Anyone know a bit about chinese names?

[Orion283]

I've decided to go with a chinese-esque (chinish, if you will) setting for my nano, kinda like Jade Empire. But because I'm picky I wanna see if I can wrangle authentic chinese names for the cast. Behind The Name (www.behindthename.com) has a pretty short list and I'm still researching family names. Does anyone know a particularly good site for picking chinese names for people, particularly searchable by the meaning of the name?

[MelancholyBliss]

I don't know much about Chinese names other than having a lot of Chinese friends, teachers, co workers, etc.

Unfortunately, a list of their surnames wouldn't do you much good considering I've looked at the link you provided and all of their names are on that list. The only name I can think of that isn't on that list is Fong.

[Lord of Fools]

Depends on which region of this "Chinese-esque" place you're looking for. Cantonese and Mandarin are the big ones, but their names are very different. That said, I know very little, except that most of the Chinese people I've ever met were Canto.

[Hippie]

I think your best bet is to go to your nearest Chinatown and throw darts at a phonebook.

[Orion283]

I can get random names well enough but I'm picky about naming. All names mean stuff so I find I spend a lot of time poking about for a name that fits the character. I've managed to name the four main cast members so far but I don't have a lot of names to go around so we'll see how things go. Luckily according to some sites it seems the list of chinese surnames is really short. According to wikipedia there's a top ten list that can be found attached to 40% of the population.

[Hippie]

The thing with names is, I used to name my characters all perfect things. Gwen for the pale blond, the pure girl. ...I can't think of any more off the top of my head (for shame, self!) but you can get the picture.

But then I realized that not all names mean stuff like THAT. I mean, I'm 'Ash tree meadow.' and that doesn't really describe me. Unless your characters have chosen their own names, they don't have to be perfect, really.

However! Names are just so much fun and it's a thrill to find that perfect name. I totally know. :D

[Orion283]

Indeed. I'm hoping to achieve a little tangential learning (http://www.edge-online.com/blogs/the-power-tangential-learning) if I can.

[Hippie]

That is indeed an awesome video and I really wish that more people would take that approach to 'teaching' (even if it really isn't teaching). I mean, seriously, I knew the difference between SPELL MASTER (spelling game *sigh*) and Mortal Kombat when I was little (yeah, I played Mortal Kombat when I was little... >_> See? I'm not a serial killer!) because one of them was frusterating because I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL, and the other one was only frusterating when my brother wouldn't stop kicking my ass long enough to let me figure out a move.

[Lord of Fools]

I seem to have characters fit the meanings to their names without me being aware of them. This became problematic, though, with my character Xiao Hui (a Mandarin name meaning 'little pearl'), when I discovered she wasn't from a Mandarin-speaking region, and also that this was a baby-name. And I always have terrible trouble changing character names.

[KeinesV]

http://www.20000-names.com is my favorite. Really though, you shouldn't be writing what you don't know about, even if it's cool.

Edit: Now that I think of it, weren't a lot of names in jade empire crap like "Fox Flower" and stuff? You could just do that.

[bardsandsages]

I live by the Character Naming Sourcebook. It's not only a random list of names, but provides insight into name construction, surnames, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Writer%C2%92s-Digest-Character-Naming-Sourcebook/dp/1582972958/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231517818&sr=8-1

It's updated every few years, but you can probaby find older versions at used book shops or at half.com