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Vietnamese names: 150+ girl names, boy names and family names with meanings

159 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Popular Vietnamese names include Linh (spirit), Ngọc (jade) and Minh (bright), and the most common Vietnamese family name by far is Nguyễn, held by about 31.5% of the population in a 2022 count, and by up to 38% in older estimates. Vietnamese female names often draw on flowers, gems and beauty, and a full name runs surname first, then an optional middle name, then the given name, as in Nguyễn Văn Minh, so people are addressed by the last part: Mr. Minh.

Below are 150+ Vietnamese names with their diacritics, the Hán (Chinese) character most families use, the meaning and a rough pronunciation that leaves out the tones. Vietnamese is tonal, so Hà and Hạ are different names. Sections cover Vietnamese family names, Vietnamese girl names, Vietnamese boy names, unisex names and the cute home nicknames many children go by.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Tạ (謝)

    Thanks; the same character as Chinese Xie. Say tah

  • Bích

    碧, jade green, bluish green. Say bick

  • Diễm

    豔, beautiful, glamorous. Say zee-em

  • Đạt

    達, to achieve, to attain. Say daht

  • Trịnh (鄭)

    Family of the lords who ruled northern Vietnam for two centuries

  • Yến

    燕, swallow, the graceful bird. Say ee-en

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Common Vietnamese family names (surnames)

The most common Vietnamese last names, with percentages from a 2022 study of the 100 most popular surnames in Vietnam. The Hán character follows each name.

  1. Nguyễn (阮): Held by about 31.5% of Vietnamese in a 2022 count. Say roughly nwin
  2. Trần (陳): Second most common, 10.9%; the dynasty that repelled the Mongols
  3. Lê (黎): Third most common, 8.9%; the name of two royal dynasties
  4. Phạm (范): Fourth most common, about 5.9% of Vietnamese. Say fahm
  5. Hoàng (黃): Yellow; the same character as Chinese Huang. Say hwahng
  6. Huỳnh (黃): Southern form of Hoàng, adopted to avoid a ruling lord's name
  7. Vũ (武): Martial; spelled Võ in the south. Say voo
  8. Phan (潘): Seventh most common surname, about 2.8% of Vietnamese. Say fahn
  9. Trương (張): The same character as Chinese Zhang, to draw a bow
  10. Bùi (裴): Ninth most common, about 2.1% of Vietnamese. Say boo-ee
  11. Đỗ (杜): Tenth most common; the crossed Đ sounds like a hard English d
  12. Đặng (鄧): The same character as Chinese Deng; about 1.9% of Vietnamese
  13. Ngô (吳): The same as Chinese Wu; Ngô Quyền won independence at Bạch Đằng in 938
  14. Dương (楊): Poplar or willow; the same as Chinese Yang. Say zuhng
  15. Lý (李): Plum tree; the dynasty that made Thăng Long, now Hanoi, the capital
  16. Đinh (丁): The dynasty that founded the kingdom of Đại Cồ Việt in 968
  17. Trịnh (鄭): Family of the lords who ruled northern Vietnam for two centuries
  18. Lương (梁): Beam or bridge; the same character as Chinese Liang
  19. Tạ (謝): Thanks; the same character as Chinese Xie. Say tah
  20. Quách (郭): Outer city wall; the same character as Chinese Guo
  21. Tôn Thất (尊室): Compound surname of collateral branches of the Nguyễn royal family

More Vietnamese family names

Less common surnames with a long history. Most share a Hán character with a Chinese surname, and a few come from Vietnam's ethnic minorities.

  1. Hồ (胡): About 1.5% of Vietnamese; also the dynasty that ruled 1400 to 1407
  2. Đào (陶): Pottery; the same character as Chinese Tao. Say dow
  3. Đoàn (段): Section; the same as Chinese Duan. Without marks it looks like Doãn
  4. Lưu (劉): The same character as Chinese Liu, the Han emperors' family name
  5. Mạc (莫): Family of the dynasty that seized the throne in 1527. Say mahk
  6. Triệu (趙): Zhao in Chinese; a woman warrior of this clan rose against Wu in 248
  7. Phùng (馮): Feng in Chinese; two brothers of this clan rose against the Tang in 791
  8. Vương (王): King; the same character as Chinese Wang. Say vuhng
  9. Kiều (喬): Tall, lofty; the same character as Chinese Qiao
  10. Nông (農): Farming; common among the Tày people of the far north
  11. Thạch (石): Stone; common among the Khmer people of southern Vietnam
  12. Khổng (孔): The family name of Confucius, Kong in Chinese
  13. Tô (蘇): The same character as Chinese Su. Say toh
  14. La (羅): Net, gauze; the same character as Chinese Luo
  15. Tống (宋): The same character as the Song dynasty of China

Vietnamese girl names from flowers and nature

Flowers, seasons, water and sky are classic Vietnamese girl names. Meaning can depend on the Hán character a family chooses; each note shows a common one.

