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60 Names from Tang Poetry and Song Lyrics: Drawing from Li Bai, Su Shi, and the Masters

Mar 30, 2026

Tang poetry and Song lyrics represent the pinnacle of Chinese literature — and they remain the most popular inspiration for parents naming their children today. In BabyNameAi's (好名宝 / HaoMingBao) poetry naming tool, Tang and Song works consistently top user queries. But many parents face two challenges: identifying which lines actually work as names, and ensuring those names are practical — not just poetic but free of obscure characters, awkward homophones, or sky-high duplication rates.

This article draws 60 usable modern names from six literary giants: Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei, Su Shi, Xin Qiji, and Li Qingzhao. Each entry includes the precise source, Five Elements attributes, and a practical assessment. These examples also demonstrate how BabyNameAi's three-layer naming engine works: traditional constraints (bazi / Five Elements) → AI generation (literary matching) → practical validation (rare characters / homophones / duplication).

Li Bai: Romantic Grandeur of the High Tang

Li Bai's poetry is known for wild imagination and sweeping momentum — ideal for bold, spirited names.

Boys

  1. 云帆 (Yún Fān, "cloud sail")
    Source: 「长风破浪会有时,直挂云帆济沧海」("The day will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves; I'll hoist my cloud-white sails and cross the sea"), from Xing Lu Nan (《行路难·其一》)
    Five Elements: Water-Water
    Assessment: Conveys ambition and forward motion. Clear pronunciation, moderate duplication rate.

  2. 明远 (Míng Yuǎn, "bright and far-reaching")
    Source: Derived from 「小时不识月,呼作白玉盘」("As a child I knew not the moon, and called it a white jade plate"), Gu Lang Yue Xing (《古朗月行》) — combines "bright moon" with "distant aspiration"
    Five Elements: Fire-Earth
    Assessment: Classic pairing. Luminous and aspirational, no homophone issues.

  3. 长歌 (Cháng Gē, "long song")
    Source: Alludes to 「人生得意须尽欢」("When life brings joy, seize it fully"), Jiang Jin Jiu (《将进酒》), invoking the Chang Ge Xing tradition
    Five Elements: Fire-Wood
    Assessment: Bold and carefree. Suits an outgoing personality. Note that 歌 has 14 strokes.

  4. 青云 (Qīng Yún, "azure clouds")
    Source: 「大鹏一日同风起,扶摇直上九万里」("The great roc rises with the wind one day, soaring ninety thousand li"), Shang Li Yong (《上李邕》) — evokes "rising to the azure clouds," a metaphor for career success
    Five Elements: Metal-Water
    Assessment: Auspicious for advancement, but high duplication. Best with a distinctive surname.

  5. 星河 (Xīng Hé, "starry river")
    Source: 「飞流直下三千尺,疑是银河落九天」("The torrent plunges three thousand feet — as if the Milky Way were falling from the ninth heaven"), Wang Lu Shan Pu Bu (《望庐山瀑布》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Water
    Assessment: Expansive imagery. Increasingly popular in recent years; watch for duplication.

Girls

  1. 清秋 (Qīng Qiū, "clear autumn")
    Source: 「长风万里送秋雁,对此可以酣高楼」("A long wind escorts the autumn geese ten thousand li; facing this, one may drink deeply in the tall tower"), Xuan Zhou Xie Tiao Lou Jian Bie Xiao Shu Shu Yun (《宣州谢脁楼饯别校书叔云》)
    Five Elements: Water-Metal
    Assessment: Elegant and refined. Especially fitting for autumn-born girls.

  2. 瑶光 (Yáo Guāng, "jade radiance")
    Source: 「又疑瑶台镜,飞在青云端」("Or perhaps it's a mirror from the jade terrace, flying among the azure clouds"), Gu Lang Yue Xing (《古朗月行》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Fire
    Assessment: Yaokuang is one of the Big Dipper stars. Conveys purity and brilliance.

  3. 碧云 (Bì Yún, "jade-green clouds")
    Source: Yi Qin E · Xiao Sheng Ye (《忆秦娥·箫声咽》)
    Five Elements: Water-Water
    Assessment: Vivid color imagery, though 碧 has 14 strokes.

