Converting Chinese First and Last Names to American Names by Pronunciation
You’ve basically got two jobs: pick an easy-to-read spelling for the surname, then pick a sound-alike first name for the given name. The two expanded tables below provide practical suggestions—fast, predictable, and designed to “look normal on a U.S. form.”
Quick rules before you touch the tables
- Chinese order is usually Family-name + Given-name. American order is First-name + Last-name.
- If your family already uses a spelling (Lee/Chan/Wong), stick with it. Consistency beats “perfect.”
- For given names, you can match one syllable (common) or blend two syllables (optional).
- Keep it readable: if people keep asking how to say it, tweak the spelling.
Table 1: Surname sound-to-spelling map (expanded to 100 common)
This practical list covers the 100 most common Chinese surnames (based on recent population data). It prioritizes U.S.-friendly spellings for readability (often older variants or diaspora common forms) while offering pinyin alternatives. Treat as a menu—family tradition wins.
| Chinese Surname | Pinyin | U.S.-Friendly Spelling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 王 | Wang | Wong / Wang | Wong very common in U.S. diaspora. |
| 李 | Li | Lee / Li | Lee instantly readable. |
| 张 | Zhang | Chang / Zhang | Chang reduces pauses. |
| 刘 | Liu | Lou / Liu | Lou easiest read. |
| 陈 | Chen | Chan / Chen | Chan classic Cantonese. |
| 杨 | Yang | Young / Yang | Young perfect match. |
| 黄 | Huang | Wong / Huang | Wong widespread. |
| 赵 | Zhao | Chao / Zhao | Chao common choice. |
| 吴 | Wu | Woo / Wu | Woo avoids misreads. |
| 周 | Zhou | Chou / Zhou | Chou closer for English. |
| 徐 | Xu | Hsu / Xu | Hsu traditional readable. |
| 孙 | Sun | Sun | Simple as-is. |
| 马 | Ma | Ma | Short and clear. |
| 朱 | Zhu | Chu / Zhu | Chu no-explanation. |
| 胡 | Hu | Hu | Fine as-is. |
| 郭 | Guo | Kuo / Guo | Kuo widely used. |
| 何 | He | Ho / He | Ho avoids issues. |
| 林 | Lin | Lin / Lim | Lim Southeast common. |
| 罗 | Luo | Lo / Luo | Lo clean. |
| 高 | Gao | Gow / Gao | Gow prevents misreads. |
| 郑 | Zheng | Cheng / Zheng | Cheng easier. |
| 梁 | Liang | Leung / Liang | Leung Cantonese. |
| 谢 | Xie | Shay / Hsieh / Xie | Shay smooth. |
| 宋 | Song | Song | Keep it. |
| 唐 | Tang | Tang | Keep it. |
| 许 | Xu | Hsu / Xu | Same as 徐. |
| 韩 | Han | Han | Keep it. |
| 邓 | Deng | Teng / Deng | Teng friendly. |
| 冯 | Feng | Fung / Feng | Fung natural. |
| 曹 | Cao | Tsao / Cao | Tsao readable. |
| 曾 | Zeng | Tsang / Zeng | Tsang variant. |
| 彭 | Peng | Pang / Peng | Pang simpler. |
| 萧 | Xiao | Hsiao / Xiao | Hsiao classic. |
| 蔡 | Cai | Tsai / Cai | Tsai common. |
| 潘 | Pan | Poon / Pan | Poon Cantonese. |
| 田 | Tian | Tien / Tian | Tien avoids issues. |
| 董 | Dong | Tung / Dong | Tung drops ending. |
| 袁 | Yuan | Yuen / Yuan | Yuen familiar. |
| 于 | Yu | Yu | Simple. |
| 蒋 | Jiang | Chiang / Jiang | Chiang famous. |
| 杜 | Du | Tu / Du | Tu easy. |
| 余 | Yu | Yee / Yu | Yee diaspora. |
| 叶 | Ye | Yeh / Ye | Yeh clearer. |
| 程 | Cheng | Ching / Cheng | Ching natural. |
| 苏 | Su | Soo / Su | Soo simple. |
| 魏 | Wei | Way / Wei | Way close. |
| 吕 | Lü | Lu / Lyu | Lu easy. |
| 丁 | Ding | Ting / Ding | Ting common. |
| 任 | Ren | Ren | Keep it. |