  1. Hoa Under 5 in 2025: 花, flower; a classic Vietnamese girl name. Say hwah
  2. Cúc Under 5 in 2025: 菊, chrysanthemum. Say kook
  3. Liên Under 5 in 2025: 蓮, lotus, a beloved symbol of Vietnam. Say lee-en
  4. Huệ Under 5 in 2025: Tuberose; also 慧, bright and intelligent. Say hweh
  5. Quỳnh 11 in 2025: 瓊, deep red jade; also a night-blooming flower
  6. Trúc Under 5 in 2025: 竹, bamboo, a symbol of integrity. Say chook
  7. Thảo Under 5 in 2025: 草, grass, herbs; also kind and devoted. Say tao
  8. Diệp Under 5 in 2025: 葉, leaf; used for girls and boys. Say zee-ep
  9. Vân 8 in 2025: 雲, cloud; without marks it looks like Văn, the male middle name. Say vun
  10. Tuyết Under 5 in 2025: 雪, snow. Say twee-et
  11. Thu Under 5 in 2025: 秋, autumn. Say too
  12. Nguyệt Under 5 in 2025: 月, moon. Say ngwee-et
  13. Hằng Under 5 in 2025: 姮, the lady in the moon of Vietnamese legend
  14. Giang Under 5 in 2025: 江, river; also used for boys. Say zahng
  15. Hà Under 5 in 2025: 河, river; a common girls' name. Say hah
  16. Thủy Under 5 in 2025: 水, water; Thùy, to let down, is a different name. Say twee
  17. Sương Under 5 in 2025: Dew, mist or frost; a soft nature name
  18. Băng Under 5 in 2025: 冰, ice; used for girls and boys. Say bahng
  19. Mai 55 in 2025: 梅, plum or apricot blossom. Say my
  20. Lan Under 5 in 2025: 蘭, orchid; for girls and boys. Say lahn

Vietnamese girl names meaning beautiful

Names for beauty, grace and charm. Many girls carry two of these together, such as Mỹ Linh.

  1. Mỹ 7 in 2025: 美, beautiful; also the Vietnamese word for America
  2. Diễm 7 in 2025: 豔, beautiful, glamorous. Say zee-em
  3. Nga Under 5 in 2025: 娥, beautiful woman; also part of the moon lady's name
  4. Dung Under 5 in 2025: 容, appearance, beauty; not Dũng, brave, a boys' name. Say zoong
  5. Quyên 6 in 2025: 娟, beautiful, graceful. Say kwee-en
  6. Trang Under 5 in 2025: 妝, adornment; or 莊, dignified. Say chahng
  7. Nhung Under 5 in 2025: 絨, velvet. Say nyoong
  8. Hiền Under 5 in 2025: 賢, gentle, virtuous. Say hee-en
  9. Duyên Under 5 in 2025: 緣, charm, grace and destined connection. Say zwee-en
  10. Hạnh Under 5 in 2025: 幸, happiness, luck; also virtue or apricot
  11. Hương Under 5 in 2025: 香, fragrance, fragrant. Say huh-uhng
  12. Linh 16 in 2025: 靈, spirit, soul; also used for boys. Say ling

Vietnamese girl names meaning gems, birds and poetry

Jewels, precious metals, graceful birds and verse. Ngọc and Kim often pair with a second name.

  1. Ngọc 5 in 2025: 玉, jade, gem; often joined to another name. Say ngawk
  2. Châu Under 5 in 2025: 珠, pearl, gem. Say chow
  3. Kim 34 in 2025: 金, gold, metal; often paired with Ngân, silver
  4. Ngân Under 5 in 2025: 銀, silver. Say ngun
  5. Bích Under 5 in 2025: 碧, jade green, bluish green. Say bick
  6. Loan Under 5 in 2025: 鸞, a mythical bird like the phoenix. Say lwahn
  7. Yến Under 5 in 2025: 燕, swallow, the graceful bird. Say ee-en
  8. Tiên Under 5 in 2025: 仙, fairy, immortal. Say tee-en
  9. Thi Under 5 in 2025: 詩, poetry; also spelled Thy, which avoids a mix-up with the middle name Thị. Say tee
  10. Nhi 14 in 2025: 兒, little one, child. Say nyee
  11. Vy 22 in 2025: 薇, royal fern; a popular modern girl name. Say vee

More Vietnamese female names

Classic and modern names for girls, often joined to a middle name such as Thị, Ngọc or Thanh. Each note shows a common Hán character.

