Leaders & Legacy: Meaningful Asian and Asian American Names Inspired by Trailblazers

Celebrate your child's heritage with meaningful Asian or Asian American names inspired by leaders, artists, and trailblazers. From civil rights heroes like Yuri Kochiyama and Larry Itliong to artists like Maya Lin and Ang Lee, these names carry stories of courage, talent, and pride. Whether you are drawn to political figures like Patsy Mink, athletes like Michelle Kwan, or musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, these names connect your child to inspiring legacies.

Asian and Asian American names honor the remarkable achievements of Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans in science, politics, arts, and sports. Choosing one of these gives your child a beautiful identity and a link to perseverance, innovation, and excellence.

No matter if you want Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, Hawaiian, Samoan, or other AAPI-inspired names, there are countless options that honor figures who overcame barriers and left lasting legacies. Many Asian names and Asian American names also have meaningful definitions that reflect qualities like strength, wisdom, and resilience.

Names Inspired by AAPI Artists & Storytellers

Amy

Amy Tan is an Asian American author. She is famous for her 1989 novel The Joy Luck Club, which was made into a movie in 1993. Tan also wrote other bestsellers like The Kitchen God's Wife and The Hundred Secret Senses.

The name Amy originates from the Old French name Amée, which means “beloved” or “loved one.” It traces back to the Latin word amare, meaning “to love.”

Anna

Anna May Wong was the first Chinese American actress to achieve fame in Hollywood and internationally. She became a star during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her first starring role was in Toll of the Sea (1922), which was also the first feature film made in Technicolor.

The name Anna comes from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning “grace” or “favor.” It can also be understood as “he has favored me.”

Celeste

Celeste Ng is a prominent American writer of Chinese descent. She has written three novels: Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and Our Missing Hearts.

The name Celeste comes from Latin and means “heavenly” or “of the sky.”

Lucy

Lucy Liu is a Chinese American actress, director, producer, and visual artist. She was the second Chinese American woman to earn a shining star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is known for her roles in Ally McBeal, Charlie’s Angels, and Kill Bill.

The name Lucy comes from the Latin name Lucia and means “light.”

Mindy

Mindy Kaling is a well-known South Asian American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She started her career on The Office and later created popular shows like Never Have I Ever and The Sex Lives of College Girls.

The name Mindy comes from Melinda, which is inspired by Greek names and means “honey” or “sweet.” It also has the Spanish-influenced ending “-linda,” meaning “pretty.”

Ming-Na

Ming-Na Wen is an award-winning Chinese American actress and model. She is known for voicing Mulan in the 1998 Disney film and for her role as June Woo in The Joy Luck Club.

Ming-Na is a Chinese name. “Ming” means “bright” or “intelligent,” and “Na” means “elegant” or “graceful.” Together, the name can mean “bright and elegant” or “intelligent and graceful.”

Yo-Yo

Yo-Yo Ma is a Chinese American cellist recognized for his exceptional skill and rich tone. He has earned 19 Grammy Awards and is a founding member of the Chinese American Committee of 100.

The name Yo-Yo is Chinese and means “friendly.”

George

George Takei is a Japanese American actor, writer, and activist. He is best known for playing Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek series.

The name George roots from the Greek name Georgios, meaning “farmer” or “earthworker.”

Keanu

Keanu Reeves, born in Beirut, Lebanon, is a Canadian actor, musician, and philanthropist. He became known for films such as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) and Speed (1994), and later starred in The Matrix and the John Wick series.

The name Keanu comes from Hawaiian and means “cool breeze over the mountains.”

Ieoh

Ieoh Ming "I.M." Pei was a Chinese American architect known for designing many renowned buildings, including the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the Bank of China Tower, and the Miho Museum.

The name Ieoh Ming means “to inscribe brightly.”

Toshiko

Toshiko Akiyoshi is a Japanese American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. She led a 16-piece big band and became a pioneer for women and Asian jazz musicians. She has received 14 Grammy nominations across her career.

The name Toshiko can mean “alert child,” “valued child,” or “child of many years,” depending on the Japanese characters used.

Han

Han Ong was born in the Philippines to Chinese parents and moved to the U.S. at 16. He is a novelist and playwright and one of the youngest to win the MacArthur "Genius Grant." His books, like Fixer Chao and The Disinherited, explore feeling like an outsider and cultural conflicts.

The name Han is Chinese and can mean “refinement and patience,” “vastness,” or “cold,” depending on the context.

