Philip in Chinese
Philip in Chinese is 菲利普 (Fēi Lì Pǔ).
- Origin
- Greek
- Meaning
- lover of horses
The name traces back to Greek sources, where it is usually explained as "lover of horses". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1950s. Spellings pronounced the same way include Phillip, which share the transliteration 菲利普.
3 ways to write Philip
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
菲利普
Fēi Lì Pǔ
The standard transliteration of Philip: 菲 (fēi, "fragrant, luxuriant"), 利 (lì, "benefit, sharp"), 普 (pǔ, "universal, general"). 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: 菲 fēi + 利 lì + 普 pǔ. The tone contour is 1-4-3 (high level, falling, dipping).
Character breakdown
31 strokes total (simplified)- 菲
fēi
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
fragrant, luxuriant
- 利
lì
Tone 4 · 7 strokes (simplified)
benefit, sharp
- 普
pǔ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
universal, general
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
嘉峰
Jiā Fēng
Inspired by "lover of horses": 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 峰 (fēng, "summit, peak"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
嘉 (excellent, praiseworthy) answers the "lover" in Philip's meaning, and 峰 (summit, peak) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.
Character breakdown
24 strokes total (simplified)- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
- 峰
fēng
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
summit, peak
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
菲欣
Fēi Xīn
菲 (fēi, "fragrant, luxuriant") + 欣 (xīn, "joyful, glad"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 菲 (fēi), the same opening character as the transliteration 菲利普, for the "phi" sound, and replaces the rest with 欣 ("joyful, glad") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
20 strokes total (simplified)- 菲
fēi
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
fragrant, luxuriant
- 欣
xīn
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
joyful, glad
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 338,871 boys named Philip since 1880, with the high point in 1953 (6,279 births) and the busiest decade being the 1950s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #111 to #424 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1953
- Peak decade
- 1950s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 338,871
More About Philip in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Philip 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 Philip, you'll find options that work for you.
Philip is also spelled Phillip — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Phillip in Chinese, Kaleb in Chinese, and Dalton in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Damian in Chinese, Jaden in Chinese, Troy in Chinese, and Gary in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Philip, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Philip 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 Philip in Chinese characters?
菲利普 (Fēi Lì Pǔ), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Do Philip and Phillip have the same Chinese name?
Yes. Both are written 菲利普, because Chinese transliteration follows pronunciation rather than English spelling.
How many strokes does 菲利普 have?
31 strokes in simplified form; per character: 菲 12, 利 7, 普 12.