Phillip in Chinese
Phillip in Chinese is 菲利普 (Fēi Lì Pǔ).
- Origin
- Greek
- Meaning
- lover of horses
Phillip is a name of Greek origin, generally understood to mean "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 Philip, which share the transliteration 菲利普.
3 ways to write Phillip
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
菲利普
Fēi Lì Pǔ
The standard transliteration of Phillip: 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?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 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
欣然
Xīn Rán
Inspired by "lover of horses": 欣 (xīn, "joyful, glad") + 然 (rán, "so, thus; natural"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
Because Phillip is linked to "lover", the name leads with 欣 (joyful, glad); 然 (so, thus; natural) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
20 strokes total (simplified)- 欣
xīn
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
joyful, glad
- 然
rán
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
so, thus; natural
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
菲嘉
Fēi Jiā
菲 (fēi, "fragrant, luxuriant") + 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy"): 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 "phil" sound, and replaces the rest with 嘉 ("excellent, praiseworthy") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
26 strokes total (simplified)- 菲
fēi
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
fragrant, luxuriant
- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 307,300 boys named Phillip since 1880, with the high point in 1960 (6,037 births) and the busiest decade being the 1950s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #81 to #424 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1960
- Peak decade
- 1950s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 307,300
More About Phillip in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Phillip 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 Phillip, you'll find options that work for you.
Phillip is also spelled Philip — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Philip in Chinese, Parker in Chinese, and Oscar in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Donald in Chinese, Carson in Chinese, Brett in Chinese, and Ronald in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Phillip, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Phillip 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 Phillip in Chinese?
菲利普 (Fēi Lì Pǔ), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 菲利普 have?
31 strokes in simplified form; per character: 菲 12, 利 7, 普 12.
How popular is the name Phillip?
US Social Security records show 307,300 boys named Phillip since 1880, with the high point in 1960 (6,037 births) and the busiest decade being the 1950s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #81 to #424 among boys.