Need help getting a Chinese name

[Banestyrelsen]

Hi all,

I'm applying for a university in Bejing and need to think of a Chinese name.

My first name is Valdemar, usually shortened to Val. It's Scandinavian and means "bringer of peace" or something along those lines. My surname is Johansen (pronounced Yohansen). I'm a guy, in case that wasn't clear.

Could you guys help me think of a Chinese name that sounds okay?

[monto]

How about 乔沃德?

[muyongshi]

I would go with the surname 周 even though the pronunciation isn't exactly like your name but it's close, and then many names use the character 平 or 安 so I would go with one of those and some other character. I honestly don't like a name that is just based off the pronunciation and think the meaning is more important. So I actually don't like monto's suggestion at all (sh) (sorry monto )

[monto]

So I actually don't like monto's suggestion at all (sorry monto )

If we liked exactly the same we all would have had the same name. That would be horrible !

[Banestyrelsen]

Thanks for helping me out!

It's not necessary for it to phonetically resemble my Western name. I actually wouldn't mind a complete phonetic change, though if I could keep the "peace" theme intact I would be happy, since it does describe my personality as well.

I'd really like to use 安 in my first name like muyongshi suggested. I also think 周 makes a good surname.

Could you guys give me some suggestions of male first names with 安 in them?

[skylee]

Consider -

游維安 (you2 wei2 an1)

游衛安 (you2 wei4 an1)

尤維安 (you2 wei2 an1)

尤衛安 (you2 wei4 an1)

If you don't mind dropping the 安, I think 游偉/尤偉 are also good choices.

[Banestyrelsen]

All are good suggestions.

I like the way 周維安 sounds. Could I go with that?

[imron]

How about 周安森?

[renzhe]

How about 周安森?

IMHO, that's perfect.

[Lu]

I like that! Sounds vaguely exotic and decidedly un-cliche, yet really Chinese, and it fits perfectly with your surname and your given name.

(But wait for a native speaker to comment (or is renzhe a native speaker, I forgot).)

[Banestyrelsen]

What do the native speakers think? Should I go with 周安森?

[renzhe]

I'm far from being a native speaker, I just really liked it. It sounds like Johansen, has the meaning he wanted, and sounds like a Chinese name.

[L-F-J]

周安森 doesnt sound very chinese to me. its just like a transliteration of your real name. and with 3 first tones its kind of ugly, not melodious at all.

i'd rather suggest 周卫安 zhou1 wei4an1 or 周卫平 zhou1 wei4ping2.

its better sounding and the meaning is closer to what you want. in this case, 卫 means to defend, 平 and 安 both carry the meaning of peace.

and with the difference in tone it sounds more melodious, and thus chinese. you have both meaning, sound, and musical tone.

i'd go with either of these two.

[Banestyrelsen]

I really appreciate all the help I'm getting.

Any native speakers here who could help me choose?

[skylee]

You said your surname Johansen is pronounced Yohansen. Why do you prefer 周 to 游 / 尤?

[L-F-J]

Any native speakers here who could help me choose?

my wife is a native speaker. when i told her 周安森 she said "thats sick!" lol , then she also suggested either 周卫安 or 周卫平.

which is similar to the names suggested by skylee, who is also a native speaker.