梅
méi
Meaning
plum blossom, resilience, grace
Five Elements
wood
Gender
Female
Strokes
11
Meaning & Cultural Context
In Chinese tradition, the plum blossom (梅) is one of the 'Three Friends of Winter' alongside pine and bamboo, symbolizing perseverance, hope, and resistance to adversity. It has been celebrated in poetry and art for over 2,000 years, most famously in Song Dynasty verses that praised its ability to bloom in snow—making it a powerful cultural symbol of beauty emerging from hardship.
Using in Chinese Names
Chinese parents often choose 梅 for girls because the plum blossom represents feminine elegance, inner strength, and refined beauty that deepens with age. It conveys aspirations for their daughter to be graceful yet resilient, with a quiet dignity that reveals itself in challenging circumstances. The character remains particularly popular in southern China and among families who appreciate classical poetry.
Personality & Impression
The character suggests someone who possesses quiet strength, artistic sensitivity, and an unassuming dignity that blossoms through difficulties.
For Foreigners
For non-Chinese people, 梅 is typically pronounced 'may' in English (or 'mei' in pinyin) and functions as a feminine name element. It can stand alone as a given name or combine with other characters, carrying elegant, poetic connotations.
Style & Personality
Popular Name Combinations
Common two-character names that include 梅:
plum blossom, resilience, grace, unity, singular, whole
traditional, poetic
plum blossom, resilience, grace, strong, vigorous, tiny
traditional, poetic
plum blossom, resilience, grace, arrive, overlook
traditional, poetic
plum blossom, resilience, grace, beautiful, splendid
traditional, poetic
plum blossom, resilience, grace, righteousness, loyalty
traditional, poetic
plum blossom, resilience, grace, graceful, she
traditional, poetic
plum blossom, resilience, grace, great, mighty, magnificent
traditional, poetic
plum blossom, resilience, grace, bless, protect
traditional, poetic
Build a Chinese Name With 梅
If you like the character 梅 (méi - plum blossom, resilience, grace), you can use it as the starting point for a personalized Chinese name.
Create My Chinese Name with 梅