Holly in Chinese
Holly in Chinese is 霍莉 (Huò Lì).
- Origin
- English
- Meaning
- holly tree
Holly is a name of English origin, generally understood to mean "holly tree". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1893 and peaked in 1983.
3 ways to write Holly
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
霍莉
Huò Lì
The standard transliteration of Holly: 霍 (huò, "quickly (phonetic 'ho')"), 莉 (lì, "jasmine"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
The mapping is one character per syllable: 霍 (huò) carries "hol", 莉 (lì) carries "ly". The tone contour is 4-4 (falling, falling).
Character breakdown
26 strokes total (simplified)- 霍
huò
Tone 4 · 16 strokes (simplified)
quickly (phonetic 'ho')
- 莉
lì
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
jasmine
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
梅雪
Méi Xuě
Inspired by "holly tree": 梅 (méi, "plum blossom") + 雪 (xuě, "snow"), expressing flowers, trees and natural beauty.
Why these characters?
梅 (plum blossom) answers the "holly" in Holly's meaning, and 雪 (snow) rounds it off as a typical ending for girls' names.
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 梅
méi
Tone 2 · 11 strokes (simplified)
plum blossom
- 雪
xuě
Tone 3 · 11 strokes (simplified)
snow
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Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
兰荷
Lán Hé
兰 (lán, "orchid") + 荷 (hé, "lotus"): a natural Chinese given name themed on flowers, trees and natural beauty.
Why these characters?
No attractive character closely matches "hol" (huò), so 兰 ("orchid") and 荷 ("lotus") were chosen for flowers, trees and natural beauty.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 兰
lán
Tone 2 · 5 strokes (simplified)
orchid
- 荷
hé
Tone 2 · 10 strokes (simplified)
lotus
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 199,855 girls named Holly since 1893, with the high point in 1983 (6,388 births) and the busiest decade being the 1970s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #89 to #494 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1983
- Peak decade
- 1970s
- First year
- 1893
- Total since 1880
- 199,855
More About Holly in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Holly 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 Holly, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Ariana in Chinese, Sierra in Chinese, and Sabrina in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Veronica in Chinese, Valerie in Chinese, and Alexandria in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Holly, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Holly 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 Holly in Chinese characters?
霍莉 (Huò Lì), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Does Holly change in traditional Chinese?
No. 霍莉 uses only characters that are the same in both scripts, so one design works everywhere.
How many strokes does 霍莉 have?
26 strokes in simplified form; per character: 霍 16, 莉 10.