My Chinese instructors originally gave me the name Fei Li Pu because it sounds like my real name - Philip, but I didn't like it. From my two year experience of living in China, I noticed that Chinese names were usually adjectives to describe beauty or greatness. In my case, I took the original last name my instructors gave me, which is Fei (fourth tone) - common Chinese last name - and then I added Xiao Long (pronounced Shao Long). This means "little dragon", which was Bruce Lee's Chinese name. I was inspired by him because I took wushu kung fu classes. The more I learned and the more I watched Bruce Lee's movies, the more impressed I was by his speed, agility and exacting kung fu movements. Notice with the Chinese name - the last name or surname is first (Fei) and then the first name follows (Xiao Long).

My friends will usually play jokes on my surname and use different tones to say it. Depending on the tone, I could be a "flying little dragon" or a "fat little dragon".

There are nine Chinese last names that make up 50% of the population and another 50 surnames make up 90% of Chinese last names.

The nine most common names are the following:

1. Chen (Chan)
2. Lin
3. Huang (Hwang, Hwong)
4. Li (Lee)
5. Zhang (Chang)
6. Wu (U, O, Oh)
7. Wang (Wong)
8. Cai (Tsai)
9. Liu

As for Chinese first names, the most common Chinese first name is Wen, meaning "culture" or writing." This name clearly reflects the ultimate value in modern Chinese society: culture and education. The second most common character in first names is Zhi, meaning "will", "intention" or emotions."

The most common Chinese first names:

• Wen (culture, writing)
• Zhi (will, intention; emotions)
• Yi (cheerful)
• Ya (elegant)
• Ming (bright)
• Hui (smart, wise)
• Hong (great, wide)

Good luck on naming your child. And don't forget the tones of the names that you give your child. On bad kung fu days, I always become the "fat flying dragon".