Li
/L-IY/
Plum tree — Li (李) is the Chinese character for the plum, counted among the "Three Friends of Winter" alongside pine and bamboo in classical aesthetic philosophy. As a given name it casts a child as the tree that blossoms first in late winter, before any other, symbolising endurance, integrity, and beauty held fast against the frost.
See Li scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Li:
Yes — Li is a Buddhist unisex name of Chinese origin, meaning “Plum tree — Li (李) is the Chinese character for the plum, counted among the "Three Friends of Winter" alongside pine and bamboo in classical aesthetic philosophy. As a given name it casts a child as the tree that blossoms first in late winter, before any other, symbolising endurance, integrity, and beauty held fast against the frost.”.
How well does Li fit your family?
This page tells you what Li means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Li's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Li is a unisex's name of Chinese origin, traditionally used in Buddhist families. The name means "Plum tree — Li (李) is the Chinese character for the plum, counted among the "Three Friends of Winter" alongside pine and bamboo in classical aesthetic philosophy. As a given name it casts a child as the tree that blossoms first in late winter, before any other, symbolising endurance, integrity, and beauty held fast against the frost." and belongs to the Nature cluster — names drawn from the natural world — earth, water, sky.
Common among Chinese, Taiwanese, Singaporean, Malaysian-Chinese, Vietnamese families, Li carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What's Li's birth star?
In Vedic tradition, a baby's name is matched to their nakshatra (birth star) and rashi (moon sign) — usually through its first syllable. Li opens with “Li.” But whether that's auspicious depends on your baby's exact date, time, and place of birth.
NameRoot works it out for you. Enter your baby's birth details and see exactly which nakshatra and rashi Li aligns with — and how strongly it scores.
See Li's birth-star reading →What does Li's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Li resonates in either tradition.
Li's destiny number is 3 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Li's full reading →
Does Li go with your family's names?
Li breaks into 2 sounds: /L-IY/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Li sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Li beside your family's names →
Names similar to Li
If Li resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Buddhist unisex names, common in Chinese families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Buddhist unisex names from the Nature cluster
Names that sound similar
Buddhist unisex names that open with the same syllables as Li
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Li — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Li
What does the name Li mean?
Li means "Plum tree — Li (李) is the Chinese character for the plum, counted among the "Three Friends of Winter" alongside pine and bamboo in classical aesthetic philosophy. As a given name it casts a child as the tree that blossoms first in late winter, before any other, symbolising endurance, integrity, and beauty held fast against the frost.." It is a unisex name of Chinese origin, traditionally used in Buddhist families.
Is Li a boy or girl name?
Li is a unisex name, used for any gender.
What is the origin of the name Li?
Li is of Chinese origin, used in Buddhist tradition, commonly among Chinese, Taiwanese, Singaporean families.
Is Li a Buddhist name?
Yes. Li is a unisex name traditionally used in Buddhist families, of Chinese origin.
What does Li mean in Chinese?
Li originates from Chinese, where it means "Plum tree — Li (李) is the Chinese character for the plum, counted among the "Three Friends of Winter" alongside pine and bamboo in classical aesthetic philosophy. As a given name it casts a child as the tree that blossoms first in late winter, before any other, symbolising endurance, integrity, and beauty held fast against the frost.."
What is the numerology of Li?
Li has a Pythagorean destiny number of 3 — creativity and joyful expression.
See how Li scores for your family
NameRoot is the only baby-name app that scores every name across 6 signals against your specific family context. Download free — Li is waiting.
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