What is the Chinese name for William?

William can be translated into Chinese as 王威廉 (Wáng Wēilián), 张伟廉 (Zhāng Wěilián), or 李威廉 (Lǐ Wēilián). Chinese names for foreigners are typically chosen to sound similar to the original name while using characters with positive meanings.

How do you write William in Chinese?

William is written as 威廉 in Chinese, the standard transliteration. As a full Chinese name, it is commonly written as 王威廉 — with 王 as the surname, 威 meaning power and might, and 廉 meaning honest and incorruptible.

Chinese Name for William

Authentic Chinese translations for the English name William — with pinyin, character meanings, and real name structure.

Suggested Chinese name

王威廉

Wáng Wēilián

What Does William Mean in Chinese?

The Chinese name for William is 王威廉 (Wáng Wēilián), the standard and most authoritative translation of this noble name. The surname 王 (Wáng), meaning "king," is fitting for a name that itself derives from Germanic roots meaning "resolute protector." The given-name characters form the well-established transliteration: 威 (Wēi) means power, might, and authority — conveying strength and commanding respect — while 廉 (Lián) means honest, incorruptible, and having clean moral character, a virtue highly prized in Chinese culture and associated with upright governance. Together, 王威廉 represents the ideal of powerful yet virtuous leadership — someone who wields authority with integrity, making it a deeply meaningful and culturally resonant Chinese name for William.

Name Breakdown

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
王	Wáng	King; monarch; the most common Chinese surname
威	Wēi	Power; might; commanding authority and respect
廉	Lián	Honest; incorruptible; clean moral character

How Chinese Names Work

Chinese names follow a different order from English: the family name (surname) comes first, followed by one or two given-name characters. A typical Chinese name has 2-3 characters total.

When translating foreign names, Chinese speakers pick characters that sound close to the original while carrying positive meanings. It's both an art and a science.

More Name Options for William

Different translators may choose different characters. Here are alternative Chinese names for William:

张伟廉 (Zhāng Wěilián) — great and honest; uses 伟 (great, mighty) with 廉 (honest) for a more localized feel
李威廉 (Lǐ Wēilián) — a variation using the plum-tree surname 李, equally natural-sounding and widely recognized

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