Isamu

Isamu Noguchi was an American artist, sculptor, furniture designer, and landscape architect of Japanese descent. He combined organic shapes, geometric forms, and Japanese influences in his work. Noguchi also founded the Noguchi Museum in New York and was active in political causes.

The name Isamu is Japanese and means “courageous” or “warrior.”

Maxine

Maxine Hong Kingston is a trailblazing writer and activist who explored Asian-American identity and challenged stereotypes. Her famous books include The Woman Warrior (1976), China Men (1980), and Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book (1989). Kingston has received many major awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, a National Book Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the National Medal of Arts.

The name Maxine comes from the Latin name Maximus, meaning “greatest.”

Names from Public Service & Business 

Kamala

Kamala Harris is an attorney and the former U.S. vice president. She made history as the first female, African American, and Asian American to hold that office. In January 2021, she and President Joe Biden were sworn in, making her the highest-ranking woman in U.S. history. She is also the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.

The name Kamala is Sanskrit and means “lotus.”

Elaine

Elaine Chao was the first Asian American woman appointed to a U.S. president’s cabinet. She was appointed as Secretary of Labor under George W. Bush and Secretary of Transportation later on.

The name Elaine is a French form of Helen, which comes from Greek and means “ray of light” or “sunbeam.”

Mazie

Mazie Hirono is a Japanese-born American politician. She was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2012 and began representing Hawaii in 2013. She is the first woman from Hawaii, the first Asian American woman, the first Asian immigrant, and the first Buddhist to work in the Senate.

The name Mazie, a variant of Maisie, comes from Scottish roots as a nickname for Margaret. It originates from the Greek word margarites, meaning “pearl.”

Indra

Indra Nooyi is an Indian-born American businesswoman. She served as CEO and chair of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2019. She is recognized among the world’s most powerful women and leads a company with operations in over 180 countries.

The name Indra comes from Sanskrit and refers to the Hindu god of rain, thunder, and war, who is also the king of the gods. The name is thought to mean “possessing drops of rain.”

Piyush

Piyush “Bobby” Jindal is an Indian American politician who served as the governor of Louisiana from 2008 to 2016. He was the first Indian American governor in U.S. history and is noted for his commitment to conservative values.

The name Piyush is Hindu and means “milk.”

Gary

Gary Locke is a politician and attorney who was the first Chinese American governor in the U.S. and the first Asian American governor of Washington in 1997. He also served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce and as Ambassador to China, with a focus on U.S.-China relations, trade, and diplomacy.

The name Gary comes from a French and Germanic origin and means “spear.”

Norman

Norman Mineta was a Democratic politician from California. He helped found the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and was the first Asian American to serve in a U.S. president’s cabinet as Secretary of Commerce under Bill Clinton. He also advocated for justice and compensation for Japanese Americans imprisoned during World War II.

The name Norman comes from Germanic roots and means “man from the north.”

Jerry

Jerry Chih-Yuan Yang is a Taiwanese-born American billionaire, programmer, and entrepreneur. He co-founded Yahoo! in 1995 and later became a venture capitalist at his firm AME Cloud Ventures.

The name Jerry comes from the Old French name Gerald and means “spear warrior.”

Payal

Payal Kadakia is an Indian American entrepreneur, dancer, and author. She founded ClassPass, a global fitness and wellness platform, and became the first South Asian woman to establish a billion-dollar company.

The name Payal comes from Hindi and means “anklet.”

Vera 

Vera Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer known for her classy wedding gowns and high-end clothing collections. She has also designed evening wear, fragrances, and accessories.

The name Vera comes from Russian and means “faith.” It is also linked to the Latin word verus, meaning “true.”

An 

An Wang was a Chinese American engineer and inventor who founded Wang Laboratories, a company recognized for its early computers and word processors. He contributed to the development of magnetic-core memory, an important advance in computer technology.

The name An comes from Chinese and Vietnamese roots and means “peace” or “stability.”

Dalip

Dalip Singh Saund was an Indian-born American politician and farmer who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1957 to 1963. He was the first Sikh, Indian American, and Asian American elected to Congress.

The name Dalip likely comes from Sanskrit and is thought to mean “king” or “protector of Delhi.”

Names of AAPI Scientists & Inventors

Chien-Shiung

Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese American physicist known as “the First Lady of Physics.” She made groundbreaking discoveries in nuclear physics and proved that the law of parity does not apply in certain atomic reactions.

The name Chien-Shiung is Chinese and can be translated as “strong hero.”

