The Trouble With Chinese Names Not Found In The Computer

“Laobaixing” is a Chinese colloquial term for “the masses.” It literally means “hundred old names.” It is estimated that 85% of China’s 1.3 billion citizens share 100 surnames.

Remember Fedex’s commercial “Na Ge Zhang?”

Well, that is just in the TV world. In reality, imagine the un-uniqueness of the Chinese names. Well, some of them.

Credit: Shiho Fukada for The New York Times

Twenty-six year-old Ma Cheng does not have any qualms with her name. Her grandfather gave her a name that is very distinguishable that when people see the characters, they immediately will think of Ma Cheng.

Too unique in fact.

The Chinese government’s Public Security Bureau has started replacing the handwritten identity cards of its citizens with computerized versions. The problem is, the computer pinyin system itself is limited; and the name of Ma Cheng (specifically the Cheng) is not on the list.

The officials’ solution? Change it!

Source: The New York Times

This is actually in contrast to the ministry’s previous draft regulation seeking the double-surname option which combines the names of the father and mother as solution to the names shortage.

If someone tells you to change your name, would you agree to it? The answer is fairly obvious.

What do you think is a better option?

I have always thought that Chinese had more combinations for names when compared to using the ABC’s. What, 26 letters to how many characters? But this quandary is giving me second thoughts.