The Vietnamese follow unique naming traditions. And Vietnamese last names did not even exist until the conquest of Vietnam by the Han Dynasty of China in 111 B.C. Following the conquest, the Vietnamese gradually adopted the practice of using last names (1).
We have put together a long list of common Vietnamese last names with their meanings. While most are Chinese names or derivatives of Chinese names, some can be traced back to other Asian countries. Read on to learn more about the history and roots of these surnames and get a glimpse of the country’s rich history.
Common Vietnamese Last Names Or Surnames
1. Ai
It means “mugwort” and is a common Vietnamese name originating from China.
2. Ang
Similar to the Chinese surname Wang, it means “to rule.”
3. Anh
Derived from Sino-Vietnamese, anh means “flower.”
4. Au
This Vietnamese surname reflects calmness and serenity as it means “peace.” It is of Chinese and Vietnamese origin and may also refer to a “stream.”
5. Banh
It is a variant of the name Peng, which is of Chinese origin. It means “big.”
6. Bao
The last name Bao, although of Chinese origin, is one of the popular names in Vietnam. It means “treasure.”
7. Bi
It is a Chinese last name used to refer to those living in the West. It means “finish.”
8. Bui
Bui is a surname inspired by nature. It has Chinese and Korean origins, and means “plum.”
9. Cam
Meaning “sweet,” Cam is of Chinese origin. This last name is a variant of Kam.
10. Can
Derived from French, the last name Can means “hound.”
11. Cao
Cao is a popular Chinese surname and is the Romanized version of Tsao. It means “defendant” and was one of the departments of the central government in Ancient China.
12. Chau
The surname Chau is of Vietnamese and Chinese origin. It is a variant of the Chinese Chow and means “pearl.”
13. Che
This is a Chinese origin name dating back to the Han Dynasty. It means “cart” as it was inspired by a Chinese Prime Minister who commuted to work in a cart.
14. Chi
The last name Chi originates from the Bemba Tribe. It also has Chinese origins where it means “pond.”
15. Chu
This name originated in China and is the name of a state of the Zhou Dynasty.
16. Co
The common Vietnamese surname Co is of Chinese origin. It means “to praise.”
17. Cong
This popular name of Chinese origin has its prominence in Vietnam too. It means “bush.”
18. Dai
With origins in Chinese, the Vietnamese name Dai means “to support.”
19. Dan
Dan is a beautiful Vietnamese surname with Biblical touch to it. The name means “God is my judge” in Hebrew and in Chinese, it means “indifferent.”
20. Dang
This Chinese surname originates from a branch of the Zhou dynasty. It means “association.”
21. Dau
The surname Dau is taken from Old German and it means “tradition.”
22. Dinh
The Vietnamese surname Dinh is uncommon,. It means encampment and has origins in Vietnamese.
23. Doan
Meaning “at the down,” Doan is a topographical surname. Doan is a prestigious name as people bearing it were considered as the protectors of the nation.
24. Don
This popular Vietnamese name takes its inspiration from the English word Don. It means “ruler of the world.”
25. Du
It means “birch leaf pear” and is of Chinese origin.
26. Duong
The Chinese originated Vietnamese surname Duong means “popular.”
27. Duy
This name is popular in Vietnam and means “save.”
28. Giang
This name is of Sino-Vietnamese origin. It means “river.”
29. Hai
Hai is a surname that originated from Chinese and is often referred to as a Sino-Vietnamese name. It means “ocean.”
30. Ho
It is common Chinese surname that means “together.”
31. Hoa
Meaning “perfect,” this is a Chinese origin last name.
32. Hoang
Hoang in Chinese and Vietnamese means “yellow.” It is one of the most popular surnames.
33. Hong
It means “flood” and is also the name of a popular Chinese dynasty. Gongongshi took over the surname Gong, but to escape from enemies, they had to change it to Hong.
34. Hua
This is a topographical Vietnamese name of Chinese origin. It refers to the habitats of the people from Mount Hua in China.