  4. 明月 (Míng Yuè, "bright moon")
    Source: 「床前明月光,疑是地上霜」("Moonlight before my bed — I thought it frost upon the ground"), Jing Ye Si (《静夜思》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Wood
    Assessment: Timeless classic, but extremely high duplication. Not recommended as a standalone choice.

Du Fu: Grounded Depth and Realist Concern

Du Fu's style is somber and layered, but he also wrote fresh, lucid lines — suitable for steady, substantive names.

Boys

  1. 锦城 (Jǐn Chéng, "brocade city")
    Source: 「晓看红湿处,花重锦官城」("At dawn I see where red petals lie damp; flowers weigh heavy on Brocade City"), Chun Ye Xi Yu (《春夜喜雨》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Earth
    Assessment: Jinguan City is Chengdu. Evokes prosperity and beauty.

  2. 千秋 (Qiān Qiū, "a thousand autumns")
    Source: Context from Deng Gao (《登高》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Metal
    Assessment: Conveys endurance and grandeur.

  3. 会当 (Huì Dāng, "one day shall")
    Source: 「会当凌绝顶,一览众山小」("One day I shall reach the summit, and all peaks will seem small"), Wang Yue (《望岳》)
    Five Elements: Water-Fire
    Assessment: Aspirational, but reads as classical Chinese — less modern fluency.

Girls

  1. 晓红 (Xiǎo Hóng, "dawn red")
    Source: 「晓看红湿处,花重锦官城」, Chun Ye Xi Yu (《春夜喜雨》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Water
    Assessment: Fresh and natural, but high duplication.

  2. 细雨 (Xì Yǔ, "fine rain")
    Source: 「好雨知时节,当春乃发生。随风潜入夜,润物细无声」("Good rain knows its season; it comes when spring begins. Stealing in on the wind by night, it moistens all things silently"), Chun Ye Xi Yu (《春夜喜雨》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Water
    Assessment: Gentle and delicate. Suits a quiet temperament.

  3. 江月 (Jiāng Yuè, "river moon")
    Source: 「星垂平野阔,月涌大江流」("Stars hang over the broad plain; the moon surges in the great river's flow"), Lü Ye Shu Huai (《旅夜书怀》)
    Five Elements: Water-Wood
    Assessment: Expansive imagery. Works well with single-character surnames.

Wang Wei: Serene Landscapes and Zen Clarity

Wang Wei's poetry merges painting and verse, evoking tranquil, meditative imagery — ideal for understated, elegant names.

Boys

  1. 明月 (Míng Yuè, "bright moon")
    Source: 「明月松间照,清泉石上流」("Bright moon shines through the pines; clear spring flows over the stones"), Shan Ju Qiu Ming (《山居秋暝》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Wood
    Assessment: Beautiful imagery, but extremely high duplication.

  2. 清泉 (Qīng Quán, "clear spring")
    Source: 「明月松间照,清泉石上流」, Shan Ju Qiu Ming (《山居秋暝》)
    Five Elements: Water-Water
    Assessment: Refined and pure. Conveys clarity.

  3. 知音 (Zhī Yīn, "kindred spirit")
    Source: Alludes to 「劝君更尽一杯酒,西出阳关无故人」("I urge you to drain one more cup; west of Yang Pass, no old friends remain"), Song Yuan Er Shi An Xi (《送元二使安西》) — evokes the rarity of true understanding
    Five Elements: Fire-Earth
    Assessment: Conveys deep friendship. Suits families who value loyalty and connection.

Girls

  1. 秋暝 (Qiū Míng, "autumn dusk")
    Source: Title of Shan Ju Qiu Ming (《山居秋暝》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Water
    Assessment: Evocative and distant, but 暝 is rare (14 strokes).

  2. 晚秋 (Wǎn Qiū, "late autumn")
    Source: 「空山新雨后,天气晚来秋」("After fresh rain on the empty mountain, the weather turns to autumn as evening comes"), Shan Ju Qiu Ming (《山居秋暝》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Metal
    Assessment: Gentle and reserved. Fitting for autumn births.

  3. 采薇 (Cǎi Wēi, "gathering ferns")
    Source: Alludes to Song Bie (《送别》) and the Shi Jing (《诗经》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Wood
    Assessment: Elegant and classical. Carries literary resonance.

