Share this Namebadge!
The name “翘楚 (Qiáochǔ)” comes from the Shijing (《诗经》), known in English as The Book of Songs, one of the oldest and most influential collections of ancient Chinese poetry.
In the poem, the line “翘翘错薪，言刈其楚” literally describes bundles of firewood, where 楚 refers to a particular type of wood and 翘翘 suggests something that stands out or rises above the rest. Over time, this poetic image became a metaphor for outstanding talent—someone who rises above others like a tall, distinguished branch among ordinary wood.
My name isn’t very common, so a lot of people have trouble pronouncing it. After explaining it hundreds of times, I finally discovered a fun little trick: “Qiao” sounds almost exactly like the Italian word “Ciao!” So now, whenever someone struggles, I just tell them: “Think of saying Ciao-Chu — like greeting someone in Italian, but with a twist!”
Record your name so others can learn to say it right.
See Terence's Namebadge
People love to know the origin, meaning, and interesting stories about your name.
See Alan's Namebadge