Henry in Chinese
Henry in Chinese is 亨利 (Hēng Lì).
- Origin
- Germanic
- Meaning
- ruler of the home
Etymologically, Henry is Germanic and is commonly glossed as "ruler of the home". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
3 ways to write Henry
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
亨利
Hēng Lì
The standard transliteration of Henry: 亨 (hēng, "prosperous, smooth-going"), 利 (lì, "benefit, sharp"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Each character maps to one sound of the English name: 亨 (hēng) carries "hen", 利 (lì) carries "ry". The tone contour is 1-4 (high level, falling).
Character breakdown
14 strokes total (simplified)- 亨
hēng
Tone 1 · 7 strokes (simplified)
prosperous, smooth-going
- 利
lì
Tone 4 · 7 strokes (simplified)
benefit, sharp
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Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
瑞涛
Ruì Tāo
Inspired by "ruler of the home": 瑞 (ruì, "auspicious, lucky") + 涛 (tāo, "great waves"), expressing nobility and greatness.
Why these characters?
Because Henry is linked to "ruler", the name leads with 瑞 (auspicious, lucky); 涛 (great waves) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
23 strokes total (simplified)- 瑞
ruì
Tone 4 · 13 strokes (simplified)
auspicious, lucky
- 涛
tāo
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
great waves
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Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
亨嘉
Hēng Jiā
亨 (hēng, "prosperous, smooth-going") + 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 亨 (hēng), the same opening character as the transliteration 亨利, for the "hen" sound, and replaces the rest with 嘉 ("excellent, praiseworthy") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
21 strokes total (simplified)- 亨
hēng
Tone 1 · 7 strokes (simplified)
prosperous, smooth-going
- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
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Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Henry
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Henry ranked 7 among names recorded for boys, with 68,047 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 679,050 boys named Henry since 1880, with the high point in 1921 (11,412 births) and the busiest decade being the 1920s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #138 to #18 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1921
- Peak decade
- 1920s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 679,050
More About Henry in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Henry 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 Henry, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Gavin in Chinese, Jesus in Chinese, and Derek in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Julian in Chinese, Jeremiah in Chinese, and Blake in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Henry, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Henry 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 Henry in Chinese?
亨利 (Hēng Lì), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Does Henry change in traditional Chinese?
No. 亨利 uses only characters that are the same in both scripts, so one design works everywhere.
Is there a Chinese name for Henry with real meaning?
Try 瑞涛 (Ruì Tāo): auspicious, lucky + great waves, inspired by "ruler of the home". For something that still sounds like Henry, 亨嘉 (Hēng Jiā) is a middle ground.