35. Hue
Meaning “to praise,” this Vietnamese name has origins in China.
36. Huu
Meaning “friend,” Huu is a common Sino-Vietnamese name.
37. Huy
The Chinese origin surname, Huy is popular in Vietnam and means “to promise.”
38. Huynh
This is another variant of the Chinese and Vietnamese origin last name Hoang. It means “yellow.”
39. Hy
Of Chinese origin, the name Hy means “to praise.”
40. Kha
This Chinese origin name is popular among overseas Chinese communities, who have migrated from China. The meaning also represents division as it means “tree branch.”
41. Khanh
The name is prominent in Vietnam and means “resembling a precious stone.”
42. Khong
The surname Khong is quite popular in Vietnam. It is similar to the Chinese and Korean name Kong, which means “peaceful.”
43. Khuu
Khuu is derived from the Chinese surname Qiu, which means “autumn.”
44. Kien
The Sien-Vietnamese surname Kien means “hard.”
45. Kieu
Although Kieu is used as a first name for females, it is also considered a unisexual surname. It is of Vietnamese origin and means “graceful.”
46. Kim
This is a Korean origin surname, which also has a variant Keum. It means “gold.”
47. Ky
The surname Ky is of Vietnamese origin and it means “good luck.”
48. Lac
Lac is a common Vietnamese name of Chinese origin. This name is popular among the emigrants of China. It means “camel.”
49. Lai
This surname of Chinese origin is common in many East-Asian countries. It means “trustworthy.”
50. Lam
Inspired by the Chinese surname Luo, Lam means “to gather.”
51. Lavan
This Hebrew origin name means “white.’
52. Le
The name Le has origins in Vietnam. It was the name of the popular Le Dynasty.
53. Liang
Liang, is a name of the ancient Chinese dynasty. Also, popular as a Vietnamese surname, it means “bridge.”
54. Lieu
This prevalent surname of Vietnamese origin means “willow tree.” It is also the first name given to Vietnamese baby girls.
55. Linh
Derived from Vietnamese, this common family last name means “spirit.”
56. Lo
Lo in Chinese means “to sift.”
57. Loi
It means “thunder” and is a common last name in China and Vietnam.
58. Lu
It is a Chinese surname meaning “road.”
59. Luong
The surname Luong oscillates between Vietnamese and Chinese origins. It is similar to the Chinese surname Long which means “dragon.”
60. Luu
It is a variant of the Chinese surname Liu and is popular in East Asia. This surname refers to a “battle-ax.”
61. Ly
The Vietnamese surname Ly means “reason.”
62. Ma
It is a popular Chinese surname that is also common in Vietnam, and it means “horse.”
63. Mac
Mac is a surname of Vietnamese and Scottish origins. In its Gaelic version, it means “son.” The name is popular in Vietnam due to the clan named Mac who ruled Northern Vietnam during the 16th century.
64. Mai
Mai is of Vietnamese origin and means “to flaunt.”
65. Manh
The name is popular among Chinese communities that migrated to Vietnam. This name refers to the “eldest amongst brothers.”
66. Minh
Similar to the Chinese Ming, this Vietnamese surname means “bright.”
67. Nam
Nam is a common Korean originating family name, meaning “south.”
68. Ng
Meaning “to fall through,” this name is of Chinese origin.
69. Ngo
The surname Ngo has Chinese ancestry. It is a variant of the Chinese Ao which means “squad of five soldiers.”
70. Ngoc
Ngoc is a name of Sino-Vietnamese origin and means “precious.”
71. Ngu
This popular Chinese origin Vietnamese surname means “to anticipate.”
72. Nguy
Nguy means “to endanger.” It has Chinese origins.
73. Nguyen
Derived from the Chinese Ruan, it is the name of a Vietnamese royal dynasty. Many Vietnamese changed their names to Nguyen as a symbol of loyalty towards the Nguyen dynasty. This surname refers to a “musical instrument.”
74. Nhan
The name is popular as both surname and middle name. It is of Chinese origin and means “former.”
