Travis in Chinese
Travis in Chinese is 特拉维斯 (Tè Lā Wéi Sī).
- Origin
- French
- Meaning
- toll collector, crossing
Travis is a name of French origin, generally understood to mean "toll collector, crossing". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1980s.
3 ways to write Travis
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
特拉维斯
Tè Lā Wéi Sī
The standard transliteration of Travis: 特 (tè, "special, particular"), 拉 (lā, "to pull (phonetic 'la')"), 维 (wéi, "to maintain, preserve"), 斯 (sī, "this (phonetic 's')"). 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 4 characters: 特 tè + 拉 lā + 维 wéi + 斯 sī. The tone contour is 4-1-2-1 (falling, high level, rising, high level).
Character breakdown
41 strokes total (simplified)- 特
tè
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
special, particular
- 拉
lā
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to pull (phonetic 'la')
- 维
wéi
Tone 2 · 11 strokes (simplified)
to maintain, preserve
- 斯
sī
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
this (phonetic 's')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
子轩
Zǐ Xuān
Inspired by "toll collector, crossing": 子 (zǐ, "son, child; master (honorific)") + 轩 (xuān, "lofty; carriage with canopy"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Travis's meaning ("toll collector, crossing") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 子 (son, child; master (honorific)) and 轩 (lofty; carriage with canopy) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
10 strokes total (simplified)- 子
zǐ
Tone 3 · 3 strokes (simplified)
son, child; master (honorific)
- 轩
xuān
Tone 1 · 7 strokes (simplified)
lofty; carriage with canopy
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
腾文
Téng Wén
腾 (téng, "to soar, gallop") + 文 (wén, "literature, culture; refined"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
Instead of the purely phonetic 特, this uses 腾 (téng, "to soar, gallop") for the "tra" sound, then 文 ("literature, culture; refined") for meaning.
Character breakdown
17 strokes total (simplified)- 腾
téng
Tone 2 · 13 strokes (simplified)
to soar, gallop
- 文
wén
Tone 2 · 4 strokes (simplified)
literature, culture; refined
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 301,265 boys named Travis since 1880, with the high point in 1989 (11,523 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #42 to #300 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1989
- Peak decade
- 1980s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 301,265
More About Travis in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Travis 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 Travis, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Hunter in Chinese, Jesse in Chinese, and Jackson in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Jack in Chinese, Paul in Chinese, and Luis in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Travis, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Travis 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 Travis in Chinese characters?
特拉维斯 (Tè Lā Wéi Sī), or 特拉維斯 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Travis?
US Social Security records show 301,265 boys named Travis since 1880, with the high point in 1989 (11,523 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #42 to #300 among boys.
How many strokes does 特拉维斯 have?
41 strokes in simplified form and 44 in traditional; per character: 特 10, 拉 8, 维 11, 斯 12.