The Shijing (《诗经》, Book of Songs), China's oldest poetry collection, has been a wellspring of inspiration for naming daughters for three millennia. Its language is fresh and natural, its imagery gentle and evocative—ideal for giving your daughter a name that carries cultural depth without feeling dated.
At BabyNameAi (好名宝 / HaoMingBao), we've found that Shijing names offer three distinct advantages: harmonious phonetics that flow naturally when spoken, concrete imagery where every character paints a picture, and broad cultural acceptance across generations. Our three-layer naming engine starts by analyzing your child's bazi (八字, "Eight Characters")—a birth-time chart used to identify which of the Five Elements (五行: Metal/金, Wood/木, Water/水, Fire/火, Earth/土) the chart emphasizes or lacks. We then filter the Shijing corpus for characters matching those elemental needs, and finally validate each name for homophone issues and popularity rates to ensure real-world usability.
This guide organizes 50 Shijing girl names into four thematic categories—flora, water, virtue, and color—with source citations, pinyin, Five Elements attributes, and meaning notes to help you quickly locate names suited to your daughter's bazi.
I. Flora & Fragrance (12 names)
These names draw from the Shijing's botanical imagery. Most carry Wood element energy, suitable for children whose charts favor or need Wood.
1. 采薇 (Cǎi Wēi)
Source: "Cai Wei" (《小雅·采薇》) — 「采薇采薇,薇亦作止」("Plucking vetch, plucking vetch, the vetch springs up")
Elements: Wood-Wood
Meaning: Wei is a wild legume; cai wei evokes pastoral retreat and quiet self-possession.
2. 芷兰 (Zhǐ Lán)
Source: "Zhen Wei" (《郑风·溱洧》) and Qu Yuan's Lisao (《离骚》) — 「扈江离与辟芷兮」("I clasp river angelica, gather white iris")
Elements: Wood-Wood
Meaning: Zhi is angelica, lan is orchid—both fragrant herbs symbolizing noble character.
3. 苾芬 (Bì Fēn)
Source: "Fu Yi" (《大雅·凫鹥》) — 「苾芬孝祀,神嗜饮食」("Fragrant offerings in filial rites, the spirits savor the feast")
Elements: Wood-Wood
Meaning: Bi fen describes rich fragrance, originally ritual incense. Uncommon and distinctive.
4. 荑柔 (Tí Róu)
Source: "Shuo Ren" (《卫风·硕人》) — 「手如柔荑,肤如凝脂」("Hands soft as new rushes, skin like congealed cream")
Elements: Wood-Metal
Meaning: Ti is a tender grass shoot; rou is softness. A classic Shijing image for delicate beauty.
5. 桃夭 (Táo Yāo)
Source: "Tao Yao" (《周南·桃夭》) — 「桃之夭夭,灼灼其华」("Peach tree so tender, its blossoms glowing bright")
Elements: Wood-Earth
Meaning: Yao yao describes lush blooming; this poem celebrates marriage and youthful radiance.
6. 蔓青 (Màn Qīng)
Source: "Ye You Man Cao" (《郑风·野有蔓草》) — 「野有蔓草,零露漙兮」("In the wilds, creeping grasses, dew glistening upon them")
Elements: Wood-Metal
Meaning: Creeping vines with morning dew—fresh, natural imagery.
7. 芃 (Péng) or 芃芃 (Péng Péng)
Source: "Zai Chi" (《鄘风·载驰》) — 「我行其野,芃芃其麦」("I travel the fields, the wheat grows lush")
Elements: Wood-Wood
Meaning: Peng peng describes abundant growth. The reduplicated form is affectionate but consider popularity; single-character Peng works well.
8. 荇 (Xìng)
Source: "Guan Ju" (《周南·关雎》) — 「参差荇菜,左右流之」("Floating water-shield, drifting left and right")
Elements: Wood
Meaning: Xing is an aquatic plant from the Shijing's opening poem. Use the single character for modern naming.
