Name translation
Nancy in Chinese
Nancy is written 南希 in Chinese, pronounced Nán xī. This is the standard phonetic transliteration recorded in CC-CEDICT, as in 南希·佩洛西 (Nancy Pelosi). The characters were chosen for their sound, not for the name's disputed origin.
南希
Nán xī
Recorded in CC-CEDICT
Nán is second tone (rising) and xī is first tone (high and level). A rough English approximation is "nahn shee", with the first syllable rising and the second staying level.
Sources: CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How this translation works
南希 is a phonetic transliteration: 南 and 希 were chosen for their sounds, nán and xī, not their meanings. Literally 南 means "south" and 希 can mean "rare" or "hope", but neither describes Nancy. The name's origin is disputed — it is often treated as a nickname of Ann or Agnes — so no single meaning should be assumed.
CC-CEDICT records 南希 as the dictionary form, and it matches the usual media spelling for public figures, such as 南希·佩洛西 (Nancy Pelosi). Because the characters are sound-based, the same spelling can stand for different people named Nancy without changing its meaning.
Unlike names that have competing spellings in wide circulation, Nancy is written 南希 almost everywhere, so there is little to choose between forms. The main variation you are likely to meet is the nickname Nan, which has its own transliteration.
Related names
Nancy is related to Nan. Nan is the usual short form and is written 南 (Nán) on its own. It is a nickname with its own transliteration and is not interchangeable with the full form 南希.
When to use this form
南希 translates the name of a real person called Nancy — in Chinese news, subtitles or introductions. If instead you want a new Chinese name chosen for its meaning, use the Chinese name generator.
Translate another name on the homepage translator, or create a new personal Chinese name.
Nancy in Chinese: FAQ
How do you write Nancy in Chinese?
Nancy is written 南希 in Chinese, pronounced Nán xī. It is the phonetic form recorded in CC-CEDICT and used in Chinese media for people such as 南希·佩洛西 (Nancy Pelosi).
Is Nancy short for Ann or Agnes?
Nancy is often described as a nickname of Ann or Agnes, but its origin is disputed and no single explanation is settled. For the Chinese spelling it makes no difference: 南希 is the established phonetic form either way.
What does 南希 mean?
Nothing literally — it is phonetic. 南 and 希 were selected for their sounds, and because the name's own origin is disputed, it is better not to assign it a single meaning.
How do you pronounce 南希?
Nán xī — a rising second tone followed by a level first tone, roughly "nahn shee". The first syllable rises; the second stays high and flat. Use the hear-it button on this page to listen.