Kalpana

Kalpana Chawla was an Indian American astronaut and aerospace engineer. She was the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space. Sadly, she died in 2003 when the space shuttle Columbia exploded.

The name Kalpana comes from Sanskrit and means “imagination” or “dream.”

Steven

Steven Chu is an American physicist and Nobel Prize winner who served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama. He’s best known for his groundbreaking work on laser cooling and trapping atoms.

The name Steven comes from the Greek word Stephanos, which means “crown” or “garland.”

Ajay

Ajay Bhatt is an Indian American computer architect best known for inventing the USB (Universal Serial Bus). His work has helped shape how people connect and use technology around the world.

The name Ajay comes from Sanskrit and means “unconquerable” or “invincible.” It’s also linked to Krishna, the Hindu god of protection and love.

Ellison

Ellison Onizuka was an American astronaut, engineer, and U.S. Air Force colonel. He was the first Asian American, the first Japanese American, and the first person from Hawaii to fly in space. He tragically died in the 1986 Challenger explosion.

The name Ellison comes from English and means “son of Ellis.” Ellis is related to the Greek name Elias, which means “the Lord is God.”

Jeong

Jeong H. Kim is a Korean American engineer and tech entrepreneur who served as president of Bell Labs. In 2024, President Joe Biden awarded him the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his contributions to science and technology.

The name Jeong is Korean and can mean “quiet,” “gentle,” “virtuous,” or “loyal.”

Sanjay

Sanjay Gupta is an Indian American neurosurgeon, author, and Emmy-winning CNN correspondent. He hosted the show Sanjay Gupta, MD and the series Chasing Life.

The name Sanjay comes from Sanskrit and means “victorious” or “triumphant.”

Adeline

Adeline Yen Mah is a Chinese American author and former doctor. She wrote the best-selling autobiography Falling Leaves, which has been translated into many languages.

The name Adeline comes from French and means “noble.”

Popular Asian American Girl Names

Maya

Maya Lin is a Vietnamese American architect and artist known for designing the famous Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Another Maya is Maya Erskine, a Japanese American actress, writer, and producer who co-created and starred in the Hulu series PEN15.

In Sanskrit, Maya means “illusion” or “magic,” while in Hebrew, it comes from mayim, meaning “water.”

Dara

Dara Woo is a Japanese-Chinese American actress, model, and martial artist based in New York City. She has appeared on Broadway in The Picture of Dorian Gray at the Music Box Theatre, a production nominated for six Tony Awards.

In Irish and Gaelic, Dara comes from darach, meaning “oak tree,” a token of strength and wisdom.

Zara

Zara Mizrahi is a Middle Eastern and Hispanic stand-up comedian, writer, voice actor, and social media personality based in Los Angeles. She is recognized for her work in television and animation.

The name Zara is seen as a variation of Sarah, which means “princess” in Hebrew. In Slavic languages, it can also mean “dawn” or “sunrise.”

Linh

Linh Nga is a Vietnamese American actress, filmmaker, and peace and environmental activist. Her documentary Inside This Peace earned recognition at the California Women's Film Festival.

Linh is a Vietnamese name that means “soul” or “spirit.”

Seiko

Seiko Matsuda is a Japanese American singer and songwriter who became one of Japan's prominent pop idols in the 1980s. She has continued to release music, perform in concerts, and appear on the U.S. Billboard dance charts.

Seiko is a Japanese name that means “holy,” “truth,” or “child.”

Mira

Mira Nair is an Indian American filmmaker and founder of Mirabai Films. She has directed and produced movies such as Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, Mississippi Masala, and The Namesake.

Mira is a name with Latin, Slavic, and Sanskrit roots. It can mean "wonderful," "peace," or "world."

Modern Asian American Names for Girls

Kaia

Kaia is a fourth-generation Japanese American with Irish and Norwegian roots. She became active in sharing the history of Japanese American incarceration after realizing that many people had never learned about it.

Kaia is a name with Norse origins, meaning "earth" or "sea."

Thalia

Thalia Tran is a Vietnamese-American actress known for her roles in Raya and the Last Dragon, Council of Dads, Little, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Thalia comes from ancient Greek and means “to bloom” or “to flourish.”

Freya

Freya Fox is a Filipino-Vietnamese-Chinese American actress, TV personality, DJ, producer, eSports competitor, and social media creator.

Freya comes from Old Norse and means “lady” or “mistress.”