10. 苕华 (Tiáo Huá)
Source: "Tiao Zhi Hua" (《小雅·苕之华》) — 「苕之华,芸其黄矣」("Flowers of the trumpet vine, yellowing now")
Elements: Wood-Water
Meaning: Tiao is trumpet creeper; hua is blossom. Melodious, though tiao has 11 strokes.
11. 卉木 (Huì Mù)
Source: "Chu Che" (《小雅·出车》) — 「春日迟迟,卉木萋萋」("Spring days lengthen, plants and trees grow thick")
Elements: Wood-Wood
Meaning: Hui is herbaceous plants, mu is trees. Direct but rich imagery for Wood-favoring charts.
II. Water & Mist (13 names)
These names draw from the Shijing's water imagery—rivers, rain, dew. Water element dominant, suitable for charts needing moisture or fluidity.
12. 清漪 (Qīng Yī)
Source: "Fa Tan" (《魏风·伐檀》) — 「河水清且涟猗」("River water clear with rippling waves")
Elements: Water-Water
Meaning: Qing is clarity, yi is ripples. Flowing phonetics, fresh imagery—a popular Shijing choice.
13. 淇澳 (Qí Yù)
Source: "Qi Ao" (《卫风·淇奥》) — 「瞻彼淇澳,绿竹猗猗」("Behold the bends of the Qi, green bamboo so lush")
Elements: Water-Water
Meaning: Qi is a river name, ao is a river bend. Strong regional character; best for families with Qi River connections.
14. 洵美 (Xún Měi)
Source: "Jing Nü" (《邶风·静女》) — 「自牧归荑,洵美且异」("From the pasture she brings me a reed, truly beautiful and rare")
Elements: Water-Water
Meaning: Xun means "truly, indeed"; xun mei is "truly beautiful"—a common Shijing praise phrase.
15. 渥丹 (Wò Dān)
Source: "Zhong Nan" (《秦风·终南》) — 「颜如渥丹,其君也哉」("Face like moistened cinnabar, a true nobleman")
Elements: Water-Fire
Meaning: Wo is to moisten, dan is red pigment. Wo dan describes a flushed, healthy complexion.
16. 湄 (Méi) or 湄兮 (Méi Xī)
Source: "Jian Jia" (《秦风·蒹葭》) — 「所谓伊人,在水之湄」("The one I long for stands at the water's edge")
Elements: Water-Metal
Meaning: Mei is the grassy water's edge. The "one on the water's far shore" imagery is iconic; mei alone or with xi both work elegantly.
17. 零露 (Líng Lù)
Source: "Ye You Man Cao" (《郑风·野有蔓草》) — 「野有蔓草,零露漙兮」("In the wilds, creeping grasses, dew glistening upon them")
Elements: Water-Water
Meaning: Ling is falling, lu is dew. Fresh imagery, though ling may carry "scattered" connotations in modern usage—consider carefully.
18. 涟漪 (Lián Yī)
Source: "Fa Tan" (《魏风·伐檀》) — 「河水清且涟猗」("River water clear with rippling waves")
Elements: Water-Water
Meaning: Lian yi is ripples on water. Widely recognized in modern Chinese, but perhaps too common as a given name.
19. 湛露 (Zhàn Lù)
Source: "Zhan Lu" (《小雅·湛露》) — 「湛湛露斯,匪阳不晞」("Heavy, heavy the dew, only sunlight dries it")
Elements: Water-Water
Meaning: Zhan zhan describes thick dew. Clear imagery, though zhan sees less modern use.
III. Virtue & Grace (13 names)
These names draw from the Shijing's descriptions of character and temperament. Mixed elemental attributes; ideal for families emphasizing gentle virtue.
20. 静姝 (Jìng Shū)
Source: "Jing Nü" (《邶风·静女》) — 「静女其姝,俟我于城隅」("The quiet maiden, so lovely, waits for me at the city corner")
Elements: Metal-Metal
Meaning: Jing is serene, shu is beautiful. A classic Shijing pairing with graceful sound and gentle meaning.