  1. Hồng Under 5 in 2025: 紅, pink, rosy; with hoa, flower, it means rose. Say hong
  2. Huyền Under 5 in 2025: 玄, black, mysterious; often said of glossy black hair
  3. Phượng Under 5 in 2025: 鳳, phoenix, the mythical bird of East Asian legend
  4. Trinh Under 5 in 2025: 貞, virtuous, chaste, loyal. Say ching
  5. Trân Under 5 in 2025: 珍, precious, rare; spelled Tran without marks, like the surname Trần. Say chun
  6. Chi 17 in 2025: 枝, branch; a short, sweet name for girls. Say chee
  7. Yên Under 5 in 2025: 安, calm, peaceful; not Yến, swallow. Say ee-en
  8. Oanh Under 5 in 2025: 鶯, oriole, a songbird of classic poetry. Say wahn
  9. Trâm Under 5 in 2025: 簪, hairpin, an elegant ornament. Say chum
  10. Hân 9 in 2025: 欣, joy, delight. Say hun
  11. Uyên Under 5 in 2025: 淵, deep and profound; or 鴛, mandarin duck
  12. Ánh 19 in 2025: 映, light, a ray or glow. Say ahn
  13. Ly Under 5 in 2025: 璃, glass; a short modern girl name. Say lee
  14. Ngà Under 5 in 2025: Ivory; ngọc ngà, jade and ivory, means precious
  15. Nhàn Under 5 in 2025: 閒, leisurely, carefree. Say nyahn
  16. Hạ Under 5 in 2025: 夏, summer; not to be confused with Hà, river

Vietnamese boy names meaning brave and strong

Strength, courage and victory are classic hopes behind Vietnamese boy names.

  1. Dũng Under 5 in 2025: 勇, brave, courageous. Say zoong
  2. Hùng Under 5 in 2025: 雄, heroic, manly. Say hoong
  3. Cường Under 5 in 2025: 強, strong. Say kuh-uhng
  4. Kiên 13 in 2025: 堅, firm, resolute. Say kee-en
  5. Quân 12 in 2025: 軍, army; also 君, lord. Say kwun
  6. Thắng 28 in 2025: 勝, victory. Say tahng
  7. Hào 6 in 2025: 豪, brave, heroic. Say how
  8. Kiệt Under 5 in 2025: 傑, outstanding hero. Say kee-et
  9. Đạt Under 5 in 2025: 達, to achieve, to attain. Say daht
  10. Toàn Under 5 in 2025: 全, whole, complete. Say twahn
  11. Trung Under 5 in 2025: 忠, loyal; also 中, middle. Say choong

Vietnamese boy names meaning wise, bright and good

Names for intelligence, virtue and good character, many drawn from Confucian ideals.

  1. Minh 43 in 2025: 明, bright, clear; used for boys and girls. Say ming
  2. Trí Under 5 in 2025: 智, wisdom, intelligence. Say chee
  3. Huy 10 in 2025: 輝, brightness, splendor. Say hwee
  4. Quang Under 5 in 2025: 光, light, bright. Say kwahng
  5. Đức Under 5 in 2025: 德, virtue. Say dook
  6. Nhân Under 5 in 2025: 仁, benevolence, compassion. Say nyun
  7. Hiếu 9 in 2025: 孝, filial piety, devotion to parents. Say hee-oo
  8. Nghĩa Under 5 in 2025: 義, righteousness, loyalty. Say ngee-uh
  9. Thiện 6 in 2025: 善, good, virtuous. Say tee-en
  10. Tín Under 5 in 2025: 信, trust, faithfulness. Say teen
  11. Khoa 23 in 2025: 科, science, a field of study. Say kwah
  12. Tuấn Under 5 in 2025: 俊, handsome, talented. Say twun
  13. Chí 9 in 2025: 志, will, ambition. Say chee
  14. Liêm 22 in 2025: 廉, honest, incorruptible. Say lee-em
  15. Văn US #972: 文, literature, culture; also a classic male middle name

Vietnamese boy names from nature and good fortune

Mountains, wind and sky, plus wishes for blessing, wealth and glory.

