
Chuān, 川: river; creek; plain
Chuàng, 创: to begin; to initiate; to inaugurate
Chuǎng, 闯: to rush; to charge; to dash
Chuí, 垂: to hang (down); droop; dangle
Cūn, 村: village

Trendy Chinese Boy Names Starting with C (2000s)

Cái, 材: material; timber; ability
Cái, 财: money; wealth; riches
Cáo, 曹: Zhou Dynasty vassal state; class or grade; generation
Cè, 策: policy; plan; scheme
Chāng, 昌: prosperous; flourishing
Chǎng, 昶: (of the day) long
Cháo, 潮: tide; current; damp
Chāo, 焯: to blanch (cooking); to scald
Chāo, 超: to exceed; to overtake; to surpass
Chén, 宸: imperial apartments
Chén, 忱: sincerity; honesty
Chén, 臣: state official or subject in dynastic China; I, your servant (used in addressing the sovereign); Kangxi radical 131
Chéng, 丞: deputy
Chéng, 乘: to ride; to mount; to make use of
Chéng, 呈: to present to a superior; memorial; petition
Chéng, 城: city walls; city; town
Chéng, 成: to succeed; to finish; to complete
Chéng, 承: Cheng (c. 2000 BC), third of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God; to bear; to carry
Chéng, 程: rule; order; regulations
Chéng, 诚: sincere; authentic; really
Chéng, 铖: (used in people’s names)
Chěng, 骋: to hasten; to run; to open up
Chí, 弛: to unstring a bow; to slacken; to relax
Chì, 炽: to burn; to blaze; splendid
Chí, 驰: to run fast; to speed; to gallop
Chōng, 冲: (of water) to dash against; to mix with water; to infuse
Chóng, 崇: high; sublime; lofty
Chōng, 翀: soar
Chū, 初: at first; (at the) beginning; first
Chuān, 川: river; creek; plain
Chuàng, 创: to begin; to initiate; to inaugurate
Chuǎng, 闯: to rush; to charge; to dash
Chuí, 垂: to hang (down); droop; dangle
Cì, 赐: to confer; to bestow; to grant
Cóng, 琮: octagonal jade badge
Cūn, 村: village

Chinese Female Given Names Popular in the Past, Starting with C

Cǎi, 彩: (bright) color; variety; applause
Cài, 菜: dish (type of food); vegetable; cuisine
Cǎo, 草: grass; straw; manuscript
Chá, 茶: tea; tea plant
ChāI, 钗: hairpin
Chán, 婵: beautiful; graceful
Chán, 蝉: cicada
Cháng, 嫦: a legendary beauty who flew to the moon; the lady in the moon
Chèn, 趁: to avail oneself of; to take advantage of
Cōng, 葱: scallion; green onion
Cuì, 翠: bluish-green; green jade
Cuì, 萃: collect; collection; dense
Cuò, 措: to handle; to manage; to put in order

Chinese Girl Names Starting with C Popular Now

Cǎi, 采: to pick; to pluck; to collect
Cǎo, 草: grass; straw; manuscript
Chán, 婵: beautiful; graceful
Chán, 蝉: cicada
Cuì, 萃: collect; collection; dense
Cuò, 措: to handle; to manage; to put in order

Chinese Male/Female Names Popular in the 1900s (Letter C)

Cān, 参: to take part in; to participate; to join
Càn, 灿: glorious; bright; brilliant
Cáng, 藏: to conceal; to hide away; to harbor
Cén, 岑: small hill
Céng, 曾: once; already; ever (in the past)
Chàng, 唱: to sing; to call loudly; to chant
Cháng, 常: always; ever; often
Cháo, 朝: imperial or royal court; government; dynasty
Chē, 车: car; vehicle; machine
Chén, 尘: dust; dirt; earth
Chēn, 琛: precious stone; gem
Chén, 陈: vassal state during the Spring and Autumn Period 770-475 BC; Chen of the Southern dynasties (557-589); to lay out
Chéng, 橙: orange tree; orange (color)
Chēng, 称: to weigh; to state; to name
Chí, 池: pond; reservoir; moat
Chí, 迟: late; delayed; slow
Chǔ, 楚: Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722-221 BC); distinct; clear
Chuán, 传: to pass on; to spread; to transmit
Chūn, 春: spring (season); gay; joyful
Chūn, 椿: Chinese toon (Toona sinensis); tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima); (literary metaphor) father
Chún, 纯: pure; simple; unmixed
Cí, 慈: compassionate; gentle; merciful
Cì, 次: next in sequence; second; the second (day, time etc)
Cóng, 丛: cluster; collection; collection of books
Cóng, 从: from; through; via
Cōng, 聪: quick at hearing; wise; clever
Cún, 存: to exist; to deposit; to store

