Harrison in Chinese
Harrison in Chinese is 哈里森 (Hā Lǐ Sēn).
- Origin
- English
- Meaning
- son of Harry
Etymologically, Harrison is English and is commonly glossed as "son of Harry". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 2010s.
3 ways to write Harrison
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
哈里森
Hā Lǐ Sēn
The standard transliteration of Harrison: 哈 (hā, "phonetic 'ha'"), 里 (lǐ, "village; mile (phonetic 'ri/li')"), 森 (sēn, "forest; lush"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
The mapping is one character per syllable: 哈 (hā) carries "har", 里 (lǐ) carries "ri", 森 (sēn) carries "son". The tone contour is 1-3-1 (high level, dipping, high level).
Character breakdown
28 strokes total (simplified)- 哈
hā
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
phonetic 'ha'
- 里
lǐ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
village; mile (phonetic 'ri/li')
- 森
sēn
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
forest; lush
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
博涛
Bó Tāo
Inspired by "son of Harry": 博 (bó, "broad, learned") + 涛 (tāo, "great waves"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Harrison's meaning ("son of Harry") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 博 (broad, learned) and 涛 (great waves) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 博
bó
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
broad, learned
- 涛
tāo
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
great waves
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
汉文
Hàn Wén
汉 (hàn, "Han Chinese; man") + 文 (wén, "literature, culture; refined"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
汉 (hàn) sounds close to the opening "har" of Harrison (compare 哈 hā) but means "Han Chinese; man"; 文 adds "literature, culture; refined".
Character breakdown
9 strokes total (simplified)- 汉
hàn
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
Han Chinese; man
- 文
wén
Tone 2 · 4 strokes (simplified)
literature, culture; refined
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Harrison
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Harrison ranked 121 among names recorded for boys, with 18,397 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 73,822 boys named Harrison since 1880, with the high point in 2016 (3,658 births) and the busiest decade being the 2010s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #280 to #113 among boys.
- Peak year
- 2016
- Peak decade
- 2010s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 73,822
More About Harrison in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Harrison 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 Harrison, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Allen in Chinese, Erick in Chinese, and Theodore in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Jerry in Chinese, Bryson in Chinese, and Leonardo in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Harrison, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Harrison 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 is Harrison translated into Chinese?
哈里森 (Hā Lǐ Sēn), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 哈里森 have?
28 strokes in simplified form; per character: 哈 9, 里 7, 森 12.
Does Harrison change in traditional Chinese?
No. 哈里森 uses only characters that are the same in both scripts, so one design works everywhere.