Chinese name for Joshua
Joshua is usually written 约书亚 (yuē shū yà) in Chinese. That is a phonetic transliteration: it copies the sound, so Chinese speakers read it as a foreign name. If you want a name that feels native, here are authentic Chinese given names inspired by Joshua.
Joshua in Chinese, by sound
约书亚
yuē shū yà
Fine for writing your English name on a Chinese form. It is not a Chinese given name, and the characters were picked for sound, not meaning.
Authentic Chinese names inspired by Joshua
Real given-name characters from our curated library. A full Chinese name puts a one-character surname first, for example 林 (Lín) + 宇昭.
Yu echoes the opening of Joshua, and Zhao means luminous and clear.
Yu sounds like the start of Joshua, and An means peace and calm.
About the name Joshua
Joshua comes from the Hebrew name Yehoshua, meaning the Lord is salvation.
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Find my Chinese nameFrequently asked questions
What is Joshua in Chinese?
The usual phonetic version of Joshua is 约书亚 (yuē shū yà). It copies the sound, so Chinese speakers read it as a foreign name. Authentic Chinese given names inspired by Joshua include 宇昭 (yǔ zhāo), 煜安 (yù ān), 圣泽 (shèng zé).
How do you write Joshua in Chinese characters?
Phonetically, Joshua is written 约书亚. A native-feeling Chinese name is different: a surname followed by one or two given characters chosen for meaning, such as 宇昭.
What is a good Chinese name for someone called Joshua?
Pick characters that real Chinese people are named with and that carry a meaning you like. 宇昭 (yǔ zhāo): Yu echoes the opening of Joshua, and Zhao means luminous and clear. 煜安 (yù ān): Yu sounds like the start of Joshua, and An means peace and calm. 圣泽 (shèng zé): Joshua's Hebrew root speaks of salvation, and Sheng suggests sacred while Ze means grace.
Why sound-based names fall flat: Chinese name vs. transliteration.