Kaelyn = 凯琳

[querido]

I read and obeyed the instructions.

Googling, I get Kaelyn, Cailin, Karen <> 凯琳 kǎilín. This is, I think, 1) a good-enough transliteration, 2) obviously a girl's name, 3) common enough, and 4) also a real Chinese name I think- all very desirable properties.

When asked what it "means" I can invent a way to avoid saying "triumphant beauty" :-) until she's older ;-). I, myself, like 凯林 kǎilín, and I've seen it used, but as a boy's name. I could mention that the 林 in 琳 can have something to do with literature, "a collection of literary works", a "chain (tradition) of scholars (...of beautiful books ;-))", (though 林 is said to be only a phonetic component in 琳); see, 凯林 is the name of a Chinese jewelry store that gives its name in English as "Victory Links", but in 琳 they are also beautiful. ;-) :-)

Here's an interesting name-structural and phonetic coincidence: The female lead character of a NickJr show called "Ni Hao Kai-lan" is named 凯兰 kǎilán。That name has this girl's-name-form (victorious, triumphant, triumphal)+(something pretty), in this case orchid. But my dictionary also gives the definition for 兰 of "moral excellence". So when asked what 凯兰 means I can say something like "successful with doing the right thing" (which is what the show is about), and when asked what 凯琳 means, I can say something like "successful with beautiful books". And then I would "crack" and say "successful AND beautiful". :-) :-) :-)

So, Kaelyn=凯琳. :-)

Any other ideas?

Thank you.

[daulphin]

Yes, there may be other translations, but the one you chose "凯琳" sure stands out, it not only fits to the "sense" of chinese taste, but also a cute name itself.

Go on and good luck.

[querido]

Thanks!