75. Nhu
This name is common as a first name and last name in Vietnam. It means “alike.”
76. Nong
Nong is a common Chinese origin occupational surname in Vietnam. It means “peasant.”
77. O
This popular surname O has been carried on by the famous clans of Vietnam. This surname is a variant of the Chinese Wu and the Korean Oh.
78. On
As a variant of Ahn, the Vietnamese last name On means “peace.”
79. Ong
It is a Chinese surname that is a variant of Vuong meaning “yellow.”
80. Peng
The last name Pe and its variant Peng, common in Vietnam, are Chinese last names meaning “long.”
81. Pham
This surname has its roots in Vietnamese and Chinese. It means “extensive.”
82. Phan
Phan, alternatively spelled as Fan, is a surname of Chinese origin. It means “fence.”
83. Phong
With its origin in Vietnamese, Phong means “wind.” It is also used as a first name.
84. Phoung
This Vietnamese origin name means “Phoenix.”
85. Phung
Alternatively known as Pung and Fung, this Chinese origin surname means “great.”
86. Quach
Quach is a Vietnamese surname that has variants in Chinese, Cantonese, and Japanese. Guo, Kuoko, and Gwak are its other Asian variants. It is a habitational last name referring to someone “living near the outer city wall.”
87. Son
Alternatively called Sohn or Shon, this last name is of Korean origin. It was originally the name of a clan, who were named after the Sun.
88. Su
This name is of Chinese origin and means “constellation.”
89. Ta
It means “thank you.” This surname was opted by Southern Chinese who moved to Vietnam.
90. Tan
This is a Chinese surname and means “to display.”
91. Thai
This is a habitational name, which means it refers to someone “hailing from Thailand.”
92. Tham
It means “famous” and is a Vietnamese origin name.
93. Than
Than is a name of Burmese origin and is also popular around Asia. It means “million.”
94. Thang
The Chinese origin Vietnamese surname Thang means “rushing current.”
95. Thanh
The surname Thanh is known in Chinese and Vietnamese communities. It means “sound.”
96. Thi
This is a Sino-Vietnamese last name that means “poetry.”
97. Thong
Of Chinese origin, the surname Thong means “intelligent.”
98. Thu
Thu is a Sino-Vietnamese surname, mostly common in Vietnam and means “autumn.”
99. Thuy
The last name Thuy has its origins in Vietnamese and means “water.”
100. Tien
According to the Vietnamese, Tien is a “fairy.”
101. Ton
This name originates from the Chinese community settled in Malaysia. It means “descendant.”
102. Tong
Tong is a topographical name for “someone living in the center of the land.”
103. Tran
Tran is the Vietnamese variant of the Koran Jin and the Chinese Chen. It means “ancient.”
104. Trang
This name is popular among Vietnamese with Chinese ancestry. It means “serious.”
105. Tri
This is an Indonesian origin name that means “third.”
106. Trieu
Being similar to the Chinese surname Zhao, which was one of the seven states of the Warring States, Trieu is its Vietnamese version.
107. Trinh
The popular Chinese and Vietnamese surname Trinh means “to rule.”
108. Troung
This Chinese surname refers to “a sheet of paper.”
109. Trung
This name has origins in Vietnamese and means “middle.”
110. Tu
The name is derived from the Chinese military city of Zoutu, which gave rise to two surnames Zou and Tu. It is a popular Chinese surname and is similar to the surname Du, meaning “capital.”
111. Tuan
This Chinese-derived Vietnamese surname means “chivalrous.”
112. Quang
The name is of Vietnamese origin and means “clear.”
113. Quoc
With origins in both Chinese and Vietnamese, Quoc means “country.”
114. Van
It has Dutch origins and is commonly used as a prefix to surnames. This last name is prepositional as it means “from” and “of.”
115. Vi
Vi is the last name of Chinese origin that is popular overseas. It means “soft leather.”
116. Vo
Vo is a popular name among the Chinese and Vietnamese communities. It is a surname of unity as it means “harmonious.”
