Chinese name tattoo
A Chinese tattoo is forever, and the internet is full of ones that say nothing, or the wrong thing. Start here with a name that is actually a name: a surname and a given name with meaning, in characters a Chinese reader recognises. Choose the script, pick the width on skin, and the tattoo pack gives you a stencil PDF that prints at real size, mockups on forearm, collarbone and nape, and a certificate of meaning signed by the native speaker who reviewed it. Show the certificate to your artist; keep it for the day someone asks what it says.
Already have a Chinese name?
Choose how it is written
Four pieces per collection. You can add another collection afterwards.
The first piece is written now, free. Unlock the rest when you like it.
How it works
Find a real Chinese name, or type the one you have. Read the meaning of every character.
See it written in the four scripts and pick the one you want on skin.
Set the width in centimetres. The tattoo pack gives you the real-size stencil, mockups and the certificate of meaning.
Questions
How do I know the characters are right?
The name is built from common simplified characters within rules a Chinese parent would use, and every tattoo pack is read by a native Mandarin speaker before the certificate is signed. The certificate lists each character, its pinyin and its meaning.
Which script works best for a tattoo?
Running script and clerical script read clearly at small sizes; seal script looks ancient and is the one most often mistaken for decoration. Cursive is beautiful but hard to read even for Chinese speakers. Our guide to tattoo mistakes goes into this.
Can my artist use the stencil directly?
Yes. The stencil PDF prints at the exact width you choose, with a centimetre scale on the page so the artist can check the size before transfer.
Read more
- Chinese tattoo mistakes, and how to check yours before the needleThe six ways Chinese character tattoos go wrong (wrong character, wrong order, a word instead of a name, font characters, mirrored strokes, meaning drift) and a checklist to run before you book.