Yíhàn

Yíhàn is a two-syllable Chinese given name or romanized personal name used in Mandarin-speaking communities. In pinyin it is written as Yíhàn, with the first syllable in the second tone and the second in the fourth tone. As with most Chinese names, the exact meaning depends on which characters are chosen to render the syllables.

Common first-character choices for the syllable yí include 怡 (joy, harmony), 宜 (appropriate, suitable), and 仪 (appearance, ceremony). For the second syllable hàn, characters such as 汉/漢 (Han, referring to the Han people) or 翰 (writing brush, literature) are frequent; other hàn characters such as 汗 (sweat) or 韩 (Korean) may also be used. Because the characters determine meaning, Yíhàn can carry a variety of positive or culturally resonant interpretations, from “joyful Han” to “harmonious brush” or other combinations.

In contemporary use, Yíhàn is generally a gender-neutral given name in Chinese-speaking regions and among the Chinese diaspora. It may appear in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and overseas communities, and is chosen for its phonetic appeal as well as the auspicious or desirable meanings of the selected characters. As with many Chinese names, popularity and character choices can vary by era and locality, leading to a range of distinct personal names that share the same pronunciation.