Kendall in Chinese
Kendall in Chinese is 肯德尔 (Kěn Dé Ěr).
- Origin
- English
- Meaning
- valley of the River Kent
Etymologically, Kendall is English and is commonly glossed as "valley of the River Kent". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1929 and peaked in 2012. About 37% of US babies with this name were boys, so it is effectively unisex.
3 ways to write Kendall
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
肯德尔
Kěn Dé Ěr
The standard transliteration of Kendall: 肯 (kěn, "willing"), 德 (dé, "virtue, morality"), 尔 (ěr, "you (classical); phonetic 'r/l'"). 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: 肯 kěn + 德 dé + 尔 ěr. The tone contour is 3-2-3 (dipping, rising, dipping).
Character breakdown
28 strokes total (simplified)- 肯
kěn
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
willing
- 德
dé
Tone 2 · 15 strokes (simplified)
virtue, morality
- 尔
ěr
Tone 3 · 5 strokes (simplified)
you (classical); phonetic 'r/l'
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
青岚
Qīng Lán
Inspired by "valley of the River Kent": 青 (qīng, "green, blue; youthful") + 岚 (lán, "mountain mist"), expressing land, hills and home.
Why these characters?
Because Kendall is linked to "valley", the name leads with 青 (green, blue; youthful); 岚 (mountain mist) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 青
qīng
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
green, blue; youthful
- 岚
lán
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
mountain mist
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
珂岚
Kē Lán
珂 (kē, "jade-like stone") + 岚 (lán, "mountain mist"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
珂 (kē) sounds close to the opening "ken" of Kendall (compare 肯 kěn) but means "jade-like stone"; 岚 adds "mountain mist".
Character breakdown
16 strokes total (simplified)- 珂
kē
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
jade-like stone
- 岚
lán
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
mountain mist
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 58,026 girls named Kendall since 1929, with the high point in 2012 (2,623 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #405 to #225 among girls.
- Peak year
- 2012
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1929
- Total since 1880
- 58,026
More About Kendall in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Kendall 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 Kendall, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for people, you might also be interested in Casey in Chinese, Peyton in Chinese, and Dana in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Ashton in Chinese, Ariel in Chinese, and Devon in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Kendall, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Kendall 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 Kendall in Chinese?
肯德尔 (Kěn Dé Ěr), or 肯德爾 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 肯德尔 have?
28 strokes in simplified form and 37 in traditional; per character: 肯 8, 德 15, 尔 5.
How popular is the name Kendall?
US Social Security records show 58,026 girls named Kendall since 1929, with the high point in 2012 (2,623 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #405 to #225 among girls.