When a Chinese person names their child, they give them a name based on it's specific meaning. Many times the name will include an adjective (such as Beautiful flower or Strong mountain). In general, you can find Chinese names in the dictionary. As a rule the name should be descriptive of the child or what the parents want the child to be like. Example: my Chinese name is QinMei. This means beautiful piano. My chinese friend gave me this name because she thinks i play well. My two characters can easily be found in the dictionary.

Now, would you give your child the English name Beautiful Piano? (Insert the rhetorical NO!)

Yet, because of the nature of the chinese naming system, many students think they can pick their English name out of a dictionary.

Examples: (actual names of people I've known here)
Handsome, Dragon, Spy, Lucky, Automan, Tiger, Sun, Flying

Then there are the names that have morphed into new names over the years because 1) the student cannot correctly spell their name or 2) the student cannot correctly say their name. These are usually funny but sometimes you cannot even guess what the name started out as.

Examples:
Klose, Bedme, Angerlina, Jaker, Kater, Koras


I completely understand the cultural difference here but it is so hard to explain to a 2nd grade boy why he cannot name himself "Handsome" when that's what his Chinese name is.