Read this business English blog here: http://www.o2-v2.com/en/blog/business-english-101-choosing-the-right-english-name GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH THE RIGHT NAME! As China's economic wealth and status as a global power in the world continues to grow, the likelihood of employees in Chinese companies coming into contact and having dealings with foreigners is greater with each passing day. That is why making a good first impression when meeting your prospective foreign clients for the first time is absolutely critical! FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST FOREVER This first impression, whether it's on the phone, via email or in person starts with a personal introduction. This is where one introduces himself or herself for the first time and having the right English name definitely helps to smooth over the whole process! A 'REAL' ENGLISH NAME Having a name that positively reflects your professionalism can go a long way to helping sway the odds in your favor, and help you to avoid any embarrassing introductions. In the same way that you'd think positively of a foreigner with a good Chinese name that doesn't sound 'silly', this will also be true of your English name! Making sure that you have an English name that represents you in a professional light is Business English 101! Check out these tips below to help you on your way to making a 'name' for yourself in the business world! Get your own copy of the E-book, "150 professional English names for ladies and gentlemen" here: http://www.o2-v2.com/free-download-150-professional-english-names-for-ladies-and-gentlemen Catch up with all of our blogs that can help you to do better business in China here: http://www.o2-v2.com/en/blog

1. o2-v2.com http://www.o2-v2.com/en/blog/business-english-101-choosing-the-right-english-name
Ozone Inbound Marketing Blog
Business English 101-Choosing the right English name
Get off on the right foot with the right name!
As China's economic wealth and status as a global power in the world continues to grow, the likelihood of employees
in Chinese companies coming into contact and having dealings with foreigners is greater with each passing day. That
is why making a good first impression when meeting your prospective foreign clients for the first time is absolutely
critical!
First impressions last forever
This first impression, whether it's on the phone, via email or in person starts with a personal introduction. This is
where one introduces himself or herself for the first time and having the right English name definitely helps to smooth
over the whole process!
A 'Real' English name
Having a name that positively reflects your professionalism can go a long way to helping sway the odds in your favor,
and help you to avoid any embarrassing introductions. In the same way that you'd think positively of a foreigner with a
good Chinese name that doesn't sound 'silly', this will also be true of your English name!
Making sure that you have an English name that represents you in a professional light is Business English 101!
Check out these tips below to help you on your way to making a 'name' for yourself in the business world!
1) Simple is better

2. When considering what name to choose it is a safe bet to stick to something that is easily recognizable and is simple
enough for you to pronounce and introduce yourself with! I've met tons of people in China in my time here and
honestly I really only remember the names that were simple and easy to remember (partly because they were names
similar to those I came into contact with often throughout my life). Your name is there for you to introduce yourself, it
doesn't need to be fancy to make an impression, making it stand for something is all up to you!
2) Good day Mr/Miss Professional
Just like with any other language out there, there are definitely certain English names that project professionalism
naturally through their sound and exude an air of confidence when spoken out loud! Picking this type of name will help
you to convey confidence when meeting clients for the first time, but, be warned, some of these names might prove
difficult to pronounce for non-native speakers. As such they should only be chosen if one is confident enough in
his/her speaking ability so as to avoid any embarrassing introductions.
3) Going behind the name
Names have origins with deep meaning and stories behind them and choosing a name that represents one of your
character traits is another great way of expressing who you are! This really is a personal preference and as such you
are free to choose whatever name conveys a trait that means something to you. My only advice would be to steer
away from names or nouns that already mean something eg. Sky, Forest, Star etc. A simple online search of 'names
with meanings' should do the trick!
4) Standing out from the rest
If being different is what you crave then choosing a name that is unique, exotic or uncommon might help to get you
some extra attention when making a first impression! However, with these type of names one might run the risk of
being seen as unprofessional so it's best to avoid names related to the weather, your favourite fruit or holiday
destination! Take caution when choosing a unique name so you don't get noticed for the wrong reasons.
With names it all comes down to how you want to present yourself to the business world. As second language
speakers you have the great opportunity of choosing your very own name and as such you should choose very
carefully! If you are still wondering what name to choose for yourself why not download Oxygen's FREE list of 150
Professional English Names for Ladies and Gentlemen below with loads of names and extra resources to help
you on your way to finding the perfect name for you!
Posted by Dewet Boshoff on Fri 19 Sep, 2014
Dewet is originally from South Africa and has been living in Asia for almost 10 years. He found his calling in China,

3. becoming a fluent Mandarin speaker whilst studying Business & Chinese at Shenzhen University, and was among
the first cohort of foreign students to graduate with honours there. He is an inbound marketing scholar and social
media enthusiast. Dewet delights in using his language skills to promote inbound in China and to educate the West on
Chinese social media. When Dewet isn't on the job he enjoys outdoor activities, traveling to exotic locations and
socialising with his friends-online and in the real world!
Topics: Business English