贞（zhen）
Name meaning
贞 (zhen) means uprightness, constancy and firm correctness. In older classical use it is also tied to divination, but as a modern name character it should be read as steadiness, moral integrity and the ability to hold a principled course. It works best when paired with a warmer or broader second character, so the name feels faithful and clear rather than severe.
Practical naming use
Use 贞 (zhen) when the name should feel principled, constant and trustworthy. It suits scholarly, ethical, family, public-service or quietly resilient name directions. The character has a strong classical register, so a companion character should soften it with light, learning, peace or warmth.
Pair 贞 (zhen) with characters that add openness or warmth, such as 贞安 (Zhenan) Zhen'an, 贞文 (Zhenwen), 贞雅 (Zhenya) or 贞宁 (Zhenning). Avoid another hard virtue character that makes the full name sound rigid.