Here is a list of Chinese names that start with Z. 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 Chinese Boy Names That Begin with Z

  • Zǎi, 载: to record in writing; to carry (i.e. publish in a newspaper etc); Taiwan pr. [zai4]
  • Zàn, 赞: to praise; to patronize; to support
  • Zé, 则: (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then; standard
  • Zēng, 增: to increase; to expand; to add
  • Zhàn, 占: to take possession of; to occupy; to take up
  • Zhàn, 战: to fight; fight; war
  • Zhàn, 湛: deep; clear (water)
  • Zhāng, 樟: camphor; Cinnamonum camphara
  • Zhāng, 璋: ancient stone ornament
  • Zhāng, 章: chapter; section; clause
  • Zhào, 照: to shine; to illuminate; according to
  • Zhào, 肇: at first; devise; originate
  • Zhāo, 钊: to encourage; to cut; to strain
  • Zhè, 浙: abbr. for Zhejiang 浙江 province in east China; variant of 浙[Zhe4]
  • Zhèn, 振: to shake; to flap; to vibrate
  • Zhèn, 镇: to press down; to calm; to subdue
  • Zhèn, 震: to shake; to vibrate; to jolt
  • Zhēng, 争: to strive for; to vie for; to argue or debate
  • Zhēng, 征: journey; trip; expedition
  • Zhì, 志: aspiration; ambition; the will
  • Zhì, 智: wisdom; knowledge
  • Zhí, 植: to plant
  • Zhì, 治: to rule; to govern; to manage
  • Zhí, 直: Zhi (c. 2000 BC), fifth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God; straight; to straighten
  • Zhì, 质: character; nature; quality
  • Zhōng, 中: China; Chinese; within
  • Zhòng, 仲: second month of a season; middle; intermediate
  • Zhòng, 众: many; numerous; crowd
  • Zhōng, 忠: loyal; devoted; honest
  • Zhòng, 重: heavy; serious; to attach importance to
  • Zhōng, 钟: handleless cup; goblet; to concentrate
  • Zhōu, 周: Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC); to make a circuit; to circle
  • Zhòu, 宙: eternity; (geology) eon
  • Zhōu, 州: prefecture; (old) province; (old) administrative division
  • Zhōu, 洲: continent; island in a river
  • Zhōu, 舟: boat
  • Zhǔ, 主: owner; master; host
  • Zhù, 助: to help; to assist
  • Zhù, 柱: pillar
  • Zhù, 著: to make known; to show; to prove
  • Zhù, 铸: to cast or found metals
  • Zhuàng, 壮: Zhuang ethnic group of Guangxi, the PRC’s second most numerous ethnic group; to strengthen; strong
  • Zhuàng, 状: accusation; suit; state
  • Zhǔn, 准: to allow; to grant; in accordance with
  • Zhuó, 灼: luminous; burning; to burn
  • Zūn, 尊: senior; of a senior generation; to honor
  • Zūn, 遵: to observe; to obey; to follow
  • Zuǒ, 佐: to assist; assistant; aide
  • Zuò, 作: to do; to grow; to write or compose
  • Zuò, 祚: blessing; the throne

Trendy Chinese Boy Names Starting with Z (2000s)

