Abraham in Chinese
Abraham in Chinese is 亚伯拉罕 (Yà Bó Lā Hǎn).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- father of many
Etymologically, Abraham is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "father of many". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 2000s.
3 ways to write Abraham
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
亚伯拉罕
Yà Bó Lā Hǎn
The standard transliteration of Abraham: 亚 (yà, "Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')"), 伯 (bó, "elder; count (title)"), 拉 (lā, "to pull (phonetic 'la')"), 罕 (hǎn, "rare"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 4 characters: 亚 yà + 伯 bó + 拉 lā + 罕 hǎn. The tone contour is 4-2-1-3 (falling, rising, high level, dipping). 罕 is kept because it is the established form, even though it means 'rare' by itself.
Character breakdown
28 strokes total (simplified)- 亚
yà
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')
- 伯
bó
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
elder; count (title)
- 拉
lā
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to pull (phonetic 'la')
- 罕
hǎn
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
rare
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
文毅
Wén Yì
Inspired by "father of many": 文 (wén, "literature, culture; refined") + 毅 (yì, "resolute, persevering"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Abraham's meaning ("father of many") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 文 (literature, culture; refined) and 毅 (resolute, persevering) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 文
wén
Tone 2 · 4 strokes (simplified)
literature, culture; refined
- 毅
yì
Tone 4 · 15 strokes (simplified)
resolute, persevering
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
亚文
Yà Wén
亚 (yà, "Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')") + 文 (wén, "literature, culture; refined"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 亚 (yà), the same opening character as the transliteration 亚伯拉罕, for the "a" sound, and replaces the rest with 文 ("literature, culture; refined") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
10 strokes total (simplified)- 亚
yà
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')
- 文
wén
Tone 2 · 4 strokes (simplified)
literature, culture; refined
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 88,644 boys named Abraham since 1880, with the high point in 2016 (2,575 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #244 to #170 among boys.
- Peak year
- 2016
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 88,644
More About Abraham in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Abraham offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Abraham, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Dillon in Chinese, Larry in Chinese, and Cristian in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Miles in Chinese, Drew in Chinese, and Jonah in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Abraham, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Abraham to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Abraham in Chinese characters?
亚伯拉罕 (Yà Bó Lā Hǎn), or 亞伯拉罕 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 亚伯拉罕 have?
28 strokes in simplified form and 30 in traditional; per character: 亚 6, 伯 7, 拉 8, 罕 7.
Is there a Chinese name for Abraham with real meaning?
Try 文毅 (Wén Yì): literature, culture; refined + resolute, persevering, inspired by "father of many". For something that still sounds like Abraham, 亚文 (Yà Wén) is a middle ground.