How Do I Say My Name in Chinese?

Contents Key Takeaways Direct equivalents of English names are not commonly used in China — Chinese transliterations are the standard way to introduce yourself. Chinese transliterations of English names are based on phonetic approximation using pinyin, and often look similar to their English counterparts when romanized. The characters chosen for transliterations follow cultural naming conventions, including auspicious meanings and gender-based associations. Long-term learners and expats are encouraged to adopt a culturally appropriate Chinese name with guidance from a teacher. Knowing how to say your name in Chinese is an essential first step before traveling or studying abroad in China. When traveling about in China, you'll need to introduce yourself to those you meet along the way. The vast differences between Chinese and English mean it's important to know the Chinese equivalent of your English name. Whether you're heading to Shanghai for a short trip or planning to Learn Chinese in China for a full semester, knowing how to say your name in Chinese will make a strong first impression. Read on to discover how to find and use the Chinese version of your name. Getting your name right in Chinese is one of the first and most rewarding steps when meeting people in China. 名 01 English versus Chinese names Many long-term expats and Mandarin language students will tell you that the most enriching aspect of their experience in China was meeting new people and making friends with locals. Knowing how to introduce yourself when you first start meeting new people in China can be tough, though, since direct equivalents of English names are not used in China (except perhaps in English class). While many young people in big Chinese cities like Shanghai and Beijing speak English and are familiar with the English pronunciation of most common English names, older people and people living in smaller cities like Guilin may struggle to recognize, remember and pronounce them. When meeting people in China, it's important to know how to say your name in Chinese. 字 02 Chinese names Generally, choosing a culturally appropriate Chinese moniker for yourself is highly recommended. The logic behind names in China is quite different from the logic behind names in the West, however. Therefore, deciding what to call yourself in China can be somewhat complicated and generally requires assistance from a Chinese language teacher. Watch this video for a helpful introduction to choosing a Chinese name that sounds natural to native speakers. Many foreigners who have spent many years interacting with China and learning Chinese have chosen special "Chinese names." These unique appellations are usually chosen based on the sounds and meanings of the Chinese characters that they include, instead of being direct transliterations of their English equivalents. Choosing a culturally appropriate Chinese name for yourself requires time and effort. Good examples of foreigners who have chosen authentic Chinese names for themselves include sinologist Jonathan Spence, who goes by 史景迁 (Shǐ Jǐngqiān), and writer Peter Hessler, who is known as 何伟 (Hé Wěi) in China. If for some reason you don't have time to consult a Chinese teacher when choosing a Chinese moniker for yourself, it's still useful to know what the accepted Chinese equivalent of your English name is so you can use it to introduce yourself to your new friends in China. If you're preparing for a trip, it's also worth reviewing some essential Chinese travel phrases alongside your name — a little preparation goes a long way. 