Ivy

Ivy Le is a Vietnamese American comedian, actress, and writer based in Berlin, Germany. She is the host and creator of the Spotify podcast FOGO: Fear of Going Outside, a nature show with a funny and reluctant host.

Ivy comes from the English word for the evergreen plant and symbolizes loyalty, friendship, and strength.

Phoebe

Phoebe Eng is a Taiwanese American author and national speaker known for her book Warrior Lessons: An Asian American Woman’s Journey into Power. She talks about race and social justice and has been featured in major publications like The New York Times, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal.

The name Phoebe comes from Greek mythology and means "bright," "pure," or "radiant."

Naomi

Naomi Osaka is a Japanese tennis player who became the first Asian person to reach the world No. 1 ranking in women’s singles. She held the top spot for 25 weeks starting in January 2019.

The name Naomi comes from Hebrew and means "pleasant," "delightful," or "beautiful."

Popular Asian American Boy Names

Erik

Erik Spoelstra is the prominent head coach of the Miami Heat and the first Filipino American and Asian American head coach in the NBA, MLB, NFL, or NHL. He has led the Heat to two NBA championships and is widely seen as one of the best coaches in the league. He also coaches the U.S. men’s national basketball team.

Erik is a Scandinavian name that means “ever-powerful” or “eternal ruler.”

Bruce

Bruce Lee was a great Hong Kong–American martial artist and actor who helped make martial arts movies famous around the world. His most successful film, Enter the Dragon (1973), was released just a month after his death at age 32.

The name Bruce comes from a powerful Scottish family name. Its exact meaning is unclear, but it may come from the French word Brousse, meaning “thicket” or “brushwood.”

Gary

Gary Locke is an American politician and attorney who made history as the first Chinese American governor in the U.S. and the first Asian American governor on the mainland. He served as the governor of Washington, starting in 1997.

Gary is an English name that comes from an old German word meaning “spear” or “lance.”

Carlos

Carlos Bulosan was a Filipino American writer, poet, and labor organizer who wrote about the struggles and dreams of Filipino immigrants. He’s best known for his semi-autobiographical book America Is in the Heart.

Carlos is the Spanish form of Charles, a name that means “free man” or “strong man.”

Duke

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, Duke Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfer who helped make both sports famous around the world. He triumphed with three Olympic gold medals and is often called the father of modern surfing.

Duke is an English name that comes from the Old French word duc and the Latin word dux, meaning “leader” or “commander.”

Don

Don Wakamatsu is a former professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He made history in 2008 as the first Asian American manager in Major League Baseball when he led the Seattle Mariners. He is now the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Oakland Ballers.

Don is short for Donald, a Scottish name that means “world ruler.”

Modern Asian American Names for Boys

Jawed

Jawed Karim is a Bangladeshi-German American software engineer and one of the co-founders of YouTube. He was also the first person to upload a video on the platform.

Jawed is a name of Persian and Arabic origin. It can mean “eternal” or “generous.”

Steven

Steven Chu is an American physicist, professor, and Nobel Prize winner who served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama.

The name Steven comes from the Greek name Stephanos, which means “crown” or “garland.”

Marcus

Marcus Freeman made history as the first Black and first Asian American coach to reach the college football finals. Freeman, who is Korean American, spoke about what the milestone meant to him after Notre Dame’s 27–24 win over Penn State.

Marcus is a Latin name linked to Mars, the Roman god of war, and means “dedicated to Mars.”

Michael

Michael Tei-pei Chang is a former professional tennis player and coach. At just 17 years old, he made history in 1989 by winning the French Open, becoming the youngest man ever to claim a Grand Slam singles title. In 1996, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2.

Michael is a Hebrew name that means “Who is like God?” It comes from the name Mikha’el, blending the words “mi” (who), “ke” (like), and “el” (God).

Philip

Phillip Lim is a Chinese American fashion designer who founded the brand 3.1 Phillip Lim in 2005.

Phillip is a Greek name that comes from philos, meaning “friend” or “lover,” and hippos, meaning “horse.” Together, it means “lover of horses” or “friend of horses.”

Samuel

Samuel “Sammy” Lee was a doctor and Olympic diver who broke barriers in sports history. He became the first Asian American to earn an Olympic medal for the U.S. and the first diver to achieve two consecutive gold medals in the platform event.

Samuel is a Hebrew name that means “God has heard.” It comes from the Hebrew words shama (to hear) and el (God).

