Orient Name
› Surnames › 林
林 Lin — a top-40 surname
89.0 / 100 overall fit
Build a name on this surname →
| Pinyin | Lin |
|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
|---|
| Commonness | a top-40 surname |
|---|
| Type | single-character |
|---|
| Theme | Nature |
|---|
Where the surname comes from
A major surname of Fujian and Guangdong, spread widely across Southeast Asia.
What the character means
a forest — vitality and growth
Classical source：《诗经·小雅·宾之初筵》：‘百礼既至，有壬有林。’
Theme basis：林 = forest
Why it scores this way
Easy to say96
Reads the way it looks for an English speaker — no sounds English doesn't have.
Recognised in China88
A very common surname (roughly the top 40 in China).
Easy to write80
8 strokes — a little practice and it flows.
People who carried this name
- Lin Zexu — Qing official (1785–1850) famed for opposing the opium trade; hero of the Opium War era.
- Lin Huiyin — Renowned Chinese architect and poet, co-designed China's national emblem and contributed to preserving ancient architecture.
- Lin Yutang — Chinese writer and inventor, author of 'My Country and My People' and inventor of the Chinese typewriter.
Build a name on this surname →
Other surnames with the same feel
中文版