Nicholas in Chinese
Origin: Greek
Meaning: victory of the people
The standard Chinese transliteration of Nicholas, pronounced Ní Gǔ Lā Sī. The characters are chosen for sound: 尼 (ní, "Buddhist nun (phonetic 'ni')"), 古 (gǔ, "ancient"), 拉 (lā, "to pull (phonetic 'la')"), 斯 (sī, "this (phonetic 's')"). Native speakers will immediately recognize it as the name Nicholas.
Character Breakdown
Note: Reads as the name "Nicholas" to native speakers; the characters are chosen for sound, so don't expect a poetic meaning. 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 Nicholas ("victory of the people"), expressing victory and honor: 凯 (kǎi, "triumph, victory song") + 旋 (xuán, "to revolve; triumphant return (凯旋)").
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. Traditional form 凱旋 differs from simplified 凯旋; 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).
No pleasant character closely matches the opening sound of Nicholas (Ní), so this name blends 冠 (guàn, "crown; champion") and 宇 (yǔ, "universe; eaves") for victory and honor, keeping a natural Chinese rhythm.
Character Breakdown
Note: Looks and sounds like a genuine Chinese given name; a popular choice for tattoos. 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 Nicholas in Chinese?
The most common way is 尼古拉斯 (traditional: 尼古拉斯), pronounced Ní Gǔ Lā Sī. This is the standard phonetic transliteration you would see in Chinese media and translations.
What does 尼古拉斯 mean?
尼古拉斯 is a sound-based transliteration, so as a whole it simply means "Nicholas". Individually: 尼 (ní) = Buddhist nun (phonetic 'ni'); 古 (gǔ) = ancient; 拉 (lā) = to pull (phonetic 'la'); 斯 (sī) = this (phonetic 's'). If you want real meaning, try 凯旋 (Kǎi Xuán), inspired by the meaning of Nicholas: "victory of the people".
Which Chinese name for Nicholas is best for a tattoo?
Choose 尼古拉斯 if you want people to recognize your name, 凯旋 if you prefer meaning over sound, or 冠宇 for a natural-sounding Chinese name that still echoes Nicholas. Whatever you pick, use a calligraphy font and ask a native speaker to check the final design.