| 沈 | Shen | Shum / Shen | Shum variant. |
| 姚 | Yao | Yow / Yao | Yow readable. |
| 卢 | Lu | Loo / Lu | Loo simple. |
| 姜 | Jiang | Chiang / Jiang | Chiang common. |
| 崔 | Cui | Choi / Cui | Choi familiar. |
| 钟 | Zhong | Chung / Zhong | Chung easy. |
| 谭 | Tan | Tam / Tan | Tam Cantonese. |
| 陆 | Lu | Look / Lu | Look variant. |
| 汪 | Wang | Wong / Wang | Same as 王. |
| 范 | Fan | Fam / Fan | Fam simpler. |
| 金 | Jin | Kim / Jin | Kim overlap. |
| 石 | Shi | Shek / Shi | Shek Cantonese. |
| 廖 | Liao | Liu / Liao | Liu variant. |
| 贾 | Jia | Chia / Jia | Chia readable. |
| 夏 | Xia | Hsia / Xia | Hsia classic. |
| 韦 | Wei | Way / Wei | Same as 魏. |
| 傅 | Fu | Foo / Fu | Foo easy. |
| 方 | Fang | Fong / Fang | Fong common. |
| 邹 | Zou | Chow / Zou | Chow familiar. |
| 熊 | Xiong | Hung / Xiong | Hung variant. |
| 孟 | Meng | Mang / Meng | Mang simpler. |
| 秦 | Qin | Chin / Qin | Chin readable. |
| 邱 | Qiu | Chiu / Qiu | Chiu common. |
| 江 | Jiang | Chiang / Jiang | Chiang famous. |
| 尹 | Yin | Yin | Keep it. |
| 薛 | Xue | Hsueh / Xue | Hsueh classic. |
| 闵 | Min | Man / Min | Man variant. |
| 白 | Bai | By / Bai | By quick-read. |
| 万 | Wan | Wan | Simple. |
| 段 | Duan | Tuan / Duan | Tuan readable. |
| 雷 | Lei | Ray / Lei | Ray common. |
| 黎 | Li | Lai / Li | Lai variant. |
| 史 | Shi | Shih / Shi | Shih classic. |
| 龙 | Long | Lung / Long | Lung familiar. |
| 陶 | Tao | Tow / Tao | Tow easy. |
| 贺 | He | Ho / He | Same as 何. |
| 顾 | Gu | Koo / Gu | Koo readable. |
| 毛 | Mao | Mao | Keep it. |
| 郝 | Hao | How / Hao | How close. |
| 龚 | Gong | Kung / Gong | Kung familiar. |
| 邵 | Shao | Shaw / Shao | Shaw common. |
| 万 | Wan | Wan | Repeat simple. |
| 钱 | Qian | Chien / Qian | Chien classic. |
| 严 | Yan | Yen / Yan | Yen readable. |
| 赖 | Lai | Loy / Lai | Loy variant. |
| 潘 | Pan | Poon / Pan | Repeat. |
| 洪 | Hong | Hung / Hong | Hung common. |
| 欧 | Ou | Oh / Ou | Oh simple. |
| 康 | Kang | Khong / Kang | Khong variant. |
| 汤 | Tang | Tong / Tang | Tong easy. |
Table 2: Given-name syllable sound-alikes (expanded to 100 common characters)
Expanded to 100 popular characters/syllables used in given names. Match to familiar English first names; note gender vibe where strong.
| Character | Pinyin | Vibe | Sound-alike English First Name | Quick note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 安 | An | Unisex | Ann / Anne | Clean match. |
| 伟 | Wei | M | Wayne | Painless. |
| 明 | Ming | Unisex | Mina / Ming | Mina friendly. |
| 丽 | Li | F | Leah / Lily | Leah sound, Lily vibe. |
| 静 | Jing | F | Jean / Ginny | Classic or cute. |
| 勇 | Yong | M | Young | Strong match. |
| 强 | Qiang | M | Chance | Ch- feel. |
| 磊 | Lei | M | Ray / Leo | Leo strong. |
| 军 | Jun | M | Jude / June | Jude male. |
| 杰 | Jie | M | Jay | Easy. |
| 涛 | Tao | M | Tao / Tow | Tao modern. |
| 敏 | Min | F | Mina | Smooth. |
| 超 | Chao | M | Chad | Cha start. |
| 鑫 | Xin | M | Shin / Sean | Sean vibe. |
| 平 | Ping | M | Ping / Penn | Penn close. |
| 刚 | Gang | M | Gavin | Ga start. |
| 阳 | Yang | M | Young | Perfect. |
| 波 | Bo | M | Bo / Beau | Beau American. |
| 芳 | Fang | F | Faye | Light. |
| 丹 | Dan | F | Dan / Dana | Dana feminine. |
| 浩 | Hao | M | Howard / Howie | Formal or playful. |
| 娟 | Juan | F | Joan / Juana | Joan classic. |
