Her original name was Zhenzhu (
珍珠). Baoyu renamed her
袭人 from the Song poet Lu You's line
花气袭人知骤暖 ('the flowers' scent assails people, one knows the warmth has come on suddenly'). The name is a pun:
袭 means 'to assail' or 'to envelop', and her manner envelops Baoyu in comfort.