  1. Sơn Under 5 in 2025: 山, mountain. Say sun
  2. Phong 5 in 2025: 風, wind; also 峰, peak. Say fong
  3. Tùng Under 5 in 2025: 松, pine tree, a symbol of endurance. Say toong
  4. Nam 8 in 2025: 南, south; also 男, man. Say nahm
  5. Thiên 6 in 2025: 天, sky, heaven. Say tee-en
  6. Nguyên 5 in 2025: 元, first, original; written Nguyen without marks, like the surname
  7. Trường Under 5 in 2025: 長, long, enduring. Say chuh-uhng
  8. Việt Under 5 in 2025: 越, the name of the nation and its people. Say vee-et
  9. Phúc Under 5 in 2025: 福, blessing, good fortune. Say fook
  10. Lộc Under 5 in 2025: 祿, prosperity, fortune. Say lohk
  11. Vinh 23 in 2025: 榮, glory, honor. Say ving
  12. Thịnh Under 5 in 2025: 盛, prosperous, flourishing. Say ting
  13. Phú Under 5 in 2025: 富, rich, abundant. Say foo
  14. Khang 20 in 2025: 康, healthy, peaceful. Say kahng

Unisex Vietnamese names

Names given to both girls and boys. The middle name or the full two-part given name usually shows which.

  1. Anh 28 in 2025: 英, flower, hero; brave and brilliant. Say ahn
  2. Khánh Under 5 in 2025: 慶, celebration, joy. Say kahn
  3. Thanh Under 5 in 2025: 青 blue-green, or 清 clear and pure. Say tahn
  4. Tú Under 5 in 2025: 秀, elegant, refined. Say too
  5. Phương Under 5 in 2025: 芳, fragrant, or 方, direction; not Phượng, phoenix. Mostly for girls. Say fuh-uhng
  6. Quý Under 5 in 2025: 貴, precious, valuable. Say kwee
  7. Diệu Under 5 in 2025: 妙, wonderful, exquisite. Say zee-oo
  8. Lành Under 5 in 2025: Good, gentle, wholesome; an old everyday word for good
  9. Bình Under 5 in 2025: 平, peaceful, calm. Say bing
  10. Đình Under 5 in 2025: 廷, courtyard; used for boys and girls, often as a middle name. Say ding

Vietnamese nicknames (home names)

Many Vietnamese children have a tên ở nhà, a home name, used by family alongside the formal name. Animals, fruits and small sweet words are favorites.

  1. Bông: Flower or cotton; a soft home name for babies
  2. Nhím: Hedgehog or porcupine; a cute home name
  3. Cún: Puppy; a favorite home name for little ones
  4. Gấu: Bear; a cuddly home name
  5. Thỏ: Rabbit; a gentle home name
  6. Sóc: Squirrel; a playful home name
  7. Na: Custard apple, a sweet tropical fruit
  8. Mít: Jackfruit; one of many fruit home names
  9. Xoài: Mango; a sunny fruit home name
  10. Cốm: Green rice flakes, a Hanoi autumn treat
  11. Kem: Ice cream; a sweet modern home name
  12. Bi: Marble, a little ball; a short home name for boys
  13. Tí: Tiny, the little one; an old-style home name
  14. Út: Youngest child; what families call their last-born

How to pick the right name

Keep the diacritics

Hà (river) and Hạ (summer) are different names, and Đoàn and Doãn both become Doan without marks. Social Security cards and some states, including California, print plain letters only, so check how the unmarked spelling reads too.

Choose the Hán meaning

Many names have more than one character behind them. Nam can be 南, south, or 男, man, so decide which meaning you intend and tell the family.

Build a two-part given name

Many Vietnamese use a middle name and given name together, such as Ngọc Anh or Minh Khang. Say the whole name with the surname first to hear the rhythm.

Pick a home name too

A short home name like Bông or Bi gives the family something cute to call the baby, while the formal name stays elegant for school and work.

Say it the American way too

Without its marks, a name can read as an English word: unmarked Phuc and Bich look rude to English readers, and some children get teased. A two-part given name or a home name can give a child an easy everyday option.

Vietnamese names: 159 ideas from Nomezo

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Vietnamese names, checked: how the order works, why Nguyễn is everywhere, and what happens to tone marks on US records

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 26, 2026 · How we research names

Nearly a third of Vietnamese people are named Nguyễn, and in the US it is now the 29th most common surname, up from 229th in 1990. Its spread came from name changes, such as the Lý clan being forced to take it in 1232, not, as is often said, from the Nguyễn dynasty.

