Jesus in Chinese
Jesus in Chinese is 赫苏斯 (Hè Sū Sī).
- Origin
- Spanish/Hebrew
- Meaning
- God is salvation
The name traces back to Spanish/Hebrew sources, where it is usually explained 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, Isaiah.
3 ways to write Jesus
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
赫苏斯
Hè Sū Sī
The standard transliteration of Jesus: 赫 (hè, "glorious, illustrious"), 苏 (sū, "to revive; perilla"), 斯 (sī, "this (phonetic 's')"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 3 characters: 赫 hè + 苏 sū + 斯 sī. The tone contour is 4-1-1 (falling, high level, high level).
Character breakdown
34 strokes total (simplified)- 赫
hè
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
glorious, illustrious
- 苏
sū
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to revive; perilla
- 斯
sī
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
this (phonetic 's')
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
福熙
Fú Xī
Inspired by "God is salvation": 福 (fú, "blessing, fortune") + 熙 (xī, "bright, prosperous"), expressing blessing and divine protection.
Why these characters?
Because Jesus is linked to "God", the name leads with 福 (blessing, fortune); 熙 (bright, prosperous) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
28 strokes total (simplified)- 福
fú
Tone 2 · 14 strokes (simplified)
blessing, fortune
- 熙
xī
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
bright, prosperous
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
赫瑞
Hè Ruì
赫 (hè, "glorious, illustrious") + 瑞 (ruì, "auspicious, lucky"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 赫 (hè), the same opening character as the transliteration 赫苏斯, for the "je" sound, and replaces the rest with 瑞 ("auspicious, lucky") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
27 strokes total (simplified)- 赫
hè
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
glorious, illustrious
- 瑞
ruì
Tone 4 · 13 strokes (simplified)
auspicious, lucky
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Recent US usage of Jesus
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Jesus ranked 167 among names recorded for boys, with 13,238 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 225,716 boys named Jesus since 1880, with the high point in 2004 (6,466 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #90 to #144 among boys.
- Peak year
- 2004
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 225,716
More About Jesus in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Jesus 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 Jesus, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Joshua in Chinese, and Isaiah 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, Isaiah in Chinese, and Scott in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Dustin in Chinese, Gregory in Chinese, Jared in Chinese, Gavin in Chinese, and Derek in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Jesus, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Jesus 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 Jesus in Chinese characters?
赫苏斯 (Hè Sū Sī), or 赫蘇斯 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is there a Chinese name for Jesus with real meaning?
Try 福熙 (Fú Xī): blessing, fortune + bright, prosperous, inspired by "God is salvation". For something that still sounds like Jesus, 赫瑞 (Hè Ruì) is a middle ground.
How many strokes does 赫苏斯 have?
34 strokes in simplified form and 45 in traditional; per character: 赫 14, 苏 8, 斯 12.