音 03 Chinese transliterations of English names Westerners have been interacting with China for hundreds of years, so even though English names aren't used in China, generally accepted equivalents for many of them do exist. In almost every case, these names are actually transliterations of the English versions. Although the Chinese equivalents of common English names may look completely unrecognizable when written in Chinese characters, many of them look quite similar to their English counterparts when written in pinyin. Common English names can be written in Chinese through a process of transliteration. For example, the Chinese characters for Natalie are 娜塔莉, but the pinyin is written as Nàtǎlì. Likewise, Anna is written as 安娜 using Chinese characters, but its pinyin equivalent, Ānnà, is almost identical to the English version (aside from the tone marks). Transliterated English names may sound a bit odd to the untrained ear due to the fact that phonetically translating each syllable using Chinese characters means that the Chinese versions must be pronounced using Chinese tones. However, with practice, you'll soon learn to recognize the similarities between the Chinese versions and the English originals. 字 04 Choosing appropriate Chinese characters Another interesting aspect of Chinese transliterations of English names is the fact that the transliterations often follow some of the same rules that Chinese parents take into consideration when naming their children. The characters used in Chinese transliterations of common English names are usually chosen according to a special set of rules and cultural norms. Auspicious meanings Chinese parents usually try to choose names that feature Chinese characters with auspicious meanings. In a similar vein, many of the characters used in Chinese transliterations of English names also have positive or auspicious meanings. For example, the character 德 (dé), which means "virtue," is contained in the Chinese transliterations of frequently used English monikers like Richard (理查德 Lǐchádé) and Harold (哈罗德 Hāluōdé). Likewise, the character 安 (ān), which means "peace," is included in the transliteration of Anthony (安东尼 Āndōngní) and Ryan (赖安 Laì'ān). Other characters with positive connotations, such as 杰 (jié, outstanding person, hero) and 特 (tè, exceptional) can be found in multiple different Chinese transliterations of English names. Understanding these principles connects naturally with broader topics like Chinese numerology, where symbolic meaning plays a similarly important role in everyday life. Gender-based naming conventions When choosing names for girls, Chinese parents frequently choose characters with connotations that are traditionally thought of as being "feminine." This habit has also carried over into the choice of characters used in Chinese transliterations of traditionally female English names. For example, both Patricia (帕特丽夏 Pàtèlìxià) and Elizabeth (伊丽莎白 Yīlìshābái), contain the character 丽 (lì), which means beautiful or pretty. English girls' names are often transliterated using characters associated with feminine characteristics. Exploring Chinese calligraphy is a great way to deepen your understanding of how characters carry meaning. Study Chinese in Guilin or Start Online CLI offers personalized Chinese instruction built around your goals. Join our Immersion Program in Guilin or begin from anywhere with a free Chinese lesson . Explore the Immersion Program Learn Chinese Online 姓 05 What about surnames? In general, Chinese surnames are only one character long. Most foreign surnames, however, often consist of at least two syllables. Thus, when transliterating