Su Shi: Bold Vision and Philosophical Ease

Su Shi's lyrics range from grand and unrestrained to tender and introspective — suitable for names with breadth and philosophical depth.

Boys

  1. 子瞻 (Zǐ Zhān, "gazing afar")
    Source: Su Shi's courtesy name
    Five Elements: Water-Metal
    Assessment: Direct homage to Su Shi. Conveys far-sightedness.

  2. 千里 (Qiān Lǐ, "a thousand li")
    Source: 「但愿人长久,千里共婵娟」("May we live long and share the moon's beauty, though a thousand li apart"), Shui Diao Ge Tou · Ming Yue Ji Shi You (《水调歌头·明月几时有》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Fire
    Assessment: Conveys ambition and reach, but high duplication.

  3. 长空 (Cháng Kōng, "vast sky")
    Source: Context from Nian Nu Jiao · Chi Bi Huai Gu (《念奴娇·赤壁怀古》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Wood
    Assessment: Sweeping and open. Suits an outgoing personality.

Girls

  1. 婵娟 (Chán Juān, "graceful beauty")
    Source: 「但愿人长久,千里共婵娟」, Shui Diao Ge Tou · Ming Yue Ji Shi You (《水调歌头·明月几时有》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Wood
    Assessment: Auspicious and lovely, though somewhat traditional.

  2. 清影 (Qīng Yǐng, "clear shadow")
    Source: 「起舞弄清影,何似在人间」("I rise and dance with my clear shadow — what is this like, being in the mortal world?"), Shui Diao Ge Tou · Ming Yue Ji Shi You (《水调歌头·明月几时有》)
    Five Elements: Water-Earth
    Assessment: Refined and evocative. Beautiful imagery.

  3. 烟雨 (Yān Yǔ, "mist and rain")
    Source: 「一蓑烟雨任平生」("In straw cape and rain, I pass my life as I please"), Ding Feng Bo (《定风波》)
    Five Elements: Fire-Water
    Assessment: Hazy and poetic. Suits a gentle temperament.

Xin Qiji: Passionate Patriotism and Unyielding Spirit

Xin Qiji's lyrics are bold and charged with patriotic fervor — ideal for names conveying integrity and resolve.

Boys

  1. 青山 (Qīng Shān, "green mountains")
    Source: 「青山遮不住,毕竟东流去」("Green mountains cannot block it; the river flows east in the end"), Pu Sa Man · Shu Jiang Xi Zao Kou Bi (《菩萨蛮·书江西造口壁》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Earth
    Assessment: Conveys steadfastness, but high duplication.

  2. 千古 (Qiān Gǔ, "through the ages")
    Source: 「千古江山,英雄无觅孙仲谋处」("Through the ages, these rivers and mountains — yet nowhere can we find a hero like Sun Quan"), Yong Yu Le · Jing Kou Bei Gu Ting Huai Gu (《永遇乐·京口北固亭怀古》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Wood
    Assessment: Grand and enduring. Conveys lasting legacy.

  3. 金戈 (Jīn Gē, "golden spear")
    Source: 「想当年,金戈铁马,气吞万里如虎」("I recall those years — golden spears and iron steeds, spirit swallowing ten thousand li like a tiger"), Yong Yu Le · Jing Kou Bei Gu Ting Huai Gu (《永遇乐·京口北固亭怀古》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Metal
    Assessment: Bold and martial. Suits a resolute personality.

Girls

  1. 青玉 (Qīng Yù, "azure jade")
    Source: Qing Yu An · Yuan Xi (《青玉案·元夕》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Wood
    Assessment: Elegant and precious. Auspicious connotations.

  2. 星雨 (Xīng Yǔ, "star rain")
    Source: 「东风夜放花千树,更吹落,星如雨」("The east wind at night releases a thousand trees of blossoms; it blows them down — stars like rain"), Qing Yu An · Yuan Xi (《青玉案·元夕》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Water
    Assessment: Romantic imagery. Increasingly popular in recent years.

Li Qingzhao: Delicate Lyricism and Feminine Perspective

Li Qingzhao's lyrics are tender and emotionally nuanced — especially well-suited for girls' names.

Boys

  1. 人杰 (Rén Jié, "hero among men")
    Source: 「生当作人杰,死亦为鬼雄」("In life, be a hero among men; in death, a hero among ghosts"), Xia Ri Jue Ju (《夏日绝句》)
    Five Elements: Metal-Wood
    Assessment: Conveys excellence, though somewhat direct.

