Dalton in Chinese
Dalton in Chinese is 道尔顿 (Dào Ěr Dùn).
- Origin
- English
- Meaning
- valley town
Dalton is a name of English origin, generally understood to mean "valley town". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1881 and peaked in 1998.
3 ways to write Dalton
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
道尔顿
Dào Ěr Dùn
The standard transliteration of Dalton: 道 (dào, "the Way, path"), 尔 (ěr, "you (classical); phonetic 'r/l'"), 顿 (dùn, "to pause (phonetic 'ton')"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 2-syllable English name is spread over 3 characters: 道 dào + 尔 ěr + 顿 dùn. The tone contour is 4-3-4 (falling, dipping, falling).
Character breakdown
28 strokes total (simplified)- 道
dào
Tone 4 · 13 strokes (simplified)
the Way, path
- 尔
ěr
Tone 3 · 5 strokes (simplified)
you (classical); phonetic 'r/l'
- 顿
dùn
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
to pause (phonetic 'ton')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
宇泽
Yǔ Zé
Inspired by "valley town": 宇 (yǔ, "universe; eaves") + 泽 (zé, "pool; grace, favor"), expressing land, hills and home.
Why these characters?
The idea of "valley" behind Dalton is rendered by 宇, "universe; eaves"; 泽, "pool; grace, favor", completes it.
Character breakdown
14 strokes total (simplified)- 宇
yǔ
Tone 3 · 6 strokes (simplified)
universe; eaves
- 泽
zé
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
pool; grace, favor
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
达立
Dá Lì
达 (dá, "to reach, attain") + 立 (lì, "to stand, establish"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
Instead of the purely phonetic 道, this uses 达 (dá, "to reach, attain") for the "dal" sound, then 立 ("to stand, establish") for meaning.
Character breakdown
12 strokes total (simplified)- 达
dá
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
to reach, attain
- 立
lì
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
to stand, establish
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 80,388 boys named Dalton since 1881, with the high point in 1998 (4,563 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #193 to #371 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1998
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1881
- Total since 1880
- 80,388
More About Dalton in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Dalton 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 Dalton, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Brady in Chinese, Nicolas in Chinese, and Douglas in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Javier in Chinese, Kaleb in Chinese, and Damian in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Dalton, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Dalton 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
How do you write Dalton in Chinese?
道尔顿 (Dào Ěr Dùn), or 道爾頓 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 道尔顿 have?
28 strokes in simplified form and 40 in traditional; per character: 道 13, 尔 5, 顿 10.
Is there a Chinese name for Dalton with real meaning?
Try 宇泽 (Yǔ Zé): universe; eaves + pool; grace, favor, inspired by "valley town". For something that still sounds like Dalton, 达立 (Dá Lì) is a middle ground.