Baby Names Inspired by Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a time of year when celebrants all around the world—mostly from China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Vietnam—take time to welcome the new year in accordance with the moon. This time is all about ushering gracefully the abundance that the new year can hold, whether that’s agriculturally or other types of nourishment well-wishes and old traditions can buy. A baby girl, boy, or gender-neutral baby name inspired by Chinese New Year embraces the yearly goals of prosperity and health no matter what day of the year it is.
Explore Baby Girl and Boy Names Inspired by Chinese New Year
How did the tradition of Chinese New Year begin?
As is the start of so many traditions, Chinese New Year began with legends. A story that began with a monster named Nian thousands of years ago—actually named the “Year” when translated to English—known for its aggression borne from fear. From bright lights and loud noises to the age-old associations of bulls with the color red, Nian could be deterred. With these deterrents in mind, the celebrants of Chinese New Year could usher in the next year safely by shooting fireworks and firecrackers and decorating and dressing in red.
What are Chinese New Year traditions?
Like so many New Year traditions around the world, Chinese New Year is a time for cleansing. Cleaning the home to rid it of last year’s baggage and bad luck is an essential part of this period. In addition to honoring the physical space, this period is also a time of honoring the familial space. When ringing in the new year, it gives time for reflection on the family as a whole; visiting family members and honoring ancestors are crucial parts of this time of year.
What makes a Chinese New Year baby name?
A Chinese New Year baby name embraces the spirit of one of the most important festivals of the year in China. With names highlighting a parent’s well wishes of abundance and strong harvests, the ideal message usually encapsulates the ancient quest for safety and fulfillment. However, these traditions follow the lunar cycle—the reason for this period becoming known as the Lunar New Year—and as a result, some of these names are distinctly moon-influenced.