Vietnamese Girl Names
Vietnamese girl names are small poems. Many describe something delicate and lovely — a flower (Mai, Lan, Cúc), a bird (Yến, Oanh), the moon (Hằng, Nguyệt) — while others carry a wish for grace, joy or a peaceful life. The given name sits at the end of a full name, as in Nguyễn Ngọc Anh, and the middle name is often chosen to deepen its meaning.
We’ve gathered 108 authentic Vietnamese girl names, grouped by theme and explained in plain English. For the full naming system, start with our guide to Vietnamese names; you might also like Vietnamese boy names or our list of names that mean flower.
Popular Vietnamese girl names right now
These names fill Vietnamese school registers today. The pronunciations are rough English guides — tones and regional accents change the sound.
| Name | Say it (approx.) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Linh | ling | Spirit, soul (靈); also nimble, clever |
| Ngọc | ngowp (soft “ng”) | Jade, precious gem (玉) |
| Anh | ahn (north: ayn) | Flower essence; brilliant (英) |
| Mai | my | Apricot blossom, the flower of Tết in the south |
| Lan | lahn | Orchid (蘭) |
| Hương | hoo-uhng | Fragrance (香) |
| Trang | chahng | Elegant, graceful (妝) |
| Thảo | tow | Herb, grass (草); also filial respect |
| Vy | vee | Rose (薇); small and dainty |
| Nhi | nyee | Little one, child (兒) |
| My | mee | Beautiful (美) |
| Hân | hun | Joy, delight (欣) |
| Trâm | chum | Hairpin, a symbol of feminine elegance |
| Uyên | oo-yen | Deep, profound (淵); graceful |
| Phương | foo-uhng | Fragrant (芳) |
| Quỳnh | kwing (south: wing) | Night-blooming epiphyllum; fine jade (瓊) |
| Châu | chow | Pearl (珠) |
| Hà | hah | River (河) |
Vietnamese girl names that mean flower
Flowers are the single biggest source of Vietnamese girls’ names, and several are also Vietnam’s cultural symbols — the lotus most of all. See more names of flowers.
| Name | Flower | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hoa | Flower (花) | The simplest and sweetest choice |
| Hồng | Rose; also “pink” | Classic and romantic |
| Cúc | Chrysanthemum | Symbol of autumn and longevity |
| Đào | Peach blossom | The flower of Tết in northern Vietnam |
| Liên | Lotus (蓮) | Sino-Vietnamese word for the national flower |
| Sen | Lotus (native Vietnamese word) | Short, earthy and pure |
| Huệ | Tuberose, lily (蕙) | Linked with purity and devotion |
| Lài | Jasmine | Northern speakers also say Nhài |
| Trà | Camellia (茶) | Also the word for tea |
| Thủy Tiên | Narcissus, “water fairy” (水仙) | Blooms at Lunar New Year |
| Tường Vi | Climbing rose (薔薇) | Pretty two-part name |
| Mộc Lan | Magnolia (木蘭) | Also the Vietnamese form of Mulan |
| Diệp | Leaf (葉) | Fresh and green |
| Trúc | Bamboo (竹) | Symbol of resilience and integrity |
| Quế | Cinnamon (桂) | Warm and old-fashioned |
| Bông | Flower, blossom (native word) | Cute as a nickname |
Two-part Vietnamese girl names
Middle and given names are read together as one idea. These pairings are especially fashionable with parents today.
| Name | Meaning | Why it’s loved |
|---|---|---|
| Gia Hân | Joy of the family | One of the most popular girl names of the 2010s–2020s |
| Bảo Ngọc | Precious jade | Two “treasure” words together |
| An Nhiên | Serene, at ease | A Buddhist-flavored wish for inner calm |
| Khánh An | Joyful and safe | Soft and cheerful |
| Bảo Anh | Precious and brilliant | Modern and widely used |
| Ngọc Anh | Jade flower | Timeless, elegant |
| Tuệ Nhi | Wise little one | Gentle and intelligent |
| Minh Châu | Bright pearl | Radiant and classic |
| Hoài An | Lasting peace | Calm, lyrical sound |
| Thảo Vy | Little herb, rose | Sweet and natural |
| Phương Anh | Fragrant flower | Traditional favorite |
| Mai Anh | Apricot blossom | Springlike |
| Thiên Kim | “A thousand gold,” a precious daughter | An old phrase for a cherished girl |
| Kim Ngân | Gold and silver | A wish for abundance |
| Hà My | Beautiful river | Flowing and pretty |
| Diệu Linh | Wonderful spirit | Graceful and slightly mystical |
| Minh Thư | Bright letter, clever scholar | Suits a bookish family |
| Khánh Linh | Joyful spirit | Popular and upbeat |
| Ngọc Hân | Joyful jade | Named for an 18th-century princess, Lê Ngọc Hân |
| Thùy Dương | Weeping willow tree | Poetic and soft |
| Cát Tường | Auspicious, lucky (吉祥) | Unisex good-luck name |
| Yến Nhi | Little swallow | Light and playful |
Vietnamese girl names for beauty and grace
These names describe an ideal of gentle elegance celebrated in Vietnamese literature. Compare them with our names that mean beautiful.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Diễm | Splendid, glamorous (豔) | Often in Diễm My or Diễm Quỳnh |
| Nhã | Elegant, refined (雅) | Quiet sophistication |
| Thùy | Gentle, demure | Common middle name (Thùy Linh) |
| Kiều | Beautiful, graceful (嬌) | Heroine of the epic poem <em>Truyện Kiều</em> |
| Lệ | Beautiful (麗) | Usually in Mỹ Lệ |
