丹
dān
Meaning
cinnabar red, devoted heart
Five Elements
fire
Gender
Female
Strokes
4
Meaning & Cultural Context
丹 originally referred to cinnabar (朱砂), a brilliant red mineral highly prized in ancient China for medicinal, alchemical, and imperial purposes. In Chinese tradition, this vivid red symbolized vitality, good fortune, and was reserved exclusively for royal seals and aristocratic use. The character also appears in classical literature conveying sincerity and devotedness, as the 'red heart' metaphor represents loyal intentions.
Using in Chinese Names
Chinese parents frequently choose 丹 for feminine names to convey warmth, beauty, and passionate devotion. The character expresses aspirations for their daughter to be lively, fortunate, and deeply loyal to family and friends. It pairs beautifully with softer characters to create elegant, melodic names that balance boldness with femininity.
Personality & Impression
This character suggests a warm, bold, and devoted personality—someone who brings vibrant energy to relationships and approaches life with passionate sincerity.
For Foreigners
丹 is a popular and accessible choice for Chinese feminine names, pronounced 'dān' (like 'dawn'). The positive red color associations make it an auspicious and universally appreciated character in name contexts.
Style & Personality
Popular Name Combinations
Common two-character names that include 丹:
cinnabar red, devoted heart, east, rising direction
traditional, poetic
cinnabar red, devoted heart, abundant, fruitful, plentiful
traditional, poetic
cinnabar red, devoted heart, unity, singular, whole
traditional, poetic
cinnabar red, devoted heart, abundant, fruitful, plentiful
traditional, poetic
Build a Chinese Name With 丹
If you like the character 丹 (dān - cinnabar red, devoted heart), you can use it as the starting point for a personalized Chinese name.
Create My Chinese Name with 丹