Standard spelling
玛丽亚
Mǎ lì yà
The standard Chinese spelling of Maria.
- 玛
- agate; a common name sound
- 丽
- beautiful
- 亚
- Asia; a common name sound
Recognised as Maria by any Chinese reader; chosen for sound rather than meaning.
Maria in Chinese
In Chinese, Maria is written 玛丽亚 (Mǎ lì yà), the standard spelling used in Chinese books, films and news. If you would like a name with meaning, try 茉莉 (Mò lì): a Chinese-style name meaning jasmine.
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玛丽亚
Mǎ lì yà
Maria
Choose by sound or by meaning.
There is no single official spelling of an English name in Chinese. Here is what each option says, character by character.
Name with meaning
茉莉
Mò lì
A Chinese-style name meaning jasmine.
- 茉
- jasmine (as in 茉莉)
- 莉
- jasmine
Sounds close to Maria and is the Chinese word for jasmine.
Single character
莉
Lì
A single character meaning jasmine.
- 莉
- jasmine
Simple and strong for a small tattoo.
Where Maria comes from.
Maria is the Latin form of Mary, from the Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning is uncertain. It is used in many European languages.
Famous Marias in Chinese
- Maria Sharapovatennis player玛丽亚·莎拉波娃
About Maria in Chinese
What does the name Maria mean?
Maria is the Latin form of Mary, from the Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning is uncertain. It is used in many European languages.
How do you say Maria in Chinese?
Maria is written 玛丽亚 and pronounced Mǎ lì yà. This is the standard spelling Chinese speakers use for the name. Recognised as Maria by any Chinese reader; chosen for sound rather than meaning.
What does 茉莉 mean?
茉莉 (Mò lì) is a Chinese-style name for Maria: a Chinese-style name meaning jasmine. 茉 means “jasmine (as in 茉莉)”, 莉 means “jasmine”.
Which version of Maria is best for a tattoo?
玛丽亚 is how Chinese speakers will read your name. 茉莉 is shorter and every character carries a meaning, which many people prefer for body art. Write it in a readable style such as Kaishu, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.