Jeffrey in Chinese
Jeffrey in Chinese is 杰弗里 (Jié Fú Lǐ).
- Origin
- Germanic
- Meaning
- peaceful ruler
Jeffrey is a name of Germanic origin, generally understood to mean "peaceful ruler". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1885 and peaked in 1962. Spellings pronounced the same way include Jeffery, which share the transliteration 杰弗里.
3 ways to write Jeffrey
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
杰弗里
Jié Fú Lǐ
The standard transliteration of Jeffrey: 杰 (jié, "outstanding, heroic"), 弗 (fú, "not (classical); phonetic 'f'"), 里 (lǐ, "village; mile (phonetic 'ri/li')"). 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: 杰 jié + 弗 fú + 里 lǐ. The tone contour is 2-2-3 (rising, rising, dipping).
Character breakdown
20 strokes total (simplified)- 杰
jié
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
outstanding, heroic
- 弗
fú
Tone 2 · 5 strokes (simplified)
not (classical); phonetic 'f'
- 里
lǐ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
village; mile (phonetic 'ri/li')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
安平
Ān Píng
Inspired by "peaceful ruler": 安 (ān, "peace, safety") + 平 (píng, "peaceful, level"), expressing peace and tranquility.
Why these characters?
安 (peace, safety) answers the "peaceful" in Jeffrey's meaning, and 平 (peaceful, level) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.
Character breakdown
11 strokes total (simplified)- 安
ān
Tone 1 · 6 strokes (simplified)
peace, safety
- 平
píng
Tone 2 · 5 strokes (simplified)
peaceful, level
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
杰平
Jié Píng
杰 (jié, "outstanding, heroic") + 平 (píng, "peaceful, level"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 杰 (jié), the same opening character as the transliteration 杰弗里, for the "jef" sound, and replaces the rest with 平 ("peaceful, level") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
13 strokes total (simplified)- 杰
jié
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
outstanding, heroic
- 平
píng
Tone 2 · 5 strokes (simplified)
peaceful, level
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 973,741 boys named Jeffrey since 1885, with the high point in 1962 (33,523 births) and the busiest decade being the 1960s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #43 to #323 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1962
- Peak decade
- 1960s
- First year
- 1885
- Total since 1880
- 973,741
More About Jeffrey in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey, you'll find options that work for you.
Jeffrey is also spelled Jeffery — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Jeffery in Chinese, Cody in Chinese, and Elijah in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Mason in Chinese, Mark in Chinese, Cameron in Chinese, and Evan in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Jeffrey, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey translated into Chinese?
杰弗里 (Jié Fú Lǐ), or 傑弗里 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Do Jeffrey and Jeffery have the same Chinese name?
Yes. Both are written 杰弗里, because Chinese transliteration follows pronunciation rather than English spelling.
Is there a Chinese name for Jeffrey with real meaning?
Try 安平 (Ān Píng): peace, safety + peaceful, level, inspired by "peaceful ruler". For something that still sounds like Jeffrey, 杰平 (Jié Píng) is a middle ground.