The name 曹操 (Cáo Cāo) is formed according to the standard Chinese naming convention of a single-character family name (曹, Cáo) followed by a single-character given name (操, Cāo). The surname 曹 identifies his lineage or clan, while the given name 操, which can carry meanings related to "conduct" or "moral integrity", was chosen by his parents, reflecting a common practice of selecting characters with positive or aspirational meanings for a child's personal identifier. As a whole, 曹操 specifically refers to the famed warlord, poet, and central figure of the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, with the combination of these two characters becoming uniquely associated with his historical persona.