Chinese name for Maria
Maria is usually written 玛丽亚 (Mǎlìyà) 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 Maria.
Maria in Chinese, by sound
玛丽亚
Mǎlìyà
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 Maria
Real given-name characters from our curated library. A full Chinese name puts a one-character surname first, for example 林 (Lín) + 茉莉.
茉 (mò) and 莉 (lì) carry the soft sounds of Maria and both mean jasmine, a fragrant and elegant flower.
About the name Maria
Maria is the Latin and Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is often given as beloved or bitter.
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Find my Chinese nameFrequently asked questions
What is Maria in Chinese?
The usual phonetic version of Maria is 玛丽亚 (Mǎlìyà). It copies the sound, so Chinese speakers read it as a foreign name. Authentic Chinese given names inspired by Maria include 茉莉 (mò lì), 蓉安 (róng ān).
How do you write Maria in Chinese characters?
Phonetically, Maria is written 玛丽亚. A native-feeling Chinese name is different: a surname followed by one or two given characters chosen for meaning, such as 茉莉.
What is a good Chinese name for someone called Maria?
Pick characters that real Chinese people are named with and that carry a meaning you like. 茉莉 (mò lì): 茉 (mò) and 莉 (lì) carry the soft sounds of Maria and both mean jasmine, a fragrant and elegant flower. 蓉安 (róng ān): 蓉 (róng) is a soft hibiscus blossom and 安 (ān) means peace, matching the gentle warmth of Maria.
Why sound-based names fall flat: Chinese name vs. transliteration.