Tone marks matter: Dung and Dũng are different names, but US records print them the same. The finder above narrows the names by section or length, and the tags show each given name's 2025 US count where Social Security lists it.

  1. Step 1Get the order rightSurname, middle name, then the given name.
  2. Step 2Pick the meaningEach name has a Hán character behind it.
  3. Step 3Check the unmarked spellingVân turns into Van, like the middle name Văn.
  4. Step 4See the US dataNguyen is the No. 29 US surname.

How Vietnamese names work

  • Surname first. A Vietnamese name runs surname, then a middle name, then the given name, and people go by the given name; outside Vietnam the order is often flipped to put the surname last (Wikipedia).
  • Women keep their names. Vietnamese women keep their own surname after marriage, and children usually take the father's surname, though the law does not require it (Wikipedia).
  • Thị and Văn. Almost all women once had the middle name Thị and many men had Văn; Thị is now less common among younger people, and many who have it leave it out (Wikipedia).
  • Why Nguyễn spread. In 1232 the Trần forced the descendants of the Lý to take the surname Nguyễn, and when the Hồ and Mạc dynasties fell, many of their descendants switched to it too; the idea that the Nguyễn dynasty made it common is a myth, since the royal surname was Nguyễn Phúc (Wikipedia).

Names that change without tone marks

  • US records use plain letters. Social Security names may contain only letters, spaces, hyphens and apostrophes (SSA), and California has barred accent marks on birth and death certificates since 1986 (NBC News). Check how the unmarked spelling reads before you commit.
Names on this page that look alike once the marks are dropped
With marksWithout marksLooks like
Hà (river)HaHạ, summer
Dung (beauty)DungDũng, brave, a boys' name
Nguyên (first)NguyenThe surname Nguyễn
Trân (precious)TranThe surname Trần
Vân (cloud)VanVăn, the male middle name
Thi (poetry)ThiThị, the female middle name
Phương (fragrant)PhuongPhượng, phoenix
Yên (calm)YenYến, swallow

Meanings: Behind the Name.

Vietnamese names in US data

  • Given names in US baby data. In 2025, Social Security counted 55 girls named Mai, 43 boys named Minh and 22 girls named Vy, all written without marks (SSA). Many Vietnamese names go to fewer than 5 US babies a year and are not listed.
The most common Vietnamese surnames in the 2020 US Census
SurnameUS rankPeople
Nguyen#29531,404
Tran#101223,440
Le#200138,532
Pham#305101,083
Huynh#50365,148
Phan#69348,064
Truong#74845,309
Vo#75145,170
Vu#77343,790

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020. Nguyen ranked 229th in 1990, 57th in 2000 and 38th in 2010 (Wikipedia). Some of these surnames are shared with other Asian communities.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common Vietnamese last name?

Nguyễn. A 2022 count put it at 31.5% of the population, and older estimates reach 38%, followed by Trần (10.9%) and Lê (8.9%). It spread partly through forced and voluntary name changes: in 1232 the Trần made the Lý clan take Nguyễn, and later the Hồ and Mạc clans switched to it too. The popular story that the Nguyễn dynasty made it common is a myth, since the royal family's surname was Nguyễn Phúc.

How does Vietnamese name order work?

Surname first, then a middle name, then the given name. In Trần Thị Mai, Trần is the surname, Thị is a traditional female middle name and Mai is the given name, and she is called Ms. Mai, even in formal settings.

Do Vietnamese names have meanings?

Yes. Most given names are Sino-Vietnamese words once written in Chinese characters, such as Minh (明, bright) and Dũng (勇, brave). Vietnamese female names often mean flowers, gems or beauty, like Hoa (flower) and Ngọc (jade), and boys' names stress strength and virtue.

Why do Vietnamese names have accent marks?

Vietnamese is a tonal language, and the marks show tones and vowel sounds that change the meaning. Without them, different names look the same, so Đoàn and Doãn are both written Doan.

Do Vietnamese children have nicknames?

Many have a tên ở nhà, or home name, such as Cún (puppy), Bông (flower) or Mít (jackfruit). In the past some rural families chose plain or even unflattering home names so evil spirits would not notice the baby.

Do Vietnamese women take their husband's surname?

No. Vietnamese women keep their own surname after marriage. Children usually take the father's surname, though Vietnamese law does not require it.

How do I write a Vietnamese name on US forms?

Put the given name in the first-name box and the surname in the last-name box, so Nguyễn Văn Minh becomes Minh Van Nguyen. Expect the tone marks to be dropped: Social Security records allow only letters, spaces, hyphens and apostrophes.

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