Chinese name for William
William is usually written 威廉 (Wēi 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 William.
William in Chinese, by sound
威廉
Wēi 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 William
Real given-name characters from our curated library. A full Chinese name puts a one-character surname first, for example 林 (Lín) + 守坚.
Shou means to guard and Jian means firm, matching William as a resolute protector.
About the name William
William comes from the Germanic name Willahelm, meaning resolute protector.
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Find my Chinese nameFrequently asked questions
What is William in Chinese?
The usual phonetic version of William is 威廉 (Wēi lián). It copies the sound, so Chinese speakers read it as a foreign name. Authentic Chinese given names inspired by William include 守坚 (shǒu jiān), 铠铭 (kǎi míng).
How do you write William in Chinese characters?
Phonetically, William is written 威廉. A native-feeling Chinese name is different: a surname followed by one or two given characters chosen for meaning, such as 守坚.
What is a good Chinese name for someone called William?
Pick characters that real Chinese people are named with and that carry a meaning you like. 守坚 (shǒu jiān): Shou means to guard and Jian means firm, matching William as a resolute protector. 铠铭 (kǎi míng): Kai means armor and Ming means remembered, reflecting William as a strong guardian.
Why sound-based names fall flat: Chinese name vs. transliteration.