💡Last Name (Chinese meaning) | Is it a given name or a surname? Tutorial on filling out First Name/Forename/Surname forms 🚀📚
Publication date: 06/06/2025
[English Name Filling Guide] What are the Chinese translations of First name and Last name? Is First name the surname or the given name? Parents, you need to understand this in one article! 🧐
Whether it's enrolling in overseas courses, applying for school forms, or buying plane tickets for international travel, many Hong Kong parents often feel confused when encountering English terms like "First name" and "Last name"—is "First name" the surname or given name? Is "Last name" the surname? What is the Chinese for "Given name"? How should "First name" be filled in? These questions seem simple, but if filled in incorrectly, they can affect the validity of documents or even lead to application rejection!
Today we'll answer all your questions about "first name, last name, and Chinese characters" in one go, and we'll also teach you how to correctly convert your child's Chinese name into English, helping you avoid mistakes and making form filling a breeze! 👇
1.📌 Understand the Chinese meaning of First name and Last name in one go
💡In Hong Kong, children's Chinese names are usually arranged in the order of "surname given name," such as "Chen Xiaoming" or "Wang Jiaxin," which is the reverse of the order in English names. In English, "first name" is the given name, and "last name" is the surname. 👄
Examples: Siu Ming Chan & Ka Yan Wong
- ✅ First name (Chinese meaning: name, e.g., Xiaoming, Jiaxin)
- ✅ Last name (Chinese meaning: surname, such as Chen, Wang)
This is why when filling out English forms, you're often asked, "What should I write for my first name?" or "Is my last name my surname?"
The answer is: Last name is the Chinese surname, and First name is the given name.
2. 🔁 Confused about First name, Last name, Given name, and Surname?
Here's a breakdown for you:
Explanation of the Chinese meaning of English words
First name: This is usually the name you use to address someone, such as "Xiao Ming".
Last name: Surname or family name, such as "Chen", "Li", or "Huang".
Given name: The name (including middle name) includes a first name and a middle name.
Surname: British usage of surname, equivalent to Last name
Family name: Surname is equivalent to last name, and is more formal.
Forename: A synonym for First name
Middle name: The middle name is placed between the first name and the last name. This is common among Europeans and Americans.
Full name： 全名 First name Middle name Last name
Alias (nickname/alias, such as Chris, Amy) is used in social or informal settings.
🧒 Example Explanation: Taking the child's name Chan Siu Ming as an example
- First name: Siu Ming (first name)
- Last name: Chan (surname)
- Full name：Chan Siu Ming
- Given name: Siu Ming (or Siu Ming middle name, if applicable)
- Surname / Family name：Chan
🌍 Why are English names divided into First name and Last name?
🧐In Western culture, the last name represents family lineage, while the first name is an individual's identifying name. Some people also have a middle name, such as Nicole Mary Kidman.
- Nicole is the first name
- Mary 是 Middle name
- Kidman is the last name
However, middle names are not common for us Chinese, so if you do not have a middle name when filling out the English form, you can leave it blank.
3. 🛂 Instructions for filling out the form "First name, last name (in Chinese)" (applicable to passports/visas/application forms)
In official documents, such as passports or university application forms, the order and spelling of names are particularly important:
✅ Correct Example:
- English spelling: HUI, KONG-HON (许光汉)
- First name：KONG-HON
- Last name：HUI
🔸 Surname first, followed by a comma, then the given name. 🔸 A hyphen (-) or a space can be used between names, for example, KONG-HON or KONG HON are both acceptable.
📌 Important Reminder:
- The last name must match the passport.
- Avoid swapping the surname and given name, otherwise they will be considered different individuals.
- If unsure, you can use the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Name Translation System" or the pinyin suggestions provided by your school.
4. ❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
🔸 Is the first name the surname or the given name?
➡️ It's a first name, not a surname!
🔸 Is "last name" a given name?
➡️ No, Last name is the surname.
🔸 How to interpret "First name" and "Last name" in Chinese?
➡️ First name is the given name, and last name is the surname.
🔸 How should I fill in my first name?
➡️ Enter your child's name (e.g., Siu Ming); if you have a middle name, add it.
💡 Essential Tip for Parents: Don't Forget Your Child's Surname When Choosing an English Name!
In Hong Kong, many students use English names such as Amy or Jason, but these are usually just aliases. In official documents, the full name as it appears on the passport should be used. Therefore:
- Correct use of First name and Last name
- Understanding the meaning of Given name and Family name
- Don't confuse last name with first name anymore!
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