Girls

  1. 清照 (Qīng Zhào, "clear illumination")
    Source: Li Qingzhao's given name
    Five Elements: Water-Fire
    Assessment: Direct homage to Li Qingzhao. Conveys clarity and insight.

  2. 如梦 (Rú Mèng, "like a dream")
    Source: Ru Meng Ling (《如梦令》), the lyric meter title
    Five Elements: Metal-Wood
    Assessment: Hazy and tender. Graceful and evocative.

  3. 盈袖 (Yíng Xiù, "filling the sleeves")
    Source: 「东篱把酒黄昏后,有暗香盈袖」("By the eastern hedge I drink wine after dusk; a hidden fragrance fills my sleeves"), Zui Hua Yin (《醉花阴》)
    Five Elements: Water-Metal
    Assessment: Beautiful imagery. Conveys abundance and grace.

How BabyNameAi Filters Poetry-Derived Names

These 60 examples show the rich possibilities of Tang and Song poetry naming — but they also reveal a problem: not every poetic name is practical. Some have sky-high duplication rates (明月), some use rare characters (榭, 暝), some have awkward homophones (绿肥), and some carry meanings that require caution (空山, 阑珊).

This is where BabyNameAi's (好名宝 / HaoMingBao) three-layer engine delivers value:

  1. Traditional constraint layer: In traditional Chinese naming, bazi (八字, "Eight Characters") is a birth-time chart used to identify which of the Five Elements (五行: 金/木/水/火/土 — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) the child's chart over- or under-emphasizes. We calculate the child's bazi and determine which elements to favor. For example, if the chart favors Water, we prioritize names like 清泉 (Qīng Quán, "clear spring") or 江月 (Jiāng Yuè, "river moon").

  2. AI generation layer: Within the Five Elements constraints, we match suitable character combinations from classical sources — the Shi Jing (《诗经》), Chu Ci (《楚辞》), Tang poetry, Song lyrics — generating candidates that are both culturally grounded and aligned with the child's elemental needs.

  3. Practical validation layer: Each candidate undergoes multi-dimensional checks — rare character screening (stroke count, Unicode encoding), homophone detection (multi-pronunciation characters, dialect readings), duplication rate queries (public security data), and meaning assessment (character semantics, literary allusions).

On the poetry naming page, you can input your child's birth time and preferred poet or line. The system automatically runs these three layers of filtering and delivers names that are both poetic and practical. Each name comes with source citation, Five Elements attributes, stroke count, duplication rate, and other key information to support informed decision-making.

Three Practical Tips for Poetry-Derived Naming

  1. Prioritize lines with clear imagery and positive connotations. Lines like 「明月松间照」("Bright moon shines through the pines") or 「长风破浪会有时」("The day will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves") have vivid imagery and uplifting meaning — names drawn from them are less likely to be ambiguous. Avoid lines that are overly abstract or carry negative undertones, such as 阑珊 ("waning"), 黄昏 ("dusk"), or 空山 ("empty mountain").

  2. Consider character practicality. Rare characters like 榭, 暝, or 薇 may carry cultural weight, but they create daily friction — hard to type, hard for others to read, troublesome on official documents. Stick to the 3,500 common-use character set, or use a rare character in the middle position with a common character at the end.

  3. Evaluate the full name with the surname. Some names are beautiful in isolation but produce homophones or awkward meanings when paired with certain surnames. For example, 史清照 (Shǐ Qīng Zhào) or 吴明月 (Wú Míng Yuè) require caution. On the name testing page, you can input the full name and the system will automatically check for homophones, duplication rates, Five Elements alignment, and other issues.

Tang poetry and Song lyrics are an inexhaustible naming resource, but poetry and practicality must be balanced. BabyNameAi's goal is to help you find the optimal balance between traditional culture and modern life — giving your child a name with deep cultural roots that also functions smoothly in daily use.

Generate your poetry-derived name now and let AI help you find the perfect match from the vast corpus of Tang and Song literature.

Yuan Zhou

Yuan Zhou

60 Names from Tang Poetry and Song Lyrics: Drawing from Li Bai, Su Shi, and the Masters | Blog