Sabrina in Chinese
Sabrina in Chinese is 萨布丽娜 (Sà Bù Lì Nà).
- Origin
- Latin/Celtic
- Meaning
- from the River Severn
Sabrina is a name of Latin/Celtic origin, generally understood to mean "from the River Severn". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1916 and peaked in 1997.
3 ways to write Sabrina
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
萨布丽娜
Sà Bù Lì Nà
The standard transliteration of Sabrina: 萨 (sà, "Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa')"), 布 (bù, "cloth; to proclaim"), 丽 (lì, "beautiful, elegant"), 娜 (nà, "graceful, elegant"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 4 characters: 萨 sà + 布 bù + 丽 lì + 娜 nà. The tone contour is 4-4-4-4 (falling, falling, falling, falling).
Character breakdown
33 strokes total (simplified)- 萨
sà
Tone 4 · 11 strokes (simplified)
Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa')
- 布
bù
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
cloth; to proclaim
- 丽
lì
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
beautiful, elegant
- 娜
nà
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
graceful, elegant
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
雨涵
Yǔ Hán
Inspired by "from the River Severn": 雨 (yǔ, "rain") + 涵 (hán, "to contain; inclusive"), expressing water and the sea.
Why these characters?
雨 (rain) answers the "River" in Sabrina's meaning, and 涵 (to contain; inclusive) rounds it off as a typical ending for girls' names.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 雨
yǔ
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
rain
- 涵
hán
Tone 2 · 11 strokes (simplified)
to contain; inclusive
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
萨澜
Sà Lán
萨 (sà, "Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa')") + 澜 (lán, "billows, great waves"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 萨 (sà), the same opening character as the transliteration 萨布丽娜, for the "sa" sound, and replaces the rest with 澜 ("billows, great waves") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
26 strokes total (simplified)- 萨
sà
Tone 4 · 11 strokes (simplified)
Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa')
- 澜
lán
Tone 2 · 15 strokes (simplified)
billows, great waves
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 136,045 girls named Sabrina since 1916, with the high point in 1997 (5,816 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #118 to #433 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1997
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1916
- Total since 1880
- 136,045
More About Sabrina in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Sabrina 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 Sabrina, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Miranda in Chinese, Brooklyn in Chinese, and Bailey in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Ariana in Chinese, Sierra in Chinese, and Veronica in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Sabrina, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Sabrina 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 Sabrina translated into Chinese?
萨布丽娜 (Sà Bù Lì Nà), or 薩布麗娜 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is there a Chinese name for Sabrina with real meaning?
Try 雨涵 (Yǔ Hán): rain + to contain; inclusive, inspired by "from the River Severn". For something that still sounds like Sabrina, 萨澜 (Sà Lán) is a middle ground.
Is Sabrina written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 萨布丽娜 becomes 薩布麗娜; the changed characters are 萨→薩, 丽→麗. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.