Qilin - weird as a name?

[KeiPhoenix]

I would really like to call my daughter, if it's a girl (pregnant), Qilin (chee-lin), which is believe is a type of fortunate mythological animal. Would this seem very very strange to a chinese person? As i am about to commence a chinese cause next year in hope of moving on to china to teach english, she may actually have to meet people who know the meaning of her name.

[skylee]

Yes, I think so, especially if the name is to be written in Chinese characters.

But using only one of the characters, i.e. qi (麒) or lin (麟), will be fine. If it is a boy then use lin (麟) (this is not an uncommon name for boys). Combine it with another character and it will be a nice name. If it is a girl than qi (麒) seems to be more suitable. Qiqi is a very cute and nice name (though the number of strokes is quite horrible). Or you can combine it with another character (usually having a meaning of the hope that the parents have for the child) to form another name.

[Koneko]

I think 琪琪 will be more suitable though.

K.

[onebir]

Be aware that one of the Spice Girls called here daughter qi (气 - judging from what she said it was supposed to mean.) Different tone, character etc, but close enough in english. With a bit of luck the Spice Girls will be long forgotten before that becomes an issue though...

[Koneko]

From Wikipedia

On May 14, 2006, Halliwell gave birth to a daughter, Bluebell Madonna, by caesarean section at London's Portland Hospital with her sister by her side.

It's Bluebell not Qi.

K.

[geraldc]

No, scary spice had a daughter called Phoenix Chi