  • Zǎi, 载: to record in writing; to carry (i.e. publish in a newspaper etc); Taiwan pr. [zai4]
  • Zàn, 赞: to praise; to patronize; to support
  • Zé, 则: (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then; standard
  • Zé, 泽: pool; pond; (of metals etc) luster
  • Zēng, 增: to increase; to expand; to add
  • Zhǎn, 展: to spread out; to open up; to exhibit
  • Zhàn, 湛: deep; clear (water)
  • Zhāng, 彰: clear; conspicuous; manifest
  • Zhāng, 樟: camphor; Cinnamonum camphara
  • Zhāng, 璋: ancient stone ornament
  • Zhāng, 章: chapter; section; clause
  • Zhào, 照: to shine; to illuminate; according to
  • Zhào, 肇: at first; devise; originate
  • Zhāo, 钊: to encourage; to cut; to strain
  • Zhé, 哲: philosophy; wise; (used in given names)
  • Zhè, 浙: abbr. for Zhejiang 浙江 province in east China; variant of 浙[Zhe4]
  • Zhèn, 圳: (dialect) drainage ditch between fields (Taiwan pr. [zun4]); used in place names, notably 深圳[Shen1 zhen4]
  • Zhèn, 振: to shake; to flap; to vibrate
  • Zhèn, 朕: I; we (imperial use); subtle
  • Zhèn, 镇: to press down; to calm; to subdue
  • Zhèn, 震: to shake; to vibrate; to jolt
  • Zhēng, 征: journey; trip; expedition
  • Zhèng, 政: political; politics; government
  • Zhì, 志: aspiration; ambition; the will
  • Zhì, 智: wisdom; knowledge
  • Zhí, 植: to plant
  • Zhì, 治: to rule; to govern; to manage
  • Zhí, 直: Zhi (c. 2000 BC), fifth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God; straight; to straighten
  • Zhì, 至: to arrive; most; to
  • Zhì, 致: fine; delicate; to send
  • Zhì, 质: character; nature; quality
  • Zhì, 郅: extremely; very
  • Zhōng, 中: China; Chinese; within
  • Zhòng, 仲: second month of a season; middle; intermediate
  • Zhòng, 众: many; numerous; crowd
  • Zhōng, 忠: loyal; devoted; honest
  • Zhòng, 重: heavy; serious; to attach importance to
  • Zhōng, 钟: handleless cup; goblet; to concentrate
  • Zhōu, 周: Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC); to make a circuit; to circle
  • Zhòu, 宙: eternity; (geology) eon
  • Zhōu, 州: prefecture; (old) province; (old) administrative division
  • Zhōu, 洲: continent; island in a river
  • Zhōu, 舟: boat
  • Zhǔ, 主: owner; master; host
  • Zhù, 助: to help; to assist
  • Zhù, 著: to make known; to show; to prove
  • Zhù, 铸: to cast or found metals
  • Zhuàng, 壮: Zhuang ethnic group of Guangxi, the PRC’s second most numerous ethnic group; to strengthen; strong
  • Zhuàng, 状: accusation; suit; state
  • Zhǔn, 准: to allow; to grant; in accordance with
  • Zhuó, 灼: luminous; burning; to burn
  • Zūn, 尊: senior; of a senior generation; to honor
  • Zūn, 遵: to observe; to obey; to follow
  • Zuǒ, 佐: to assist; assistant; aide
  • Zuò, 作: to do; to grow; to write or compose
  • Zuò, 祚: blessing; the throne

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

  • Zhāo, 招: to recruit; to provoke; to beckon
  • Zhēn, 珍: precious thing; treasure; culinary delicacy
  • Zhēn, 贞: chaste
  • Zhēn, 针: needle; pin; injection
  • Zhī, 枝: branch; classifier for sticks, rods, pencils etc
  • Zhī, 芝: Zoysia pungens
  • Zhū, 珠: bead; pearl
  • Zhú, 竹: bamboo; Kangxi radical 118

Chinese Girl Names Starting with Z Popular Now

  • Zhēn, 贞: chaste
  • Zhī, 芝: Zoysia pungens
  • Zhǐ, 芷: angelica (type of iris); plant root used in TCM
  • Zhū, 珠: bead; pearl
  • Zhú, 竹: bamboo; Kangxi radical 118
  • Zī, 姿: beauty; disposition; looks
  • Zǐ, 紫: purple; violet

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

  • Zǎi, 仔: variant of 崽[zai3]
  • Zài, 再: again; once more; re-
  • Zài, 在: (located) at; (to be) in; to exist
  • Zǎo, 早: early; morning; Good morning!
  • Zào, 灶: kitchen stove; kitchen
  • Zhāi, 斋: to fast or abstain from meat, wine etc; vegetarian diet; study room
  • Zhāng, 张: to open up; to spread; sheet of paper
  • Zhào, 兆: omen; to foretell; million
  • Zhào, 召: to call together; to summon; to convene
  • Zhāo, 昭: bright; clear; manifest
  • Zhào, 曌: name invented for herself by Tang empress Wu Zetian 武則天|武则天[Wu3 Ze2 tian1]
  • Zhào, 赵: one of the seven states during the Warring States Period (476-220 BC); the Former Zhao 前趙 (304-329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (319-350), states of the Sixteen Kingdoms; to surpass (old)
  • Zhě, 者: (after a verb or adjective) one who (is) …; (after a noun) person involved in …; -er
  • Zhēn, 真: really; truly; indeed
  • Zhēn, 祯: auspicious; lucky
  • Zhēng, 峥: excel; lofty
  • Zhèng, 正: straight; upright; proper
  • Zhèng, 郑: Zheng state during the Warring States period
  • Zhēng, 铮: clang of metals; small gong
  • Zhī, 之: (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]); him; her
  • Zhí, 执: to execute (a plan); to grasp
  • Zhī, 支: to support; to sustain; to erect
  • Zhī, 知: to know; to be aware
  • Zhū, 朱: vermilion; cinnabar
  • Zhù, 祝: to wish; to express good wishes; to pray
  • Zhuān, 专: for a particular person, occasion, purpose; focused on one thing; special
  • Zhuāng, 庄: farmstead; village; manor
  • Zhuó, 琢: to cut (gems)
  • Zì, 自: self; oneself; from
  • Zōng, 宗: school; sect; purpose
  • Zǔ, 祖: ancestor; forefather; grandparents
  • Zuǒ, 左: left; the Left (politics); east