| 峰 | Feng | M | Finn | Short match. |
| 娜 | Na | F | Nina | Closest. |
| 欣 | Xin | F | Cindy | Safe pick. |
| 鹏 | Peng | M | Ben | Simple. |
| 华 | Hua | Unisex | Howie / Howard | Hua sound. |
| 建 | Jian | M | Gene / Jan | Gene close. |
| 博 | Bo | M | Bo | Already English. |
| 婷 | Ting | F | Tina | Automatic. |
| 雪 | Xue | F | Sue | Works. |
| 东 | Dong | M | Don | Drop ng. |
| 艳 | Yan | F | Yana / Yen | Yana pretty. |
| 彬 | Bin | M | Ben | Easy. |
| 宇 | Yu | M | Hugh / You | Hugh short. |
| 凯 | Kai | Unisex | Kai | Popular. |
| 荣 | Rong | M | Ron | Drop ng. |
| 琳 | Lin | F | Lynn | Classic. |
| 洋 | Yang | M | Young | Good. |
| 辉 | Hui | M | Hugh | Short. |
| 晨 | Chen | Unisex | Shane | Shen feel. |
| 红 | Hong | F | Holly | Ho landing. |
| 佳 | Jia | F | Gia | Perfect. |
| 倩 | Qian | F | Chloe | Smooth. |
| 健 | Jian | M | Ken | Strong. |
| 磊 | Lei | M | Leo | Strong. |
| 宁 | Ning | Unisex | Nina / Neil | Soft or sharp. |
| 彬 | Bin | M | Bin / Ben | Ben close. |
| 瑞 | Rui | Unisex | Ray | Clean. |
| 龙 | Long | M | Logan | Lo start. |
| 晶 | Jing | F | Crystal / Jing | Crystal vibe. |
| 亮 | Liang | M | Leon / Liang | Leon bright. |
| 晓 | Xiao | Unisex | Shawn / Xiao | Shawn close. |
| 菲 | Fei | F | Faye / Faith | Faye sound. |
| 燕 | Yan | F | Yen / Yana | Yana pretty. |
| 斌 | Bin | M | Ben | Easy. |
| 莹 | Ying | F | Ying / Eve | Eve close. |
| 洁 | Jie | F | Jill / Jessie | Jessie clean. |
| 鑫 | Xin | M | Sean | Vibe. |
| 昊 | Hao | M | Howie | Playful. |
| 琪 | Qi | F | Chi / Kee | Kee cute. |
| 瑜 | Yu | Unisex | You / Hugh | Hugh short. |
| 雯 | Wen | F | Wendy / Wynn | Wendy feel. |
| 泽 | Ze | M | Zack | Z landing. |
| 玲 | Ling | F | Lynn / Lina | Lina soft. |
| 莎 | Sha | F | Sarah / Sasha | Sasha style. |
| 怡 | Yi | F | Eva / Ivy | Ivy close. |
| 璇 | Xuan | F | Shawn / Xuan | Shawn feel. |
| 诗 | Shi | F | Shea / Shirley | Shea poetic. |
| 梦 | Meng | F | Meg / Mona | Meg dream. |
| 岚 | Lan | F | Lana | Perfect. |
| 蕾 | Lei | F | Ray / Lea | Lea soft. |
| 薇 | Wei | F | Wendy | We feel. |
| 靖 | Jing | M | King / Jing | King calm. |
| 芸 | Yun | F | Yuna | Cute. |
| 熙 | Xi | Unisex | Shea / Hee | Shea bright. |
| 涵 | Han | F | Hannah | Close. |
| 卓 | Zhuo | M | Joe / Zhou | Joe outstanding. |
| 辰 | Chen | M | Chen / Shane | Shane. |
| 逸 | Yi | M | Evan / Eve | Evan elegant. |
| 婧 | Jing | F | Jing / Ginny | Ginny slender. |
| 楠 | Nan | F | Nan / Nana | Nana cute. |
| 萱 | Xuan | F | Shawn | Feel. |
| 仪 | Yi | F | Eve / Ivy | Ivy. |
| 辰 | Chen | M | Chen | Dragon. |
| 栩 | Xu | Unisex | Shu / Sue | Sue vivid. |
| 然 | Ran | Unisex | Ran / Ron | Ron natural. |
| 朵 | Duo | F | Dora | Cute flower. |
| 杉 | Shan | Unisex | Shan / Shane | Shane. |
| 桐 | Tong | Unisex | Tong / Tony | Tony. |
| 桦 | Hua | Unisex | Howie | Birch. |
| 梓 | Zi | Unisex | Zoe | Z close. |
| 墨 | Mo | M | Mo / Moe | Ink vibe. |
| 霖 | Lin | M | Lynn / Lim | Rain. |
| 霜 | Shuang | F | Shuang / Shawna | Frost. |
Examples
- 王浩 → Howard Wong
- 李娜 → Nina Lee
- 张伟 → Wayne Chang
- 陈静 → Jean Chan
- 刘鑫 → Sean Lou
Tips for tricky sounds
- Prioritize spellings Americans guess right (avoid zh/q/x confusion).
- Drop “-ng” for smoother English names where it helps.
- Tones don't transfer—focus on sound and look.
- Pick what you like saying aloud.