How to choose auspicious Chinese baby names?

There are a number of websites on choosing names - both English and Chinese names. For English names, these websites usually offer interpretations for the meaning of names. As for Chinese names, websites offer consultancy servcices to parents who wish to seek help in naming their child. These involve costs. There are websites with engines that calculate the strokes of chinese characters and provide analysis of chinese names - but few. In Chinese tradition, one form of naming analysis which is pretty common is the stroke theory. Some notes on how to use the stroke theory is provided below.

Stroke theory
天格 Determines your fate that comes with your birth
Strokes calculation: Total no. of strokes in surname + 1

人格 Determines your overall fate and destiny
Strokes calculation: Total no. of strokes in surname + Total no. of strokes in first character

地格 Determines your immediate relations with people around you including family members, friends and colleagues.
Strokes calculation: Total no. of strokes first character + Total no. of strokes in second character

总格 Foretells your life after 35 years of age
Strokes calculation: Total no. of strokes in all three characters of the name

外格 Refers to your relations with individuals at large in the society as a whole
Strokes calculation: 总格 - 人格 + 1

The number of strokes and their meanings
No. of Strokes - Meaning
1 - Trustworthy and reliable. A virtuous man will be blessed. Good

2 - It takes hand work to fulfill one’s ambition. But success awaits for those with persistence and perseverance. Medium.

3 - All elements in the universe are in harmony. Fame and wealth come in all directions. Good.

4 - The sun is covered by the clouds. One is faced with obstacles and hardships. One needs endurance and great effort to succeed? Bad

5 - The Ying and Yang are in balance and in your favour. Family will be blessed? Good health conditions. But avoid any form of over indulgences. Good.

6 - One shall attain fame and riches. Success in all areas awaits the one who has strong will and determination. Good.

7 - Energetic, intelligent and decisive. Your sense of good judgment will help you in all business ventures. Good

8 - Maximum effort required in your youth but you will reap the fruits of your labor at later age. Good.

9 - A man of many talents but the lack of opportunities prevent these talents to be exploited. With no benefactors and poor human relations, the road to success is blocked. Bad.

10 - The moon is covered with clouds and its radiance gone. One works very hard but with no results. Bad.

11 - The flowers bloom, the plants sprouting with life in spring. Stable and practical minded, you have no cause for worry. Good

12 - One fights the battle alone. A hero from the outside a broken man from the inside. Bad.

13 - Your past noble deeds will be rewarded. With wisdom and skills, you will succeed. Good

14 - Be patient and determined. One awaits the rain to stop before the sun comes out. Medium

15 - Modesty and a sense of responsibility are your qualities. Destiny
has arranged your way ahead surrounded by benefactors. Good.

16 - A leader of the masses. People respect your integrity. An ideal statesman. Fame and fortune abound. Good.

17 - Seize the day. Always listens to good advice and one will meet a benefactor. Good.

18 - Suited for business and blessed with success and prosperity. But be prudent in your decision making. Good

19 - Your success in your youth resulted in arrogance and pride becomes the root of your failure in later life. Bad.

20 - Charged with high aspirations but dampened by failures. All efforts will be doomed. Bad.

21 - The Plum?blossom blooms grew through the winter frosts and be the first to bloom among the hundreds flowers. The ability to endure hardships pave the way to success. Good.

22 - The autumn leaves turns yellow and swept by the winds. One is gifted with many talents but is deprived of any opportunity to shine and excel. Bad.

23 - The morning sun rises and brightens the sky. Fame spreads in all directions and success is attained in all endeavours. Good.

24 - From rags to riches. With your wisdom and the use of strategies, you will achieve a bright future. Good.

25 - Heaven and earth are in harmony but you are short of good human relations. Cultivate virtues and you will be blessed with good relations. Medium.

26 - A hero creates turbulence and makes drastic changes. He can either create massive good fortune or misfortunes. Medium.

27 - Check. You win once, you lose once. One win one lose, must be caution. Medium.

28 - A fish out of water. Change your name or suffer for the rest of your life. Bad.

29 - The clouds swirl in the sky, the dragon flies to heaven. One achieves success by using wisdom and strategies. Good.

30 - Success and failures are the realities of life. Medium.

31 - You are blessed with fame, and good fortune. Be generous and your good fortune will be extended. Good.

32 - The dragon leaps from the sea to heaven with the aid of the clouds and the winds. When the timing is right and all conditions are in favour, success will be attained. Good.

33 - Being temperamental and emotional are your traits in your youth. Initiate to change and life will be prosperous. Medium.

