Mary in Chinese
Mary in Chinese is 玛丽 (Mǎ Lì).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- beloved; star of the sea
Etymologically, Mary is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "beloved; star of the sea". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1920s. Names sharing the same root meaning include Maria, Mariah.
3 ways to write Mary
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
玛丽
Mǎ Lì
The standard transliteration of Mary: 玛 (mǎ, "agate"), 丽 (lì, "beautiful, elegant"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 玛 (mǎ) carries "ma", 丽 (lì) carries "ry". The tone contour is 3-4 (dipping, falling).
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 玛
mǎ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
agate
- 丽
lì
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
beautiful, elegant
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
嘉怡
Jiā Yí
Inspired by "beloved; star of the sea": 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 怡 (yí, "joyful, harmonious"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
Because Mary is linked to "beloved", the name leads with 嘉 (excellent, praiseworthy); 怡 (joyful, harmonious) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
- 怡
yí
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
joyful, harmonious
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
蔓喜
Màn Xǐ
蔓 (màn, "creeping vine") + 喜 (xǐ, "happiness, joy"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
蔓 (màn) sounds close to the opening "ma" of Mary (compare 玛 mǎ) but means "creeping vine"; 喜 adds "happiness, joy".
Character breakdown
26 strokes total (simplified)- 蔓
màn
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
creeping vine
- 喜
xǐ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
happiness, joy
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Mary
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Mary ranked 132 among names recorded for girls, with 12,985 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 4,123,200 girls named Mary since 1880, with the high point in 1921 (73,982 births) and the busiest decade being the 1920s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #35 to #126 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1921
- Peak decade
- 1920s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 4,123,200
More About Mary in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Mary 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 Mary, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Maria in Chinese, and Mariah in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Maria in Chinese, Mariah in Chinese, and Tiffany in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Christina in Chinese, Brianna in Chinese, Amy in Chinese, Jasmine in Chinese, and Allison in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Mary, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Mary 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 Mary translated into Chinese?
玛丽 (Mǎ Lì), or 瑪麗 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is there a Chinese name for Mary with real meaning?
Try 嘉怡 (Jiā Yí): excellent, praiseworthy + joyful, harmonious, inspired by "beloved; star of the sea". For something that still sounds like Mary, 蔓喜 (Màn Xǐ) is a middle ground.
How many strokes does 玛丽 have?
15 strokes in simplified form and 33 in traditional; per character: 玛 7, 丽 8.