A surname meaning 'southern palace', from the ancient Nangong family.
What the character means
South, the direction opposite north, suggesting warmth toward the sun and openness.
Why it scores this way
Easy to say82
Reads the way it looks for an English speaker — no sounds English doesn't have.
Recognised in China47
Outside the top 100 — distinctive, but some people will ask you to repeat or write it.
Easy to write60
18 strokes — a little practice and it flows.
People who carried this name
Nangong Kuo — Disciple of Confucius (6th century BC), famed for his eloquence.
Nangong Changwan — A fierce general of the State of Song in the Spring and Autumn period, known for his extraordinary strength and the assassination of Duke Min of Song.
Nangong Yue — Tang Dynasty astronomer who, under Yi Xing, conducted an important survey measuring the length of a meridian on Earth.