Most Common Asian American Surnames

Nguyen

Viet Thanh Nguyen is a Vietnamese American writer and professor. He is known for his work on Asian American stories, exploring themes like identity, immigration, and the Vietnamese diaspora. His writing has made him an important voice in Asian American literature and culture.

Nguyen is the most common Vietnamese surname. It comes from Chinese and can mean “musical instrument.”

Lee

Bruce Lee was a Hong Kong-American martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and thinker. He created Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts style that combined his experience in fighting with ideas from Zen Buddhism and Taoism.

Lee is a name that comes from an English surname, meaning “clearing” or “meadow.”

Kim

Andy Kim becomes New Jersey’s first Asian American U.S. senator. He won the seat left by former Senator Bob Menendez, defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw. 

Kim is a common Korean name that means “gold.” It is one of the most widespread surnames in Korea, dating back to ancient times.

Wang

Vera Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer. She worked at Vogue and Ralph Lauren before opening her own bridal shop in 1990. She became famous for her wedding dresses, worn by many celebrities, and later added clothing, accessories, perfumes, and home goods.

Wang (王) is a common Chinese last name meaning “king” or “ruler.” It comes from royal families or officials in ancient China. 

Park

Randall Park is a Korean American actor, comedian, writer, and director. He is best known for his roles as Louis Huang in Fresh Off the Boat, Agent Jimmy Woo in the Marvel movies, and FBI Agent Edwin Park in The Residence.

Park (박) is the third most common Korean surname. It comes from Chinese and means “cypress tree.”

Lin

Jeremy Shu-How Lin is a Taiwanese-American former basketball player. He became famous with the New York Knicks in 2011–12, in a moment called "Linsanity." Lin was the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent in the NBA and the first Asian American to win a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

Lin (林) is a common Chinese last name that means “forest.” This last name is very common in China and Taiwan and has been used for thousands of years.

Most Popular Asian American Last Names

Chan

Sucheng Chan is a Chinese-American author, historian, and professor. She started the first independent Asian American Studies department at a major U.S. university and was the first Asian American woman to become a provost in the University of California system.

Chan was the 12th-most popular surname among Asian Pacific Americans. In Mayan languages, the name Chan means "sky."

Yu

Phil Yu (Angry Asian Man) is called the Godfather of Asian American blogging. He has run his blog and brand mostly on his own for 20 years and has become an important voice in the community.

Yu is a Chinese surname, most common in Shandong province and northeastern China, meaning “shining brightly.”

Ahmed

Riz Ahmed became the first Muslim actor nominated for his role in Sound of Metal. He is also the second British Asian actor nominated, after Ben Kingsley, for House of Sand and Fog nearly 20 years earlier.

Ahmed is a common surname in the Middle East and other Islamic countries. It means “thanks to God” and was one of the names of the Prophet Muhammad mentioned in the Quran.

Zhou

Min Zhou is a sociology professor and chair of the Asian American Studies program at UCLA. She has written several award-winning books, including Contemporary Asian America, Growing Up American, and Chinatown.

The surname Zhou (周) is Chinese and is very prevalent. It means "circle," "cycle," or "all-around," and also refers to the ancient Zhou Dynasty.

Liang

Lilian Liang is a Chinese American writer and community organizer. She writes short stories, flash fiction, and software, and her work explores themes like birds, family, magic, and kindness. This is her first published piece.

Liang (梁) is a common Chinese surname, coming from the ancient State of Liang and meaning "bridge" or "beam.”

Reyes

Tan Hock Eng is a Malaysian-born Chinese-American business leader and the CEO of Broadcom Inc., one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies. In 2023, he was the third-highest-paid CEO in the U.S., earning $161.8 million.

The surname Tan (譚) comes from the name of an ancient Chinese state in what is now Shandong province. It means “magnificent.”

FAQs

What are common Asian American names?

Popular Asian American names mix tradition and modern style. Girls usually have names like Mia, Aria, or Mei. Boys have names like Ethan, Kai, or Jay. Many also use family or cultural names.

What is the nickname for Asian Americans?

There isn’t one official nickname. Some say “AA,” but most just say “Asian American.” It’s best not to use a nickname unless someone says it’s okay.

What is a cute Asian girl's name?

Cute Asian girl names usually sound soft or have nice meanings. For example:

• Lila means “play” or “beauty”

• Hana means “flower” in Japanese, “blessing” in Korean.

• Mei means “beautiful” in Chinese.

What is the most common Asian last name in America?

The most common Asian last name in the U.S. is Lee. Others include Kim, Chen, and Nguyen.