Help: I need a Chinese name...

[Kike]

Hey everyone!

So I'm hoping that there'll be a few Manderin geniuses hanging around these parts of the forums...

I heard a couple of weeks ago that I was admitted to an English master at Tsinghua University, and that I'll be needing a brand new CHINESE name for my student ID card. My contact said I had to do my best in getting one, even though I have no clue as to how. My Chinese is very, very basic, so I'm finding this a difficult task.

So far I've found a few common Chinese female names, but they don't feel very personal, so I'd rather still look at any options available for translating my English name.

So I was wondering if a few of you could help me with translating my name, or atleast if you could give me few suggestions so I could figure something out myself...

My real name is 'Kirsten' (as in Kiersten), but my nickname 'Kike/Kika' (as in, kieke/kieka) would be fine too I guess. My nicknames might be easier to translate than my real name.

Thanks already for the help!

[DespikableMi]

There are many transcriptions for the female given name "Kirsten" but it all depends on your choice:

Transcriptions:

1. 基尔斯腾 Jī'ěrsīténg - This is probably the most direct and standard transcription. However, /k/ + /iː ɪ (j)/ syllables are palatalized into /tɕi/

2. 克丽丝汀Kèlìsītīng - This name is the best in my opinion because it makes use of two characters reserved for female names transcription （丽、丝）. It also replaces「基」with character「克」to reflect a more accurate pronunciation of the original name. Lastly, although the reading of the character「汀」is less accurate compared to 「腾」, this character is better not only because it's easier to write but because its radical also makes the character more appealing （「氵」vs.「马」）

3. 克莉丝汀Kèlìsītīng - Alternate form of 「克丽丝汀」

Note:

「丽、莉」are both characters reserved to transcript female names. However, you can replace「丽」with「里」and「莉」with「利」which I don't recommend because it reduces the femininity of the name

[陳德聰]

Do you want a transliteration of your English name or do you want a more Chinese type name, i.e., surname + one/two given characters?

I think it is always nice to meet people with Chinese names that don't sound like the "Chinese version" of their English names, but that might just be me.

[feifei0131]

Hi, how about "琪佳“？(Qi Jia) It has close pronunciation with "Kika", it is more like name of real Chinese girl, rather than simply translating. and it has good meaning as well. If you let me know your family name, I may think of a traditional Chinese family name for you

[lukoktonos]

克·思婷 Kè Sītíng is a variation that sounds more "Chinese" and feminine. 克 Kè is the "Last" name or 姓, and 思婷 is the "First" or given name/名字.

可可 kěkě is a cute little nickname you could use if you want it to be similar to your nickname in English.

[Lu]

Is 克 a surname? Another surname that sounds like Ke is 柯. That would make you 柯思婷, 'Ke thinking about beauty'.

But I also like feifei's idea, 琪佳. 琪 is often 'translated' to Kiki in movies and such, so it makes sense. You'll need another surname to go with this name though. What would you like a surname to sound like/mean?

[lukoktonos]

Although it isn't in my dictionary as one, I guess it is a surname, just uncommon. My girlfriend thought up the name so I guess she thought of it as a normal enough surname.

Here's more information than I could imagine anyone wanting about it, which I found quite funny when baiduing it to find out, haha.

http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/44853897.html

[Kike]

Hey thanks so much for all the help!

I really like some of the ideas here... and anyway I think they'll all help me make a decision on the name!

Having a name which sounds like a real Chinese name might be nice, as long as I can remember what it is haha.

I think my favourite so far is 琪佳 (Qi Jia), just because it's quiet simple and it sounds cute.

But I'll still think about it a bit.

As for surnames, I have a few ideas already. Seems to be a lot easier to create a lastname than a firstname.

Thanks again !