Androgynous Chinese Names Starting with Z Popular Today

  • Zǎi, 仔: variant of 崽[zai3]
  • Zài, 再: again; once more; re-
  • Zài, 在: (located) at; (to be) in; to exist
  • Zhāng, 张: to open up; to spread; sheet of paper
  • Zhào, 兆: omen; to foretell; million
  • Zhāo, 昭: bright; clear; manifest
  • Zhào, 曌: name invented for herself by Tang empress Wu Zetian 武則天|武则天[Wu3 Ze2 tian1]
  • Zhào, 赵: one of the seven states during the Warring States Period (476-220 BC); the Former Zhao 前趙 (304-329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (319-350), states of the Sixteen Kingdoms; to surpass (old)
  • Zhé, 喆: (used in given names)
  • Zhě, 者: (after a verb or adjective) one who (is) …; (after a noun) person involved in …; -er
  • Zhēn, 桢: evergreen shrub
  • Zhēn, 真: really; truly; indeed
  • Zhēn, 祯: auspicious; lucky
  • Zhēn, 臻: to arrive; to reach (esp. perfection); utmost
  • Zhēng, 峥: excel; lofty
  • Zhèng, 正: straight; upright; proper
  • Zhèng, 郑: Zheng state during the Warring States period
  • Zhēng, 铮: clang of metals; small gong
  • Zhī, 之: (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]); him; her
  • Zhí, 执: to execute (a plan); to grasp
  • Zhī, 知: to know; to be aware
  • Zhǐ, 祉: felicity
  • Zhū, 朱: vermilion; cinnabar
  • Zhù, 祝: to wish; to express good wishes; to pray
  • Zhuāng, 庄: farmstead; village; manor
  • Zhuō, 倬: noticeable; large; clear
  • Zhuó, 卓: outstanding
  • Zhuó, 琢: to cut (gems)
  • Zhuó, 茁: to display vigorous, new growth; to sprout
  • Zǐ, 子: son; child; seed
  • Zī, 孜: hard-working; industrious
  • Zǐ, 梓: Catalpa kaempferi; printing blocks
  • Zī, 滋: to grow; to nourish; to increase
  • Zǐ, 籽: seeds
  • Zì, 自: self; oneself; from
  • Zī, 资: resources; capital; to provide
  • Zōng, 宗: school; sect; purpose
  • Zǔ, 祖: ancestor; forefather; grandparents
  • Zuǒ, 左: left; the Left (politics); east

Chinese Last Names Beginning with the Letter Z

  • Zā, 扎: to tie; to bind
  • Zǎn, 昝: you and me, we two
  • Zāng, 臧: good; lucky
  • Zé, 泽: beneficence; marsh
  • Zēng, 曾: already; at some time in the past
  • Zhā, 查: to research; to check
  • Zhái, 翟: long-tail pheasant
  • Zhàn, 战: to fight; fight
  • Zhàn, 湛: deep; clear
  • Zhǎn, 展: to use; to spread out
  • Zhān, 占: to observe; to divine
  • Zhān, 詹: excellent; verbose
  • Zhǎng, 仉: mother
  • Zhāng, 张: open up
  • Zhāng, 章: chapter; seal
  • Zhào, 赵: Zhao; ancient state of Zhao
  • Zhāo, 招: provoke; to recruit
  • Zhēn, 甄: to mold
  • Zhèng, 郑: Zheng; ancient state of Zheng
  • Zhí, 植: to plant
  • Zhì, 智: wisdom; knowledge
  • Zhì, 郅: extremely
  • Zhī, 支: to support; to sustain
  • Zhòng, 仲: 2nd in seniority
  • Zhǒng, 种: kind; type
  • Zhōng, 钟: clock; time as measured in hours and minutes
  • Zhōu, 周: complete; encircle
  • Zhú, 竹: bamboo
  • Zhú, 竺: bamboo; India
  • Zhù, 祝: invoke; pray to
  • Zhū, 朱: vermilion
  • Zhū, 诸: all; many
  • Zhuāng, 庄: farm; village
  • Zhūgě, 诸葛: 诸: all; many; 葛: coarse grass linen
  • Zhuó, 卓: outstanding
  • Zhuó, 禚: place name
  • Zì, 字: letter; symbol
  • Zì, 自: from; self
  • Zī, 訾: backbite; wealth
  • Zī, 资: resources; capital
  • Zōng, 宗: school; sect
  • Zōng, 纵: vertical; even if
  • Zōu, 邹: name of district in Shandong
  • Zǔ, 祖: ancestor; forefather
  • Zuǒ, 左: left

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.