How i chose my chinese name or rather how it chose me I'm not really sure what is the right process and the right criterion for choosing a Chinese name My guesses are that 1, It in some way reflects your character 2. It In some way is related to your existing name 3. It Is given to you by someone who knows you (to an extent) and lastly 4. that you should like it :-) My good friend suggested this name - 健哲 So here's how i have subjected (honestly...tried to fit) my chinese name to the criteria listed above 1. Reflects your character I would say that im a bit of many things, ,mainly - inquisitive, intellectual and optimistic and i love the outdoors I guess inquisitive and intellectual go well with 哲 My love of the outdoors and keeping fit go well with 健 2. Relates to your existing name My name (and i have had only one name before this) is Austin Which is derived from Augustine which comes from the latin word "Augustus" which means royal We'll im in no way royal or related to royalty. :-) I can see how 健哲 is related to royalty too. So i guess for this criterion theres no real relationship 3. It is given to you by someone who knows you My good friend knows me well alright and even to an extent that my choices and moods are now predictable. So a tick in the box for this step 4. That you like it Well it wasnt love at first sight, but then i decided to learn how to write this name in calligraphic form and damn do i love it now to add to the fact i can barely recognise just over 200 characters and and write a measely few 10s of them but having written this name with chinese ink on rice paper over a 100 times now i have fallen in love with it :-) I also quite like the sound of it now and have related it to a common english adage - Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy (健), wealthy and wise (哲) For all those looking for a chinese name, i hope this article provides some food for thought P.S. one note about the picture attached that it is missing the 人 radical in 健