chinese name for China

[新墨西哥人]

I'm kind of having fun coming up with Chinese names for my husband, myself and my daughter in the event we get to live in Shanghai next year. But do we actually need them? My daughter would be in preschool so seems like a Chinese name would be very useful. My husband's application to be a visiting scientist asks for a Chinese name but that might be optional, I'm not sure. We can ask his collaborator as well.

 

Is it OK to choose a name and enter it? And just use these unofficial names for everyday things when it is easier than using our English names?

 

I might as well let you know my ideas, in case I'm doing something that would be inauspicious or just plain wrong/inappropriate.

 

I've think our surname would be 李 (an homage to hubbies dad's first name, and my daughter's name would be the same as her aunt's first & middle name (Alice Lee), whom she was named after). Plus easy to say and is a common surname

 

Idea for my daughter's name: 阿麗思 (阿麗 acutally would be preferable if acceptable, or another way to say Ali). Her name is Alice as you might have guessed. And is there an alternative to 麗 or would I have to learn to write that character? ;) I googled Alice in wonderland to figure it out, btw. Would it be OK as a name in China or unusual?

 

When I asked my daughter what she would like her name to be she said she wants to be named Snow White (白雪公主）My Chinese teacher sure laughed at that one, well I admit I do too. ;) She is obviously obsessed with Snow White. Out of curiousity is 白雪 is an option? It would seem totally weird to me to basically name her after her skin color, though, even if it was. Plus I vastly prefer the phonetic translation of her name.

 

I haven't come up with names for my husband and myself.  I'll probably just pick out something I like (instead of a translation of Rachel). I could have John use the translation of his name 约翰 or of course let him choose something else he likes. anyway I would like to hear what you have to say.

 

 

 

 

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I would wait a while. No need to do it now.

 

My husband's application to be a visiting scientist asks for a Chinese name but that might be optional, I'm not sure.

 

It's optional.

 

After you get to China and make some Chinese friends, you can gather additional opinions from people who know you personally. Your family will be more likely to wind up with Chinese names that sound OK and don't elicit laughter or groans.