Chinese name for Lillian
Lillian is usually written 莉莲 (lì lián) 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 Lillian.
Lillian in Chinese, by sound
莉莲
lì lián
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 Lillian
Real given-name characters from our curated library. A full Chinese name puts a one-character surname first, for example 林 (Lín) + 莉莲.
莉莲 closely echoes the sound of Lillian, with 莉 meaning jasmine and 莲 meaning lotus.
莲 means lotus, a flower like the lily behind Lillian, and 岚 adds soft mist.
About the name Lillian
Lillian comes from the Latin lilium, meaning lily.
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Find my Chinese nameFrequently asked questions
What is Lillian in Chinese?
The usual phonetic version of Lillian is 莉莲 (lì lián). It copies the sound, so Chinese speakers read it as a foreign name. Authentic Chinese given names inspired by Lillian include 莉莲 (lì lián), 莲岚 (lián lán), 莉安 (lì ān).
How do you write Lillian in Chinese characters?
Phonetically, Lillian is written 莉莲. A native-feeling Chinese name is different: a surname followed by one or two given characters chosen for meaning, such as 莉莲.
What is a good Chinese name for someone called Lillian?
Pick characters that real Chinese people are named with and that carry a meaning you like. 莉莲 (lì lián): 莉莲 closely echoes the sound of Lillian, with 莉 meaning jasmine and 莲 meaning lotus. 莲岚 (lián lán): 莲 means lotus, a flower like the lily behind Lillian, and 岚 adds soft mist. 莉安 (lì ān): 莉 begins Lillian with the same l sound, and 安 means peaceful.
Why sound-based names fall flat: Chinese name vs. transliteration.