Alexandra in Chinese
Alexandra in Chinese is 亚历山德拉 (Yà Lì Shān Dé Lā).
- Origin
- Greek
- Meaning
- defender of the people
Etymologically, Alexandra is Greek and is commonly glossed as "defender of the people". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1894 and peaked in 1993. Names sharing the same root meaning include Alexander, Alejandro, Alexandria.
3 ways to write Alexandra
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
亚历山德拉
Yà Lì Shān Dé Lā
The standard transliteration of Alexandra: 亚 (yà, "Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')"), 历 (lì, "to experience; history"), 山 (shān, "mountain"), 德 (dé, "virtue, morality"), 拉 (lā, "to pull (phonetic 'la')"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 4-syllable English name is spread over 5 characters: 亚 yà + 历 lì + 山 shān + 德 dé + 拉 lā. The tone contour is 4-4-1-2-1 (falling, falling, high level, rising, high level).
Character breakdown
36 strokes total (simplified)- 亚
yà
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')
- 历
lì
Tone 4 · 4 strokes (simplified)
to experience; history
- 山
shān
Tone 1 · 3 strokes (simplified)
mountain
- 德
dé
Tone 2 · 15 strokes (simplified)
virtue, morality
- 拉
lā
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to pull (phonetic 'la')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
英华
Yīng Huá
Inspired by "defender of the people": 英 (yīng, "hero; brilliant; flower") + 华 (huá, "splendid, magnificent; China"), expressing strength and courage.
Why these characters?
The idea of "defender" behind Alexandra is rendered by 英, "hero; brilliant; flower"; 华, "splendid, magnificent; China", completes it.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 英
yīng
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
hero; brilliant; flower
- 华
huá
Tone 2 · 6 strokes (simplified)
splendid, magnificent; China
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Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
娅英
Yà Yīng
娅 (yà, "graceful (girls' names)") + 英 (yīng, "hero; brilliant; flower"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
Instead of the purely phonetic 亚, this uses 娅 (yà, "graceful (girls' names)") for the "a" sound, then 英 ("hero; brilliant; flower") for meaning.
Character breakdown
18 strokes total (simplified)- 娅
yà
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
graceful (girls' names)
- 英
yīng
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
hero; brilliant; flower
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Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Alexandra
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Alexandra ranked 192 among names recorded for girls, with 9,421 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 231,364 girls named Alexandra since 1894, with the high point in 1993 (10,676 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #37 to #120 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1993
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1894
- Total since 1880
- 231,364
More About Alexandra in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Alexandra 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 Alexandra, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Alexander in Chinese, Alejandro in Chinese, and Alexandria in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Alexander in Chinese, Alejandro in Chinese, and Alexandria in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Andrea in Chinese, Laura in Chinese, Courtney in Chinese, Erin in Chinese, and Grace in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Alexandra, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Alexandra 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 Alexandra in Chinese characters?
亚历山德拉 (Yà Lì Shān Dé Lā), or 亞歷山德拉 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is Alexandra written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 亚历山德拉 becomes 亞歷山德拉; the changed characters are 亚→亞, 历→歷. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
How many strokes does 亚历山德拉 have?
36 strokes in simplified form and 50 in traditional; per character: 亚 6, 历 4, 山 3, 德 15, 拉 8.