foreign surnames directly into Chinese, it is often not possible to use a common Chinese surname as a substitute. Rather, it is most common to simply transcribe English surnames phonetically using pinyin. Chinese surnames generally come first, before given names, in contrast to English surnames, which come last. Traditionally, when full English names that include both the first name and the surname are rendered in Chinese, the English word order is usually retained. To show where the given name ends and the surname begins, a dot symbol is often used. For example, basketball star Kobe Bryant is generally referred to as 科比·布莱恩特 (Kēbǐ·Bùlái'ēntè) in China. Unlike English surnames, Chinese surnames come first, before given names. 女 06 Chinese translations of common English names for women The names listed below were the most common names for women in the United States between 1920–2019, according to the Social Security Administration. English Name Chinese Equivalent Pinyin Abigail亚比该Yǎbǐgāi Alexis阿列克西斯Ālièkèxīsī Alice爱丽丝Àilìsī Amanda阿曼达Āmàndá Amber安柏Ānbǎi Amy艾米Àimǐ Andrea安德烈娅Āndélièyà Angela安格拉Āngélā Ann安Ān Anna安娜Ānnà Ashley阿什利Āshénlì Barbara芭芭拉Bābālā Betty贝蒂Bèidì Beverly比佛利Bǐfúlì Brenda布兰达Bùlándá Brittany布莱特妮Bùláitènī Carol卡罗尔Kǎluó‘ěr Carolyn卡罗琳Kǎluólín Catherine凯瑟琳Kǎisèlín Charlotte夏洛特Xiàluòtè Cheryl谢丽尔Xièlì’ěr Christina克里斯蒂娜Kèlǐsīdìnà Christine克丽丝汀Kèlìsītīng Cynthia辛西雅Xīnxīyǎ Danielle丹妮尔Dānnī'ěr Deborah底波拉Dǐbōlā Debra黛博拉Dàibólā Denise丹妮丝Dānnīsī Diana戴安娜Dài'ānnà Diane黛安Dài’ān Donna唐娜Tángnà Doris多丽丝Duōlìsī Dorothy多萝西Duōluóxī Elizabeth伊丽莎白Yīlìshābái Emily埃米莉Āimǐlì Emma爱玛Àimǎ Evelyn伊芙琳Yīfúlín Frances弗兰西丝Fúlánxīsī Gloria格洛丽亚Géluòlìyà Grace格蕾丝Gélěisī Hannah汉娜Hànnà Heather海瑟Hǎisè Helen海伦Hǎilún Isabella伊莎贝拉Yīshābèilā Jacqueline杰奎琳Jiékuílín Janet珍妮特Zhēnnītè Janice珍妮丝Zhēnnīsī Jean珍Zhēn Jennifer珍妮佛Zhēnnīfú Jessica杰西卡Jiéxīkǎ Joan琼Qióng Joyce乔伊斯Qiáoyīsī Judith朱迪思Zhūdísī Judy朱迪Zhūdí Julia朱莉亚Zhūlìyà Julie朱丽Zhūlì Karen凯伦Kǎilún Katherine凯萨琳Kǎisàlín Kathleen凯瑟琳Kǎisèlín Kathryn凯瑟琳Kǎisèlín Kayla凯拉Kǎilā Kelly凯利Kǎilì Kimberly金伯利Jīnbólì Laura劳拉Láolā Lauren劳伦Láolún Linda琳达Líndá Lisa丽莎Lìshā Madison麦迪逊Màidíxùn Margaret玛格丽特Mǎgélìtè Maria玛丽亚Mǎlìyǎ Marie玛丽Mǎlì Marilyn玛丽莲Mǎlìlián Martha玛莎Mǎshā Mary玛丽Mǎlì Megan梅根Méigēn Melissa梅丽莎Méilìshā Michelle米歇尔Mǐxiē'ěr Nancy南希Nánxī Natalie娜塔莉Nàtǎlì Nicole妮可Nīkě Olivia奥利维亚Àolìwéiyǎ Pamela帕米拉Pàmǐlā Patricia帕特丽夏Pàtèlìxià Rachel雷切尔Léiqiè'ěr Rebecca利百加Lìbǎijiā Rose萝丝Luósī Ruth路得Lùdé Samantha萨曼莎Sàmànshā Sandra桑德拉Sāngdélā Sara莎拉Shālā Sarah莎拉Shālā Sharon雪伦Xuělún Shirley雪莉Xuělì Sophia索菲亚Suǒfēiyà Stephanie丝黛芬妮Sīdàifēnnī Susan苏珊Sūshān Teresa特里萨Tèlǐsà Theresa特里萨Tèlǐsà Victoria维多利亚Wéiduōlìyǎ Virginia弗吉尼亚Fújíníyǎ 男 07 Chinese translations of common English names for men According to the Social Security Administration, the names below were the most common names for U.S. men between 1920–2019. English Name Chinese Equivalent Pinyin Aaron亚伦Yàlún Adam亚当Yàdāng Alan艾伦Àilún Albert阿尔伯特Ā'ěrbótè Alexander亚力山大Yàlìshāndà Andrew安德鲁Āndélǔ Anthony安东尼Āndōngní Arthur亚瑟Yàsè Austin奥斯汀Àosītīng Benjamin本杰明Běnjiémíng Billy比利Bǐlì Bobby巴比Bābǐ Bradley布莱德利Bùláidélì Brandon布兰登Bùlándēng Brian布莱恩Bùlái'ēn Bruce布鲁斯Bùlǔsī Bryan布赖恩Bùlài'ēn Carl卡尔Kǎ'ěr Charles查尔斯Chá'ěrsī Christian克里斯蒂安Kèlǐsīdì'ān Christopher克里斯托弗Kèlǐsītuōfú Daniel丹尼尔Dānní'ěr David大卫Dàwèi Dennis丹尼斯Dānnísī Donald唐纳德Tángnàdé Douglas道格拉斯Dàogélāsī Dylan迪伦Dílún Edward爱德华Àidéhuá Eric埃里克Āilǐkè Ethan伊桑Yīsāng Eugene尤金Yóujīn Frank弗兰克Fúlánkè Gabriel加百列Jiābǎiliè Gary加里Jiālǐ George乔治Qiáozhì Gerald杰拉尔德Jiélā'ěrdé Gregory格里高利Gélǐgāolì Harold哈罗德Hāluōdé Henry亨利Hēnglì Jack杰克Jiékè Jacob雅各Yǎgè James詹姆斯Zhānmǔsī Jason杰森Jiésēn Jeffrey杰弗里Jiéfúlǐ Jeremy杰里米Jiélǐmǐ Jerry杰瑞Jiéruì Jesse杰西Jiéxī