Mary in Chinese
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: beloved; star of the sea
The standard Chinese transliteration of Mary, pronounced Mǎ Lì. The characters are chosen for sound: 玛 (mǎ, "agate"), 丽 (lì, "beautiful, elegant"). Native speakers will immediately recognize it as the name Mary.
Character Breakdown
Note: Reads as the name "Mary" to native speakers; the characters are chosen for sound, so don't expect a poetic meaning. Traditional form 瑪麗 differs from simplified 玛丽; pick one script and keep it consistent. Use a proper calligraphy font and have a native speaker check the final stencil (stroke order and orientation).
A Chinese-style given name inspired by the meaning of Mary ("beloved; star of the sea"), expressing love, joy and blessings: 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 怡 (yí, "joyful, harmonious").
Character Breakdown
Note: A meaning-based Chinese given name; it will not sound like your English name, so pair it with an explanation if that matters to you. Use a proper calligraphy font and have a native speaker check the final stencil (stroke order and orientation).
Opens with 蔓 (màn, "creeping vine"), which echoes the first sound of Mary (Mǎ), and adds 瑶 (yáo, "precious jade") for love, joy and blessings. It reads like a natural Chinese given name with a nod to your English one.
Character Breakdown
Note: Looks and sounds like a genuine Chinese given name while still echoing your name; a popular choice for tattoos. Traditional form 蔓瑤 differs from simplified 蔓瑶; pick one script and keep it consistent. Use a proper calligraphy font and have a native speaker check the final stencil (stroke order and orientation).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write Mary in Chinese?
The most common way is 玛丽 (traditional: 瑪麗), pronounced Mǎ Lì. This is the standard phonetic transliteration you would see in Chinese media and translations.
What does 玛丽 mean?
玛丽 is a sound-based transliteration, so as a whole it simply means "Mary". Individually: 玛 (mǎ) = agate; 丽 (lì) = beautiful, elegant. If you want real meaning, try 嘉怡 (Jiā Yí), inspired by the meaning of Mary: "beloved; star of the sea".
Which Chinese name for Mary is best for a tattoo?
Choose 玛丽 if you want people to recognize your name, 嘉怡 if you prefer meaning over sound, or 蔓瑶 for a natural-sounding Chinese name that still echoes Mary. Whatever you pick, use a calligraphy font and ask a native speaker to check the final design.