姓名 (xìng míng) is a compound noun meaning 'full name' — specifically the combination of one's family name (surname) and given name. The first character 姓 (xìng) means 'surname' or 'family name', while 名 (míng) means 'given name' or 'personal name'. Together, they form the standard term used in formal and official contexts to refer to a person’s complete name, as opposed to using only the surname or only the given name.

This word appears frequently on forms, identification documents, school rosters, and registration pages — anywhere personal information is collected. Unlike English, where 'name' alone often implies the full name, Chinese distinguishes between 姓 (surname), 名 (given name), and 姓名 (full name) for clarity and formality. It is neutral in register but slightly more formal than just saying 名字 (míngzi), which is more colloquial and general.