China and foreign stars with names sounding like Chinese character for horse gain popularity

Some Chinese and foreign stars and celebrities have trended on mainland social media in anticipation of the Lunar New Year, as their names or their Chinese translations sound similar to the word “horse” in Mandarin.

An unexpected sensation is British actor Tom Felton, known for portraying a villain in the Harry Potter series. He has gone viral in China in recent weeks, with images of his character, Draco Malfoy, appearing in many homes and offices as festive decorations, according to Chinese Newsweek.

This phenomenon can be attributed to the Chinese translation of Malfoy, which is Ma Er Fu. Here, “Ma” means horse, “Er” translates to you, and “Fu” signifies fortune. Thus, when combined, it conveys the message that you will have good fortunes in the Year of the Horse.

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Harry Potter villain becomes good luck symbol for Year of the Horse

Harry Potter villain becomes good luck symbol for Year of the Horse

Although this Chinese name is based on the pronunciation of Malfoy, Chinese internet users consider it particularly auspicious as 2026 marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.

A shopping centre in central Henan province hung two large vertical banners featuring the Malfoy character, alongside the words meaning “Draco helps you embrace fortune, and magic awakens to bring you wealth.”

The actor himself took note of the trend, sharing a picture of this shopping centre with the caption, “Draco Malfoy suddenly becomes a symbol of Lunar New Year in China.”

Many Chinese residents have taken to displaying images of Malfoy alongside couplets –sets of auspicious writings or red square papers featuring the character “Fu,” which stands for luck – on their doors. This practice of hanging couplets and the character “Fu” is a customary way to welcome the new year in China.

E-commerce platforms swiftly capitalised on this trend, selling fridge magnets and mobile phone cases adorned with Malfoy’s likeness.