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Help[Facts] Mei or Li means "beautiful" in Chinese
in reply to a message by Scott Church
In traditional given names (which usually consisted of two words), Mei and Li were popular first parts of the given name. As in Meili, Meiling, Meiwen and other girl's names. Meilan could be written Mei-Lan, Mei-lan or Mei Lan as well as Meilan.
In the Disney film Mulan, I think the heroine's name means "brave orchid". So I would say that Lan means just "orchid".
Since Claire means "bright", Claire Lan would mean "bright orchid". :) (Though the Chinese world for "bright" is Ming.)
"You sought a flower and found a fruit. You sought a spring and found a sea. You sought a woman and found a soul. You are disappointed."
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
In the Disney film Mulan, I think the heroine's name means "brave orchid". So I would say that Lan means just "orchid".
Since Claire means "bright", Claire Lan would mean "bright orchid". :) (Though the Chinese world for "bright" is Ming.)
"You sought a flower and found a fruit. You sought a spring and found a sea. You sought a woman and found a soul. You are disappointed."
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
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Replies
Yes, the "lan" in Mulan is the Lan = orchid that we talk about here, but "mu" is not "brave".
From the ever-helpful Wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hua_Mulan
"The word "mulan" means "magnolia." ("Mu" by itself means "wood" and "Lan" means "orchid")."
Rene www.AboutNames.ch
From the ever-helpful Wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hua_Mulan
"The word "mulan" means "magnolia." ("Mu" by itself means "wood" and "Lan" means "orchid")."
Rene www.AboutNames.ch
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