Wow , I really appreciate your ideas in name combination.Although languages change as culture change , at this point, I have to say you got the point. In nowadays, there are mainly two ways of Asian Naming Ways. For the modern way, we may pay more attention to the meaning its self as we consider the name contains the wish and bless for the child.However, for the traditional way, also a more sophisticated and attractive way, is that a big family name the next generation before they are born. This kind of names not only shows the history and social levels of the family but also connect every member of this generation.Because in this naming way, the whole generation may share the same character to show that they are the certain third ,fourth or fifth generation of the big family. As most Chinese names contain three characters.The first is family name. The other two are first name. So the big family give a certain character to the whole generation and the other character varies.Then the name shows the relation between every member of a very big family whose members may be as many as 70 or more.Isn`t it wonderful?
So I am so pleased to see that your idea meet the traditional Chinese way. How fantastic!
Moreover , to speak of Chinese name , we not only consider the character, I mean the meaning the sounding the writing ,but also consider the element that it stands for. In
Asia, the world is composed of five basic elements. Gold Wood Water Fire Earth They may not only be the fire or water you see but stand for different styles of energy and materials. We trust that the person life may be affected by the name.Because every Chinese character (simple or mediate or complex) stands for a certain element and the degree of the entire name`s writing complexity (the number) which can be counted ( 10 20 50 or more) also reveals the objective rules of the nature.
Then your birth hour and date is fixed. (maybe very good or very bad.it can`t be changed after your birth) This reveals your personality and more important what you lack what you need.
So what do in naming is to give you what you lack and suppress what you have too much. ........ It is very complicated .I can just explain it very briefly this way.
Then consider your friend`s name "Wan-Qing ". "Wang" means "ten thousand" "very much, so many". ‘
Qing" means “green" " fresh". So this combination means " keep young ,stay energetic healthy, really really long enjoyable life". Good meaning. This name is mainly used in traditional names, maybe not so modern but really blessed.It reminds me of the names mainly used in 1960s or 70s.Not very common now,but pretty good meaning.
So consider your English names.
Ann equals "Ya"in
China, written as “雅”。It is really a very very nice and dream-like character for a girl.(for boys it would be too soft). Many ancient Chinese renowned beauty would choose this character to compose their names.!!!! Very deep historical meaning and cultural stories related to poets....
Then
Marie, generally, if the meaning of the world translated into Chinese is not so soft for girls, we may translated it according to its pronunciation.
Marie may equal to " Ma-Li 玛丽” 。 "Ma" means a kind of very beautiful precious agate which is usually used to resemble a pretty girl.It means you r as beautiful as the jewelry. "
Li" means “pretty, nice-looking,attractive" .So considering your family name, you can choose two character from "
Ya" "Ma" and"Li".
I suggest "
Ya Li” would sound so good. I dont know your family name but I guess "
Ya Li " really ok "雅丽“ means the gracious,elegant, very beautiful but not arrogant still polite and modest girl.