Joe乔Qiáo John约翰Yuēhàn Johnny强尼Qiángní Jonathan乔纳森Qiáonàsēn Jordan约旦Yuēdàn Jose霍赛Huòsài Joseph约瑟夫Yuēsèfū Joshua约书亚Yuēshūyà Juan胡安Hú'ān Justin贾斯汀Jiǎsītīng Keith基思Jīsī Kenneth肯尼思Kěnnísī Kevin克文Kèwén Kyle凯尔Kǎi'ěr Larry拉里Lālǐ Lawrence劳伦斯Láolúnsī Logan罗根Luógēn Louis路易斯Lùyìsī Mark马克Mǎkè Matthew马太Mǎtài Michael迈克尔Màikè'ěr Nathan內森Nèisēn Nicholas尼古拉斯Nígǔlāsī Noah诺亚Nuòyǎ Patrick帕特里克Pàtèlǐkè Paul保罗Bǎoluó Peter彼得Bǐdé Philip斐理伯Fěilǐbó Ralph拉尔夫Lā'ěrfū Randy兰迪Lándí Raymond雷蒙德Léiméngdé Richard理查德Lǐchádé Robert罗伯特Luóbótè Roger罗杰Luójié Ronald罗纳德Luónàdé Roy罗伊Luōyī Russell罗素Luósù Ryan赖安Laì'ān Samuel塞缪尔Sāimiù'ěr Scott斯考特Sīkǎotè Sean肖恩Xiào'ēn Stephen斯蒂芬Sīdìfēn Steven史蒂文Shǐdìwén Terry特利Tèlè Thomas托马斯Tuōmǎsī Timothy提摩太Tímótài Tyler泰勒Tàilè Vincent文森特Wénsēntè Walter瓦尔特Wǎ'ěrtè Wayne韦恩Wéi'ēn William威廉Wēilián Willie威利Wēilì Zachary匝加利Zājiālì 义 08 What's in a name? Although Chinese equivalents of English names are not commonly used in China and it's always better to choose a more authentic Chinese moniker, there are times when knowing some of the most common Chinese transliterations can be useful. Examining the strategies used to produce these transliterations also provides fascinating insights into Chinese culture. If you find yourself curious about the deeper layers of the language — from character etymology to cultural symbolism — there's always more to explore. You might also find it helpful to review common Chinese greetings so that once you introduce your name, you can keep the conversation going naturally. Learning to say your name in Chinese is essential for those who plan to travel or study in China. 问 09 FAQ Do Chinese people use English names? Direct English names are not commonly used in China outside of English class settings. Chinese transliterations are the standard way foreigners introduce themselves, particularly in smaller cities or when speaking with older generations. How are English names transliterated into Chinese? English names are transliterated phonetically into Chinese using characters that approximate the sound of each syllable. The characters selected are usually chosen with auspicious meanings and gender-appropriate connotations in mind. Should I choose a proper Chinese name instead of a transliteration? Yes, if you plan to spend significant time in China or are serious about learning Chinese, it's recommended to work with a native speaker or Chinese teacher to choose a name that sounds natural and carries meaningful characters — rather than relying solely on a transliteration. How do Chinese surnames work for foreigners? Because most foreign surnames are multi-syllabic, they are usually transcribed phonetically into Chinese rather than replaced with a common Chinese family name. When written in full, English name word order (given name first) is typically retained. Where can I learn more basic Chinese for travel? A great place to start is our guide to basic Chinese words and phrases, which covers everyday vocabulary you'll need on the ground in China. Related Guides Chinese Names Explore how Chinese names are structured, chosen, and what they mean culturally. What Is Pinyin? Learn the romanization system that underpins Chinese transliterations of English names. 10 Chinese Travel Phrases Build on your name introduction with the most useful phrases for traveling in China. How to Say Hi in Chinese Master greetings so you can confidently follow up after introducing yourself. Study Abroad in China Ready to take your Chinese further? Explore CLI's immersive study abroad programs. Chinese Naming Conventions Go deeper into how Chinese characters are chosen for names and what they signify.