I’ve helped many of my students create their Mandarin names using a special method, and they’ve all loved the results!

Sometimes, I notice that many foreigners choose Mandarin names by simply translating the pronunciation of their English names directly.

For example:

• Jonathan = 強納森 (Qiáng Nàsēn)
• Jack = 傑克 (Jié Kè)

When Taiwanese people see these names, we can instantly tell you’re a foreigner.

Other times, I see foreigners pick “cool” characters like 龍 (lóng, meaning "dragon") or 美 (měi, meaning "pretty"). However, these characters are often used in names from older generations, making them seem outdated or unusual for younger people.

Personally, I like to take my students’ full names—including their surnames—and select characters that align with both the meaning and naming conventions of modern Taiwanese culture. This way, the name feels authentic and natural, making it hard for people to tell you’re a foreigner just by looking at it.

Here are some examples of names I’ve created for my students:

• 羅妍楠 (Luó Yánnán)
• 韋德安 (Wéi Dé’ān)
• 韓寧 (Hán Níng) Honey
• 江柏陞 (Jiāng Bóshēng)

While I can’t share their original English names for privacy reasons, I can tell you that these Mandarin names are inspired by their real names and are designed to look just like authentic Taiwanese names. My students absolutely love them!

This naming service is exclusively for Estela’s students.

If you’d like an amazing Mandarin name that feels natural and modern, I’d be happy to create one for you!