Names: How Naming and Name Analysis Work
A name is one of the few things people decide completely and then write again and again. Name studies read it in layers: strokes, number patterns and elements. That is what this method does — and it does not promise that a name changes a life.
What This Method Looks At
The surname and given name are split character by character, Kangxi stroke counts are taken, the heaven, person, earth, outer and total grids are calculated, and the elements of each grid and the three-talents relation (heaven, person, earth) are read. In generate mode, candidates are filtered by surname, gender and name length, and each gets the same breakdown; in analyse mode only the name you provide is processed.
It works on the structure of the name itself. Without a birth date it cannot check how the name fits a chart, and the result says so.
What You Need to Prepare
- To generate: surname, gender (male / female / neutral), given-name length (one or two characters), surname length (single or compound).
- To analyse: the full name.
- Birth date (optional): if given, it is used to check the fit with the chart; without it the stroke and number breakdown still works.
What It Is Good For
- Naming a newborn or yourself and first looking at the strokes and elements of a set of candidate characters.
- Reading the per-character Kangxi strokes, five-grid numbers and three-talents configuration of an existing name.
- Comparing the structure of several candidate names.
- Checking whether a character is covered by the dictionary and how its strokes are counted.
What It Is Not Good For
- Judging whether a name “brings good luck”: name studies handle glyphs and number patterns only, and do not predict destiny.
- Replacing a BaZi chart when looking at the course of a life.
- Generating names without a surname, or from a given name alone.
- Rare or variant characters: when the dictionary lacks one it is marked clearly; no stroke count is invented.
What the Result Looks Like
- A candidate list (generate mode) or a single analysis (analyse mode).
- Per-character cards: Kangxi strokes, element, pinyin, radical, structure and meaning.
- A five-grid table: the number, element and grade of the heaven, person, earth, outer and total grids.
- The three-talents configuration: the element relations among heaven, person and earth, with notes.
Its Limits
Strokes follow the Kangxi dictionary, which differs from simplified-character counts, and schools of name studies differ in how they derive the five grids and three talents. The result is a checkable reference on glyphs and numbers, not a verdict on a life. Naming candidates come from dictionary filtering; the final choice of character is still yours.
Where to Start
If you want to name someone, go into the process here: give the surname and gender, add a birth date if you wish, and the system will list candidates and explain the strokes and grids of each. In the Zhanbu Mizhi process every candidate's basis can be checked item by item.
Disclaimer: This article covers traditional culture and folk custom. It is for entertainment and self-reflection only, and does not constitute medical, psychological, investment, legal or marital decision advice. Please do not submit sensitive personal information such as ID numbers or detailed addresses. If you experience persistent insomnia, anxiety or physical discomfort, please consult a doctor or a qualified professional.
Sources
- Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analysing Characters), Wikisource: https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/說文解字 (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Kangxi Zidian (Kangxi Dictionary), Wikisource: https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/康熙字典 (accessed 2026-10-25)