Emily in Chinese
Emily in Chinese is 艾米莉 (Ài Mǐ Lì).
- Origin
- Latin
- Meaning
- rival; industrious
The name traces back to Latin sources, where it is usually explained as "rival; industrious". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1990s.
3 ways to write Emily
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
艾米莉
Ài Mǐ Lì
The standard transliteration of Emily: 艾 (ài, "mugwort; beautiful (classical)"), 米 (mǐ, "rice"), 莉 (lì, "jasmine"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Each character maps to one sound of the English name: 艾 (ài) carries "e", 米 (mǐ) carries "mi", 莉 (lì) carries "ly". The tone contour is 4-3-4 (falling, dipping, falling).
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 艾
ài
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
mugwort; beautiful (classical)
- 米
mǐ
Tone 3 · 6 strokes (simplified)
rice
- 莉
lì
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
jasmine
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
静雅
Jìng Yǎ
Inspired by "rival; industrious": 静 (jìng, "quiet, serene") + 雅 (yǎ, "elegant, refined"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Emily's meaning ("rival; industrious") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 静 (quiet, serene) and 雅 (elegant, refined) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
26 strokes total (simplified)- 静
jìng
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
quiet, serene
- 雅
yǎ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
elegant, refined
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
艾文
Ài Wén
艾 (ài, "mugwort; beautiful (classical)") + 文 (wén, "literature, culture; refined"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 艾 (ài), the same opening character as the transliteration 艾米莉, for the "e" 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)- 艾
ài
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
mugwort; beautiful (classical)
- 文
wén
Tone 2 · 4 strokes (simplified)
literature, culture; refined
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Emily
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Emily ranked 20 among names recorded for girls, with 37,622 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 841,491 girls named Emily since 1880, with the high point in 1999 (26,539 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it held roughly steady, from #12 to #12 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1999
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 841,491
More About Emily in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Emily 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 Emily, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Jessica in Chinese, Ashley in Chinese, and Jennifer in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Sarah in Chinese, Amanda in Chinese, and Elizabeth in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Emily, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Emily 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 Emily in Chinese?
艾米莉 (Ài Mǐ Lì), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Emily?
US Social Security records show 841,491 girls named Emily since 1880, with the high point in 1999 (26,539 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it held roughly steady, from #12 to #12 among girls.
Does Emily change in traditional Chinese?
No. 艾米莉 uses only characters that are the same in both scripts, so one design works everywhere.