21. 婉如 (Wǎn Rú) or 婉兮 (Wǎn Xī)
Source: "Ye You Man Cao" (《郑风·野有蔓草》) — 「有美一人,婉如清扬」("There is a beautiful one, gentle as clear brows")
Elements: Earth-Metal
Meaning: Wan is pliant grace. Wan xi preserves archaic flavor, though xi may feel too literary as a name.
22. 淑慎 (Shū Shèn)
Source: "Yan Yan" (《邶风·燕燕》) — 「终温且惠,淑慎其身」("Ever gentle and kind, virtuous and careful in conduct")
Elements: Water-Metal
Meaning: Shu is goodness, shen is caution. Emphasizes moral cultivation but may feel traditional.
23. 惠然 (Huì Rán)
Source: "Zhong Feng" (《邶风·终风》) — 「终风且霾,惠然肯来」("Wind and dust all day, yet graciously you come")
Elements: Water-Metal
Meaning: Hui ran is gracious compliance. Smooth phonetics, though hui is common—check popularity.
24. 令仪 (Lìng Yí)
Source: "Zhan Lu" (《小雅·湛露》) — 「岂弟君子,莫不令仪」("The gentle nobleman, all possess fine bearing")
Elements: Fire-Wood
Meaning: Ling is excellent, yi is deportment. Ling yi means "fine bearing"—ideal for families valuing poise.
25. 柔嘉 (Róu Jiā)
Source: "Yi" (《大雅·抑》) — 「慎尔出话,敬尔威仪,无不柔嘉」("Guard your words, respect your bearing, all should be gentle and good")
Elements: Metal-Wood
Meaning: Rou is soft, jia is excellent. Rou jia combines warmth and grace—a strong Shijing choice.
26. 温惠 (Wēn Huì)
Source: "Yan Yan" (《邶风·燕燕》) — 「终温且惠,淑慎其身」("Ever gentle and kind, virtuous and careful in conduct")
Elements: Earth-Water
Meaning: Wen is warm, hui is kind. Emphasizes gentle temperament; distinguish from homophones like 温慧.
27. 佩玖 (Pèi Jiǔ)
Source: "Qiu Zhong You Ma" (《王风·丘中有麻》) — 「彼留之子,诒我佩玖」("That wandering one gave me a jade pendant")
Elements: Water-Wood
Meaning: Pei is to wear, jiu is black jade. Pei jiu symbolizes wearing fine jade—noble character.
28. 如云 (Rú Yún)
Source: "Jun Zi Xie Lao" (《鄘风·君子偕老》) — 「鬒发如云,不屑髢也」("Black hair like clouds, no need for false tresses")
Elements: Metal-Water
Meaning: Ru yun describes abundant hair like clouds. Beautiful imagery, though ru may feel abstract as a name.
29. 美清 (Měi Qīng)
Source: "Yi Jie" (《齐风·猗嗟》) — 「猗嗟名兮,美目清兮」("Alas for his fame, beautiful eyes so clear")
Elements: Water-Water
Meaning: Mei qing means beautiful and clear, describing eyes. Direct and bright—suits minimalist preferences.
30. 思柔 (Sī Róu)
Source: Multiple Shijing poems
Elements: Metal-Metal
Meaning: Si is thought, rou is gentleness. Si rou combines tenderness and reflection—currently popular in Shijing naming.
IV. Color & Radiance (12 names)
These names draw from the Shijing's color imagery. Elemental attributes vary by hue; ideal for families wanting visual beauty in a name.
31. 素衣 (Sù Yī)
Source: "Yang Zhi Shui" (《唐风·扬之水》) — 「素衣朱襮,从子于沃」("White robe with red trim, I follow you to Wo")
Elements: Metal-Earth
Meaning: Su yi is white clothing, symbolizing purity. Simple and elegant, though yi may feel slight as a name.
32. 绿竹 (Lǜ Zhú)
Source: "Qi Ao" (《卫风·淇奥》) — 「瞻彼淇澳,绿竹猗猗」("Behold the bends of the Qi, green bamboo so lush")
Elements: Fire-Wood
Meaning: Lü zhu is green bamboo. Fresh imagery, though lü sees limited use in modern naming.
