Name Selection and the 12 Zodiacs

When it comes to name selection, most would know commonly about counting of strokes derived from the Chinese characters used in name. But do you know in the art of name selection, your zodiac has influences on what character to be used?
 
Since we are ushering in the year of Pig, I shall share some of these considerations here. (This is useful for you if you are expecting a baby to be born this year. Or should you or your family is born under the year of Pig, you may find this to your interest too.)

Like each zodiac, there are preferred characters to be used for person born in the year of Pig

​For a start, let's look at the characteristics and nature of Pig. The Pig zodiac is a domestic animal and one that feeds on plants and rice. Those born under this zodiac are usually generous. It generally has a higher chance of success in life. It is also under the water element (亥) in bazi. It enjoys the night and fears the day. If you are rear in a home, you are likely to be better taken care of vs those in the wild, albeit more carefree. More often than not, pigs are commonly used for consumption and in the old days, used as part of offerings. 

You must be wondering why this description? Actually, this forms as part of the connection and if I may add in a meaningful way to how we choose or not choose characters to be used in the name.

What is the recommended characters then for those born in the year of Pig?
Characters that contains plants or feeds such as 米, 豆, 田, 木 can be considered as this symbolizes a life without worry with abundance of food. Wood also refers to trees and pig can seek shelter and be comfortable. Words with doors or ‘ceiling’ in (e.g. 宀) such as 家 can also be considered as it would mean protected and sheltered.

As the Pig zodiac is under the water element, characters with water (氵) relation is also suitable. Words typically like 津, 浩, 游 or even子 are ok. 子 actually represents the Rat zodiac and is part of water element and therefore its suitable to give a few examples.​

A pig having a good time in water, so is having water element in a person's name born in the Pig zodiac.

​How about words not recommended? This can be based on some of below sharing.
Why is there fear during the day time? During the day, this is usually the time where it faces the butcher… and you know what happens next. As such, under the Pig zodiac, we usually do not wish to have a 日 or 火 in the name.

Another area to note is to avoid words (e.g. 彡 or 衣) in your name. Examples are 彩,  彦, 彬 or 装. Why? In the past, pigs get 'decorated' when they are offered for prayers as sacrifices. Even nowadays during wedding, it is normal to see roast pigs as part of the wedding offerings with simple decoration. So it is preferred to not name clothings or colors for those under the Pig zodiac. Reason being one may find being short changed in life.

In bazi studies, pig clashes with the snake zodiac. As such, we also do not recommend characters such as 远 道. Reason being parts like (辶) represent snake. Likewise, 巳 is not recommended as this represent snake which clashes with pig in bazi studies.
 
The above shared only offers some of parts considered during a name selection. This forms as part of a tedious process during the name selection process. Other areas include ensuring correct stokes count, which is then complemented against one’s bazi chart to have the best name selected.

To sidetrack, through my observation, most parents actually may already have a preferred sounding character but unsure of character to use. (This is of course on top of a more unique name for their child.) Thus through allowing an indicated preference sounding character,  we can try to increase the odds of match to parents or the person's preference.  You may read up on our auspicious name selection service here. This is then matched to achieve a unique combination to form a distinct name one can have.

I hope you enjoy reading this article with some insights into name selection and understand better the overview of the name selection process.

With that, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers 新年发大财，猪年行大运!