| Uyển | Graceful, gentle (婉) | Soft and literary |
| Duyên | Charm; destined connection (緣) | Very Vietnamese idea of natural grace |
| Xinh | Pretty (native word) | Cute and modern |
| Nga | Graceful beauty (娥) | From Hằng Nga, the moon lady |
| Trinh | Pure, chaste (貞) | Traditional |
| Tiên | Fairy, immortal (仙) | Vietnamese legend says the people descend from a fairy, Âu Cơ |
| Thanh | Clear, pure; blue (清 / 青) | Also used for boys |
| Như | Like, as if (如) | Gentle; often in Quỳnh Như |
| Nhung | Velvet | Soft and luxurious |
Vietnamese girl names from the moon, sky and seasons
The moon festival, misty mornings and four distinct seasons in the north all live on in these names. More in our lists of names that mean moon and names that mean snow.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hằng | The moon (from Hằng Nga); constant | Lovely for a Mid-Autumn baby |
| Nguyệt | Moon (月) | Classic and poetic |
| Vân | Cloud (雲) | Light and airy |
| Tuyết | Snow (雪) | Suggests purity |
| Xuân | Spring (春) | Unisex; very popular historically |
| Hạ | Summer (夏) | Short and bright |
| Thu | Autumn (秋) | Much loved in poetry |
| Thủy | Water (水) | Calm and flowing |
| Giang | River (江) | Unisex |
| Sương | Dew, mist | Delicate and dreamy |
| Băng | Ice (冰) | Cool and modern |
| Tuyền | Spring water (泉) | Fresh and clear |
| Khuê | A star in the Kui constellation (奎); inner chamber | Scholarly and rare |
| Ánh | Light, ray (映) | Glowing and hopeful |
Vietnamese girl names from birds, jewels and poetry
Birds stand for grace and freedom, jewels for being treasured, and poetry for a cultivated mind.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Yến | Swallow (燕) | Light, quick and cheerful |
| Oanh | Oriole (鶯) | Known for its sweet song |
| Loan | Female phoenix (鸞) | Mythical and regal |
| Phượng | Phoenix (鳳); royal poinciana tree | The flame tree blooms at the end of the school year |
| Quyên | Cuckoo bird; also “graceful” (娟) | Traditional |
| Kim | Gold (金) | Short and valuable |
| Ngân | Silver (銀) | Bright and elegant |
| Bích | Jade green (碧) | Evokes blue-green water |
| Ngà | Ivory | Pale and refined |
| Trân | Precious, treasured (珍) | Rare and sweet |
| Thơ | Poem, poetry | Artistic and gentle |
| Thư | Book, letter (書) | For a family of readers |
| Cầm | Zither (琴) | Musical and classical |
Vietnamese girl names for virtue and kindness
These older-style names focus on character. Many parents now put them in the middle position, as in Ngọc Hạnh or Thục Anh. See also names that mean love.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hạnh | Virtue; happiness (行 / 幸) | Classic and warm |
| Hiền | Gentle, virtuous (賢) | A compliment in everyday speech |
| Tâm | Heart, mind (心) | Unisex; kind-hearted |
| Thục | Virtuous, kind (淑) | Refined and traditional |
| Đoan | Proper, upright (端) | Dignified |
| Nhàn | At ease, leisurely (閑) | Suggests a carefree life |
| Hoài | To cherish, remember (懷) | Nostalgic |
| Hảo | Good (好) | Simple and positive |
| Thương | Love, tenderness (native word) | Deeply affectionate |
| Ái | Love (愛) | Short and sweet |
| Hòa | Harmony (和) | Balanced and peaceful |
How to choose a Vietnamese girl name
- Pair meanings on purpose. Ngọc (jade) + Anh (flower) or Minh (bright) + Châu (pearl) create an image, not just two nice sounds.
- Decide about “Thị.” The traditional female middle name Thị is still used, but many modern parents choose a meaningful middle name instead.
- Mind the diacritics. Thu (autumn), Thư (letter) and Thủy (water) are different names; write them correctly on official documents.
- Think about the birth season. Xuân, Hạ, Thu, Tuyết and Đào all tie a name to the time of year a baby arrives.
- Check how it travels. Linh, Mai, Vy, An and Kim are easy in English; names like Quỳnh or Nguyệt are beautiful but will need spelling out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common Vietnamese girl name?
Vietnam doesn’t publish an official ranking, but Linh, Anh, Ngọc, Trang, Hương and Thảo are among the most common given names for women, while Gia Hân, Bảo Ngọc and An Nhiên are popular with newer generations.
Why do many Vietnamese women have Thị as a middle name?
Thị (氏) has long been used as a feminine marker in the middle position, similar to how Văn marks many male names. It’s becoming less common as parents choose descriptive middle names.
Which Vietnamese girl names mean moon?
Hằng (from the moon goddess Hằng Nga) and Nguyệt both refer to the moon; Nga, meaning graceful, is also linked to the moon legend.
What Vietnamese name means lotus?
Liên is the Sino-Vietnamese word for lotus and Sen is the native Vietnamese word. The lotus is widely regarded as Vietnam’s national flower.
Do Vietnamese girls change their name when they marry?
No. Vietnamese women traditionally keep their own full name after marriage, although they may be called by their husband’s name in some formal or rural contexts.