33. 炜彤 (Wěi Tóng)
Source: "Jing Nü" (《邶风·静女》) — 「彤管有炜,说怿女美」("The red flute gleams bright, delighting in your beauty")
Elements: Fire-Fire
Meaning: Wei is radiance, tong is red. Wei tong is vivid and bright—excellent for Fire-favoring charts.
34. 白华 (Bái Huá)
Source: "Bai Hua" (《小雅·白华》) — 「白华菅兮,白茅束兮」("White flowers of the rush, white cogon grass bundled")
Elements: Metal-Water
Meaning: Bai hua is white blossoms. Elegant and pure, though bai may feel too literal in modern naming.
35. 青青 (Qīng Qīng)
Source: "Zi Jin" (《郑风·子衿》) — 「青青子衿,悠悠我心」("Blue-green your collar, endless my longing")
Elements: Metal-Metal
Meaning: Qing qing describes deep green-blue. Reduplicated form is affectionate but check popularity.
36. 灼华 (Zhuó Huá)
Source: "Tao Yao" (《周南·桃夭》) — 「桃之夭夭,灼灼其华」("Peach tree so tender, its blossoms glowing bright")
Elements: Fire-Water
Meaning: Zhuo zhuo describes fiery brilliance. Zhuo hua is warm and radiant—suits outgoing temperaments.
37. 有斐 (Yǒu Fěi)
Source: "Qi Ao" (《卫风·淇奥》) — 「有匪君子,如切如磋」("There is a refined gentleman, polished like jade")
Elements: Earth-Water
Meaning: You fei means "possessing refinement" (fei = literary elegance). Cultured, though fei has 12 strokes.
38. 琇莹 (Xiù Yíng)
Source: "Qi Ao" (《卫风·淇奥》) — 「有匪君子,充耳琇莹」("There is a refined gentleman, his ear-plugs gleaming jade")
Elements: Metal-Wood
Meaning: Xiu is fine jade, ying is lustrous. Xiu ying describes polished jade—symbolizes pure character.
Using HaoMingBao to Filter Shijing Names
In the BabyNameAi name generator, here's how to proceed:
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Enter bazi information: The system calculates Five Elements balance. If your child favors Wood and avoids Metal, it prioritizes flora and virtue names with Wood attributes.
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Select Shijing mode: In the poetry naming tool, check "Shijing only" to search all 305 poems precisely.
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Validate usability: Use the name testing tool to check for unfortunate homophones, popularity rates, and rare-character issues (will teachers mispronounce it?).
Our three-layer engine ensures every recommendation passes traditional constraints (bazi Five Elements), AI generation (semantic pairing), and practical validation (modern usability). While Shijing characters are beautiful, some may create ambiguity or writing difficulty in modern contexts—the system flags these risks for your review.
Three Considerations for Shijing Naming
1. Balance classical and contemporary
The Shijing's language is three millennia old. Some characters (猗, 兮, 斯) are archaic and may hinder recognition. Choose characters that preserve classical resonance without compromising daily use—like 清漪 (Qīng Yī), 静姝 (Jìng Shū), 柔嘉 (Róu Jiā).
2. Ensure gender clarity
Some Shijing characters are gender-neutral (子, 思, 德). Used alone, they may cause confusion. Pair them with clearly feminine characters—佩 in 子佩 (Zǐ Pèi), 柔 in 思柔 (Sī Róu).
3. Avoid over-interpretation
The Shijing's original meanings sometimes diverge from modern understanding. 桃夭 (Táo Yāo) originally celebrated marriage, but 夭 may evoke "premature death" today. Consider modern reception; you need not adhere rigidly to the poem's full context.
The Shijing offers rich cultural resources for naming daughters, but final choices must integrate your child's bazi, your family's cultural background, and modern practicality. HaoMingBao's goal is to help you find the optimal balance between traditional wisdom and contemporary needs—names with roots that empower your daughter to grow with confidence.
