涵 (hán): meaning in a Chinese name

涵 (hán) means to contain. In Chinese names it is a Water-element character with 11 strokes.

Water element 水

to contain

tolerance and depth

Element
Water 水
Radical
氵
Strokes
11
Use
Used for any gender

In five-element thinking, Water carries wisdom, adaptability, flow. A name built on 涵 leans on that energy. More Water element Chinese names or read what the five elements mean.

The radical

the water radical (水): flowing water, which suggests wisdom, adaptability, and abundance that always finds its own way.

涵 works in names for any gender; what matters is how it is paired and how the tones flow. It is 11 strokes to write.

The image behind the character

僭始既涵

《诗经·节南山之什·巧言》

涵 appears in this classical line. Read it as the picture the character draws on. It is part of why the character carries the feeling it does.

More Water characters

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