Name in InkChoose a style

Chinese calligraphy generator

Write your name in Chinese calligraphy.

Type your name. We suggest Chinese characters that fit its sound and meaning, then you choose a brush style.

1

Your name or word

2

Choose your characters

  • 幸福xìng fúMeaningRecommendedHappiness
Happiness in Chinese: meaning and history
幸福

xìng fú

Happiness

Live preview · Kaishu Regular

幸
xìngfortunate
福
fúblessing
3

Brush style

Classic regular script with real brush weight. The clearest choice for names.

4Fine-tuneink, paper, layout, seal

Ink

Layout

Paper

Seal (up to 4 characters)

5

Take it home

Name keepsake

$9one-time

Your name in Chinese to keep, frame or give: art, certificate and pronunciation.

  • All seven brush styles, 4000 px, no watermark
  • Rice-paper and transparent versions
  • Name certificate (PDF) explaining every character
  • Mandarin pronunciation audio, female and male voice
  • Name seal, phone and desktop wallpapers, print-ready layouts

How we choose your characters

A name in Chinese is a choice, not a lookup.

Most English names have no single “correct” Chinese spelling. Machine translation often picks characters that sound right but read oddly. We prepare each option individually and show you exactly what it says.

音

Sound

A phonetic option uses the characters Chinese speakers already use for your name, such as 莎拉 for Sarah.

意

Meaning

A Chinese-style name stays close to the sound but reads like a real given name, like 思雅, “thoughtful elegance”.

明

Clarity

Every option shows pinyin with tones and the meaning of each character, so nothing ends up on your wall or skin by surprise.

Brush styles

Two thousand years in one character.

Each style writes 永 (yǒng, “eternal”), the character calligraphy students practise first because it holds every basic brush stroke. They are shown in the order Chinese writing developed, from carved seal script to the modern brush. Clear styles read best at small sizes; flowing ones carry more movement.

  • 永

    Qin dynasty · 3rd c. BC

    Zhuanshu Seal

    篆书

    Ancient small seal script, the style carved on name seals. Written in traditional forms; beautiful but hard to read.

  • 永

    Han dynasty · 2nd c. BC

    Lishu Clerical

    隶书

    Han dynasty clerical script: flat, wide characters with swallow-tail strokes. Written in traditional forms.

  • 永

    Han to Jin · 1st–4th c.

    Caoshu Cursive

    草书

    Wild grass script, the most expressive style. Best for one or two characters.

  • 永

    Jin dynasty · 4th c.

    Xingshu Running

    行书

    Semi-cursive running script: strokes connect, but characters stay readable.

  • 永

    Wei to Tang · 3rd–7th c.

    Kaishu Regular

    楷书

    Classic regular script with real brush weight. The clearest choice for names.

  • 永

    Modern display

    Classic Display

    美术体

    A calm, decorative display style that stays easy to read at any size.

  • 永

    Modern brush hand

    Freehand Brush

    行草

    Loose, personal handwriting with visible brush speed.

  • Your turn

    Your name in all seven.

    Switch styles in the studio above and download a free preview of any of them.

    Try it with your name

Questions, answered.

Does Name in Ink translate my name into Chinese?

Yes. Type your name in English and you get two or three Chinese options: one that sounds like your name, and Chinese-style names that are close in sound with a good meaning. Each option shows pinyin and what every character means, so you can choose with confidence.

Which option should I choose?

Choose the standard spelling if you want your name the way Chinese speakers actually say and write it: it is what you would see in Chinese books, films and news. Choose the name with meaning if you care most about what the characters say; it stays close to your name's sound and reads like a real Chinese given name.

Why isn't my name in the library yet?

Every name is prepared one by one instead of machine-translated, so the library grows gradually. Until your name is added you can pick a meaningful word, or enter Chinese characters you have already confirmed.

Is the free download good enough to print?

The free PNG is a watermarked preview for sharing and comparing styles. HD artwork removes the watermark, adds high resolution and transparent versions, and includes all seven brush styles.

Can I use this for a tattoo?

Yes, many people do. Tattoos are permanent, so show the characters and meaning to a fluent reader and bring the tattoo reference pack to your artist so line weight and spacing survive the transfer.