Isaiah in Chinese
Isaiah in Chinese is 以赛亚 (Yǐ Sài Yà).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- God is salvation
Etymologically, Isaiah is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "God is salvation". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 2000s. Names sharing the same root meaning include Joshua, Jesus.
3 ways to write Isaiah
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
以赛亚
Yǐ Sài Yà
The standard transliteration of Isaiah: 以 (yǐ, "with; by means of (phonetic 'e/i')"), 赛 (sài, "to compete; surpass"), 亚 (yà, "Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')"). 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: 以 yǐ + 赛 sài + 亚 yà. The tone contour is 3-4-4 (dipping, falling, falling).
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 以
yǐ
Tone 3 · 5 strokes (simplified)
with; by means of (phonetic 'e/i')
- 赛
sài
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
to compete; surpass
- 亚
yà
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
Asia; second (phonetic 'a/ya')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
祯翔
Zhēn Xiáng
Inspired by "God is salvation": 祯 (zhēn, "auspicious sign, good omen") + 翔 (xiáng, "to soar, glide"), expressing blessing and divine protection.
Why these characters?
祯 (auspicious sign, good omen) answers the "God" in Isaiah's meaning, and 翔 (to soar, glide) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 祯
zhēn
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
auspicious sign, good omen
- 翔
xiáng
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
to soar, glide
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
伊祺
Yī Qí
伊 (yī, "phonetic 'i/e'; that one (classical)") + 祺 (qí, "auspicious, lucky"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
伊 (yī) sounds close to the opening "i" of Isaiah (compare 以 yǐ) but means "phonetic 'i/e'; that one (classical)"; 祺 adds "auspicious, lucky".
Character breakdown
18 strokes total (simplified)- 伊
yī
Tone 1 · 6 strokes (simplified)
phonetic 'i/e'; that one (classical)
- 祺
qí
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
auspicious, lucky
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Recent US usage of Isaiah
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Isaiah ranked 56 among names recorded for boys, with 32,963 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 207,627 boys named Isaiah since 1880, with the high point in 2006 (10,448 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #206 to #46 among boys.
- Peak year
- 2006
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 207,627
More About Isaiah in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Isaiah 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 Isaiah, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Joshua in Chinese, and Jesus in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Joshua in Chinese, Jesus in Chinese, and Travis in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Luis in Chinese, Connor in Chinese, Jayden in Chinese, Alex in Chinese, and Kenneth in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Isaiah, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Isaiah 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 Isaiah in Chinese?
以赛亚 (Yǐ Sài Yà), or 以賽亞 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is Isaiah written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 以赛亚 becomes 以賽亞; the changed characters are 赛→賽, 亚→亞. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
How many strokes does 以赛亚 have?
25 strokes in simplified form and 30 in traditional; per character: 以 5, 赛 14, 亚 6.