Androgynous Chinese Names Starting with C Popular Today

Càn, 灿: glorious; bright; brilliant
Càn, 璨: gem; luster of gem
Cén, 岑: small hill
Céng, 曾: once; already; ever (in the past)
Chàng, 唱: to sing; to call loudly; to chant
Cháng, 常: always; ever; often
Chàng, 畅: free; unimpeded; smooth
Cháo, 朝: imperial or royal court; government; dynasty
Chén, 尘: dust; dirt; earth
Chén, 晨: morning; dawn; daybreak
Chēn, 琛: precious stone; gem
Chén, 辰: 5th earthly branch: 7-9 a.m., 3rd solar month (5th April-4th May), year of the Dragon
Chén, 陈: vassal state during the Spring and Autumn Period 770-475 BC; Chen of the Southern dynasties (557-589); to lay out
Chéng, 橙: orange tree; orange (color)
Chéng, 澄: clear; limpid; to clarify
Chēng, 称: to weigh; to state; to name
Chí, 池: pond; reservoir; moat
Chí, 迟: late; delayed; slow
Chǔ, 楚: Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722-221 BC); distinct; clear
Chuán, 传: to pass on; to spread; to transmit
Chūn, 椿: Chinese toon (Toona sinensis); tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima); (literary metaphor) father
Chún, 淳: genuine; pure; honest
Chún, 纯: pure; simple; unmixed
Cí, 慈: compassionate; gentle; merciful
Cì, 次: next in sequence; second; the second (day, time etc)
Cóng, 丛: cluster; collection; collection of books
Cōng, 聪: quick at hearing; wise; clever
Cún, 存: to exist; to deposit; to store

Chinese Last Names Beginning with the Letter C

Cái, 才: ability; talent
Cài, 蔡: tortoise shell; ancient state of Cai
Cáng, 藏: to hide away; to conceal
Cāng, 苍: dark blue; fly
Cáo, 曹: a company; a class
Cāo, 操: to hold; to drill
Cén, 岑: a small hill
Chái, 柴: firewood
Cháng, 常: always; ever
Cháng, 苌: carambola
Chàng, 畅: smooth; fluent
Chāng, 昌: prosperous; flourish
Cháo, 巢: nest
Cháo, 晁: dawn; morning
Chē, 车: car; a vehicle
Chén, 谌: faithful; sincere
Chén, 陈: arrange; exhibit
Chéng, 成: finish; complete
Chéng, 承: to bear; to carry
Chéng, 程: rule; order
Chí, 池: pond; reservoir
Chí, 迟: late; delayed
Chī, 郗: name of an ancient city
Chóng, 崇: high; dignified
Chǔ, 储: savings; to save
Chǔ, 楚: distinct; clear
Chǔ, 褚: wadding; padding
Chū, 初: at first; beginning
Chūn, 春: spring; gay
Cóng, 丛: cluster; collection
Cōng, 从: lax; yielding
Cuī, 崔: high mountain; precipitous

About This List

I have made similar lists of Chinese names for all the letters of the alphabet from A to Z. The only letters missing are those that don’t appear as initials in Chinese.

About Arimo Travels

My website, Arimo Travels, started as a hub for sustainable travel guides. In 2026, I announced that I would stop updating the site. However, I enjoy working on these lists of names from different countries, so I continue to add them quietly.

To some people, spending hours working with Excel spreadsheets and lists might sound incredibly boring. However, I find it very engaging and a great way to unwind after my much more demanding day job as a psychologist.

Besides these lists of Chinese given names and surnames, I have created similar lists for names from many other countries. You can find them all on the Names Around the World page.

When this site still focused on traveling, I wrote one blog post about my past travels in China.