Karina in Chinese
Karina in Chinese is 卡丽娜 (Kǎ Lì Nà).
- Origin
- Latin/Scandinavian
- Meaning
- dear, beloved; pure
Etymologically, Karina is Latin/Scandinavian and is commonly glossed as "dear, beloved; pure". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1956 and peaked in 1995.
3 ways to write Karina
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
卡丽娜
Kǎ Lì Nà
The standard transliteration of Karina: 卡 (kǎ, "card (phonetic 'ca/ka')"), 丽 (lì, "beautiful, elegant"), 娜 (nà, "graceful, elegant"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
The mapping is one character per syllable: 卡 (kǎ) carries "ka", 丽 (lì) carries "ri", 娜 (nà) carries "na". The tone contour is 3-4-4 (dipping, falling, falling).
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 卡
kǎ
Tone 3 · 5 strokes (simplified)
card (phonetic 'ca/ka')
- 丽
lì
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
beautiful, elegant
- 娜
nà
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
graceful, elegant
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
乐妍
Lè Yán
Inspired by "dear, beloved; pure": 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music") + 妍 (yán, "beautiful, lovely"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
The idea of "dear" behind Karina is rendered by 乐, "joy, happiness; music"; 妍, "beautiful, lovely", completes it.
Character breakdown
12 strokes total (simplified)- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
- 妍
yán
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
beautiful, lovely
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
卡怡
Kǎ Yí
卡 (kǎ, "card (phonetic 'ca/ka')") + 怡 (yí, "joyful, harmonious"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 卡 (kǎ), the same opening character as the transliteration 卡丽娜, for the "ka" sound, and replaces the rest with 怡 ("joyful, harmonious") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
13 strokes total (simplified)- 卡
kǎ
Tone 3 · 5 strokes (simplified)
card (phonetic 'ca/ka')
- 怡
yí
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
joyful, harmonious
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 57,967 girls named Karina since 1956, with the high point in 1995 (2,985 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #189 to #546 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1995
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1956
- Total since 1880
- 57,967
More About Karina in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Karina 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 Karina, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Daniela in Chinese, Kate in Chinese, and Scarlett in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Heidi in Chinese, Cassidy in Chinese, and Nora in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Karina, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Karina 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 Karina translated into Chinese?
卡丽娜 (Kǎ Lì Nà), or 卡麗娜 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Karina?
US Social Security records show 57,967 girls named Karina since 1956, with the high point in 1995 (2,985 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #189 to #546 among girls.
Is there a Chinese name for Karina with real meaning?
Try 乐妍 (Lè Yán): joy, happiness; music + beautiful, lovely, inspired by "dear, beloved; pure". For something that still sounds like Karina, 卡怡 (Kǎ Yí) is a middle ground.