The first name China
A girl’s name meaning “china”, “the chinese”, “qin”.
Pronounced /ˈt͡ʃaɪnə/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
China means “china”, “the chinese”, “qin”.
From Portuguese China, from possibly Venetan Cina probably under influence from Old French Chin, from Classical Persian چین (čīn) under influence from Medieval Latin Sīna (“China”), from Middle Persian 𐭰𐭩𐭭 (Čīn, “China”), from Sanskrit चीन (cīna, “the Chinese; China”) of uncertain etymology. It is usually thought to be derived from Chinese 秦 (Qín) (sm Qín, mc d͡zin, oc *dziŋ, "Qin"), the westernmost ancient Chinese state, but other theories have been proposed, including derivation from 晉 /晋 (jìn) (sm Jìn, mc t͡sinh, oc *tsiŋh, "Jin"), another important ancient state; 荊 /荆 (jīng) (sm Jīng, mc kɹaŋ, oc *kreŋ, "Chu"), the southernmost ancient Chinese state; or Zina, the endonym of the people of the Yelang kingdom. See "Names of China" and "Chinas" at Wikipedia. As a female name, usually derived via china (“porcelain”) and china doll, ultimately from the same source.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
China last appeared in the official list in 2014, given to 5 girls. It peaked in 1998, with 20 births (#1,036).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare China with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named China at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 8 girls born in the United States were named China, the 11,148th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1992, when 245 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
China in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled China in Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish too.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Chin
- Chyna
Famous people named China
8 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- China Anne McClainAmerican actress and singer (born 1998)
- China MiévilleEnglish writer, critic, and activist (born 1972)
- China ForbesAmerican singer, songwriter, born 1970
- China MosesAmerican singer and TV host, born 1978
- China ChowEnglish actress and model, born 1974
- China ShaversAmerican actress, born 1977
- China MachadoFormer fashion model, editor and television producer, 1929–2016
- China LeeAmerican actress and model, born 1942
Questions
- What does the name China mean?
- China means “china”, “the chinese”, “qin”.
- How popular is the name China?
- In 2014, 5 girls born in England and Wales were named China, ranking 4,003rd. Its peak was 1998, with 20 births.
- Is China a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 4,618 US babies named China since 1880 were girls.
- When was China most popular?
- 1992 in the United States, when 245 babies were named China, its highest rank at 816th.
- How do you pronounce China?
- China is /ˈt͡ʃaɪnə/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of China?
- Chin and Chyna.
- Is China also a surname?
- Yes. China is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.