Trying to help a friend translate her name into Mandarin or Cantonese?

[PlumBlossomPrincess]

Hi! It's been a long time since I've been on this forum, but my girlfriend Millie is traveling to Hong Kong in a few months. She'll be there for a few months and she would like to find a way to write her name. I told her that I am still not confident in my language skills to help, so I thought I would return here.

 

Her full name is Millicent, but Millie is probably just fine for her to be using. 

 

Um, sorry if this post feels a bit generic but, thank you to anyone who helps!

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On 12/24/2022 at 11:35 AM, PlumBlossomPrincess said:

Her full name is Millicent, but Millie is probably just fine for her to be using. 

 

Would suggest she pick something similar that already exists in Chinese instead of literally translating her English name. Would suggest 美丽 = mei li。It more or less means beautiful. Tones are mei3 and li4. Easy to say, easy to write, easy for Chinese native speakers to understand and remember.  Pretty close to Millie. 

[Flickserve]

美丽 is perhaps a bit simple? Is it a common name in China? I rarely see it in HK. The traditional form is 美麗 and rather more difficult to write. 

 

How about 美莉 ?

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On 12/25/2022 at 3:54 AM, Flickserve said:

 

How about 美莉 ?

 

Yes, I agree. That's better! Also more modest. 

[Jim]

米粒 is cute, means a grain of rice, nickname of one of my daughter's classmates and appropriate for a young woman albeit bit frivolous. None of these will sound like Millie in Cantonese, though.

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On 12/25/2022 at 9:15 PM, Jim said:

米粒 is cute, means a grain of rice,

Yes, another winner!