清扬
A face you can read
有美一人，清扬婉兮。
There is a beautiful person, clear-browed and graceful.
诗经 · 野有蔓草
· our translation
This is the earliest place Chinese uses 清 for a person's appearance: brows clear and open. The word starts as visible cleanliness.
「清扬」写的是眉目之间清秀舒展。汉语最早用「清」写人的样子，就是从这里开始的——清先是看得见的干净。
自守
Not the same as the crowd
举世皆浊我独清，众人皆醉我独醒。
The whole world is muddy and I alone am clear; everyone is drunk and I alone am sober.
楚辞 · 渔父
· our translation
Qu Yuan's line, and the price was exile. In a name this is less about defiance than about not becoming what surrounds you.
屈原的话，代价是被放逐。名字取这一层时，取的往往不是对抗，而是不肯同流的那点自持。
清浊自取
You decide which
清斯濯缨，浊斯濯足矣，自取之也。
If the water is clear, wash your hat-ribbon; if it is muddy, wash your feet — the water brings it on itself.
孟子 · 離婁上
· our translation
Clear water washes a hat-ribbon; muddy water washes feet. How others use you follows from what you are.
孟子引孔子的话：清水洗帽缨，浊水洗脚，别人怎么用你，取决于你是什么水。名字里的「清」，这一层最硬。
清扬清泉清风清和清越清川清远清言
In a name
Not coldness: transparency — you can see the bottom.
「清」不是冷，是透亮——看得出底。