Vietnamese Names
A Vietnamese name is written family name first, then a middle name, then the given name — so in Nguyễn Văn An, An is the name friends use. Most given names are short, one-syllable words from Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary with beautiful meanings: Minh (bright), Lan (orchid), An (peace). Because the tones and accent marks change the meaning, Vietnamese parents choose them with great care.
This guide covers more than 60 of the most useful Vietnamese names, from boys’ and girls’ favorites to middle names and the surnames shared by millions. For fuller lists see Vietnamese boy names, Vietnamese girl names and Vietnamese last names, or compare with Chinese names.
Vietnamese Names: browse all lists
Popular Vietnamese boy names
Boys’ names often wish for brightness, strength or success. Many come from Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary. See the full list of Vietnamese boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Without accents |
|---|---|---|
| Minh | Bright, clever | Minh |
| Anh | Brilliant, outstanding | Anh |
| Huy | Radiant, glorious | Huy |
| Khang | Healthy, prosperous | Khang |
| Bảo | Treasure, precious | Bao |
| Phúc | Blessing, good fortune | Phuc |
| Quang | Light, clear | Quang |
| Đức | Virtue, morality | Duc |
| Hùng | Heroic, mighty | Hung |
| Dũng | Brave, courageous | Dung |
| Tuấn | Handsome, talented | Tuan |
| Long | Dragon | Long |
| Nam | South; man | Nam |
| Khôi | Handsome, outstanding | Khoi |
| Thành | Success, accomplished | Thanh |
| Trung | Loyal; center | Trung |
Popular Vietnamese girl names
Girls’ names are often flowers, seasons, gems or gentle virtues. Explore more Vietnamese girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Without accents |
|---|---|---|
| Linh | Spirit, soul; nimble | Linh |
| Lan | Orchid | Lan |
| Mai | Apricot blossom (hoa mai) | Mai |
| Hoa | Flower | Hoa |
| Hương | Fragrance | Huong |
| Ngọc | Jade, precious gem | Ngoc |
| Thảo | Grass, herb; also “filial” | Thao |
| Trang | Elegant, dignified | Trang |
| Vy | Small, delicate | Vy |
| Nhi | Little one | Nhi |
| Hà | River | Ha |
| Thu | Autumn | Thu |
| Xuân | Spring | Xuan |
| Hằng | Moon (from the moon goddess Hằng Nga) | Hang |
| Yến | Swallow (the bird) | Yen |
| Tuyết | Snow | Tuyet |
| My | Beautiful | My |
| Hạnh | Virtue; good conduct | Hanh |
Unisex Vietnamese names
Vietnamese given names are less strictly gendered than English ones; the middle name often signals gender.
| Name | Meaning | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| An | Peace, safety | Both |
| Bình | Peaceful, calm | Both, more often boys |
| Khánh | Celebration, joy | Both |
| Tâm | Heart, mind | Both |
| Hải | Sea | Mostly boys |
| Phương | Direction; fragrant | Mostly girls |
| Tú | Star; refined | Both |
| Châu | Pearl | Mostly girls |
Common Vietnamese middle names (tên đệm)
The middle name sits between surname and given name and can carry a family tradition, a generation marker or simply a pleasing sound.
| Middle name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Văn | Literature, culture | Traditional male middle name |
| Thị | Traditional marker for women | Less common in city births today |
| Hữu | To have, possess | Male |
| Công | Merit; public | Male |
| Quốc | Nation | Male, patriotic |
| Gia | Family, household | Modern, both genders |
| Thanh | Blue; pure, clear | Both |
| Kim | Gold | Both, often girls |
Most common Vietnamese last names
A small group of surnames covers most of Vietnam — Nguyễn alone is estimated at around 38%. Read more about Vietnamese last names.
| Surname | Approx. share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn | ≈ 38% | The last royal dynasty (1802–1945) |
| Trần | ≈ 11% | The Trần dynasty repelled the Mongols |
| Lê | ≈ 9.5% | Later Lê dynasty |
| Phạm | ≈ 7% | Pronounced roughly “Fahm” |
| Hoàng / Huỳnh | ≈ 5% | Huỳnh is the southern form |
| Phan | ≈ 4.5% | Scholar Phan Bội Châu |
| Vũ / Võ | ≈ 4% | Võ is the southern form |
| Đặng | ≈ 2% | Pronounced “Dang” |
| Bùi | ≈ 2% | Northern roots |
| Đỗ | ≈ 1.5% | Pronounced “Doh” |
| Hồ | ≈ 1.3% | Hồ Chí Minh (a pseudonym) |
| Ngô | ≈ 1.3% | Ngô Quyền, 10th-century king |
| Dương | ≈ 1% | Also spelled Duong |
| Lý | ≈ 0.5% | The Lý dynasty |
How to choose a Vietnamese name
- Keep the accents. Vietnamese is tonal, so Hà (river) and Hạ (summer) are different names. Use diacritics wherever your system allows.
- Build the full name as a phrase. Middle and given names are often chosen together to form a meaning, like Bảo Ngọc (“precious jade”) or Minh Khang (“bright and healthy”).
- Think about life abroad. Names like An, Linh, Mai, Long and Nam are easy for English speakers; Nguyễn is roughly “Nwin” or “Ngwen.”
- Mind family names. Traditionally, children should not share a given name with a living elder, and the father’s surname passes to children.
- Look at shared meanings. Many names echo themes you’ll find on names that mean light and names that mean flower.
Frequently asked questions
Why do so many Vietnamese people have the surname Nguyễn?
Families historically adopted the surname of ruling dynasties for protection or loyalty, and Nguyễn was the name of Vietnam’s last dynasty. Around 38% of Vietnamese people carry it today.
What order do Vietnamese names go in?
Family name first, then middle name, then given name. People are addressed by their given name, even formally: Nguyễn Văn An is “Mr. An.”
What does Văn or Thị mean in a Vietnamese name?
They are traditional middle names: Văn (literature, culture) for boys and Thị for girls. Younger parents often choose more expressive middle names like Gia, Bảo or Minh instead.
Do Vietnamese women change their name when they marry?
No. Vietnamese women keep their own full name after marriage, although they may be referred to informally by their husband’s name in some contexts.
What is a popular Vietnamese name?
For boys, Minh, Khang, Huy, Bảo and Anh are popular; for girls, Linh, Ngọc, Anh, Vy and Mai. Many parents combine two for a compound name like Bảo Anh or Gia Huy.