34 - Disasters and crisis dominate your life. Change your name to change your destiny. Bad.

35 - You have many talents but the lack of self?confidence conservative attitude prevent you from developing your talents and excel in them. Medium.

36 - A sense of righteousness and always ready to help those in need. But your nobleness is exploited by others with ill intentions. Bad.

37 - You have the blessings from heaven. Your benefactors will help you in the difficulties you faced. Good.

39 - Talented in arts and will succeed in artistic pursuits. One can enjoy fame but may not be rich. Medium.

39 - Contented and hardworking ? The man of patience who waits for the clouds to clear will see the full moon eventually. Good.

40 - Life is full of ups and downs and ever changing. Go with the flow and retreat when necessary and all will go well. Medium.

41 - You are blessed with the resources to achieve success. Cultivate talents, skills and expand your knowledge. With courage, you will be successful. Good.

42 - You lack focus in your occupations and in everything you do. Although you are versatile, you will encounter frequent setbacks. Work harder to polish your skills. Medium.

43 - A flower caught in the rain. Have faith in yourself and you will succeed. Medium. 'This interpretation is bad for females.

44 - You tried very hard to achieve and you have exhausted all strategies. Because you always looking for instant results, you wil1 never achieve much. Bad.

45 - The flowers bloom in spring time. There is no danger and you will overcome all obstacles. Good.

46 - The road to success is filled with obstacles. Must persevere. Bad.

47 - Work hard in your youth and by middle age you will succeed when you meet your benefactors. Good

48 - A crane stands out among the roosters. You are blessed with fortune and great leadership. Good

49 - Always a wanderer and your future uncertain. Must always be cautious in all endeavours. Bad.

50 - A moment of success, a moment of failure. Must be prudent in everything you do. Medium.

5 1 - It finally rains after a long drought. Only time will change your fortune from bad to good. Like a withered tree waiting for the next season before it blooms again. Medium.

52 - The sun comes out after the rain. All wishes fulfilled. Good.

53 - Your luck changes constantly from good to bad and vice versa. Medium

54 - All efforts will not be rewarded. Change your name. Bad

55 - Look good on the outside but your miseries are unknown to others. Cultivate virtues to alleviate your state. Medium.

56 - A good starter but a bad finisher is the cause of your failures. Bad.

57 - The end of winter comes spring, bringing good news. With determination, you are not afraid of difficulties. Medium.

58 - You achieve success at the later part of your life. You faced difficulties in your youth. Medium.

59 - You are indecisive and you lack confidence. Try to change or all will fail. Bad

60 - Personal ambitions are hard to fulfill. Bad.

61 - The crescent moon is covered by the clouds. Will encounter many crisis. Be cautious in all things you do. Bad.

62 - A man constantly seeking for trouble. You cannot get along with your family and others. Best to change your name. Bad

63 - Because of your good character, all roads lead to success. Good.

64 - You like the new and dislike the old. Your petty nature and poor health bring disasters. Bad.

65 - Being noble and honest are your traits. You are respected by others and if you can seize the right opportunities you will achieve success. Good

66 - A long night filled with nightmares. The lack of integrity and poor human relations bring little success. Bad.

67 - You are destined to be your own boss. If you are not tempted by small gains and greed, you will receive bigger fortunes. Good.

68 - Careful and meticulous in planning, you know when to seize opportunities. Hence you will be successful. Good.

69 - Full of turbulence and troubles, your luck has yet to arrive. Bad

70 - Dangers and poor heath dominates your life. Change your name. Bad.

71 - You face difficulties in the beginning but if you are able to persevere, success will eventually come to you. medium.

72 - Like a mountain at the verge of collapsing, you are surrounded by dangers. Even if you are enjoying, do not ignore the warning signs. Bad

73 - Your charitable nature with little regrets brought you abundance of blessings. Good

74 - Lazy and unproductive are your traits. Bad

75 - You are impatient and you want to make it to heaven with one leap. Take one step at a time and you will succeed. Medium.

76 - Disasters abound. You may lose your fife and fortunes. Change your name. Bad.

77 - You either enjoy success very early or very late in your life. Medium.

78 - A flower blooms but never bears its fruits. Hence you will encounter poverty at old age. Bad

79 - The future is uncertain and not bright, like walking in total darkness. Bad.

80 - Discontentment dominates your life. Always finding faults with your surroundings. Be contended or else whatever you gained will be lost through your own foolishness. Medium.

81 - One reaches full circle. All wishes fulfilled and all goes well. Good.