Every character tells a story: dynamic identity negotiation in the Chinese naming practices of adult L2 learners

While the adoption of English names by Chinese individuals is well-researched, the reverse practice by L2 learners remains underexplored as a site for identity construction. This study examines how learners navigate the tension between ‘cultural integration’ and ‘self-expression’ through their Chinese naming practices. Using a grounded theory approach on in-depth interviews, we find a dynamic three-stage framework: ‘naming’, ‘evaluation’, and ‘usage’. We argue the Chinese name is not a static symbol, but a dynamic field where the acts of naming, evaluation, and usage are core practices for constructing, negotiating, and performing a cross-cultural identity.