117. Vu
Vu is a variant of the Chinese surname Wu and means “shaman.”
118. Voong
This Vietnamese surname means “king.”
119. Vuong
Derived from the Chinese Wang it means “to rule.”
120. Yen
Originating in Chinese, this Vietnamese name means “quiet.”
1. Is the last name first in Vietnam?
Vietnamese put their surnames first, followed by a middle and personal name. These surnames may or may not be connected to the family’s history.
2. Do Vietnamese women take their husbands’ last names?
Vietnamese women may not take their husbands’ names after marriage. They tend to continue with their family name. However, some women may follow the western style and adopt the husband’s family name.
Vietnamese names are usually composed of three parts: a patrilineal or family name (the mother’s or father’s family name or a combination of both), a middle name, and a given name. In the Vietnamese culture, women keep their family name after they are married. Ho Chi Minh, Nguyen Hue (Emperor Quang Trung), Bao Dai, Bich Minh Nguyen, and Bui Bich Phuong are the names of some popular Vietnamese people. If you are not fixed on selecting a unique Vietnamese name for your child, you could use the suggested names as per your tradition and preference.
References:
- Two-fifths of the people in Vietnam have the surname Nguyen. Why?; University of Pennsylvania
https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=45819
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Shikha is a writer-turned-associate editor at MomJunction. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood. She also specializes in baby names. Being a postgraduate in Human Resources from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, she likes understanding people and their relationships. This reflects in her relationship... more
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FAQs
What are popular Vietnamese last names? ›
The 14 most popular surnames in Vietnam account for well over 90 percent of the population: they're Nguyen, Tran, Le, Pham, Hoang/Huynh, Phan, Vu/Vo, Dang, Bui, Do, Ho, Ngo, Duong and Ly.
What is the most popular surname in Vietnam? ›In Vietnam, the most popular last name is Nguyen. The estimate for how many people answer to it? Somewhere between 30 and 40 percent of the country's population.
What is a Vietnamese last name? ›The most common family name is NGUYEN (阮), with approximately 40% of the Vietnamese population sharing this name. Other common family names include LE (黎), TRAN (陳), PHAM (范), PHAN (潘), HOANG (黃).
How many Vietnamese last names are there? ›In Vietnamese culture, there are almost 300 family names to choose from. Apart from their unique names, Vietnamese culture has an uncommon naming structure as well. In their titles, the family name is written first, then the middle, and then the person's actual name. Let's say your name is Tran Van Lu.
What is the 2nd most common Vietnamese last name? ›| Rank | Surname | Incidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nguyen | 23,902,036 |
| 2 | Tran | 7,779,929 |
| 3 | Le | 6,992,182 |
| 4 | Pham | 4,634,577 |
La is a common last name found among Overseas Chinese communities around the world. In fact, "La" is the transliteration of several different Chinese surnames. Its meaning varies depending on how it is spelled in Chinese, and which dialect it is pronounced in.
How do u pronounce Nguyen? ›Pronunciation tip: Nguyen - YouTube
What is the meaning of Nguyen? ›Updated on October 15, 2019. Nguyen is the most common surname in Vietnam and among the top 100 last names in the United States, Australia, and France. Meaning "musical instrument" and actually rooted in Chinese, Nguyen is an interesting name that you'll encounter throughout the world.
Is he a Vietnamese last name? ›...
He (surname)
| He | |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese alphabet | Hà |
| Chữ Hán | 何 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 하 |
Vietnamese names put the family name first followed by the middle and given names. Take Pham Van Duc, for example, Pham is the family name or what we call the last name. Van is the individual's middle name, and Duc is the given or first name. Vietnam has about 300 family or clan names.
Is Kim a Vietnamese name? ›
Peak Popularity: Kim is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000, but it is the 17th most popular name in Vietnam.
What surname is Nguyen? ›Nguyễn (阮) is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元）is a different word and surname. By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this surname.
Why is Vietnam called Nguyen? ›In the 19th century, Vietnam was a territory of the French. The French had a large-scale population investigation during that period and faced a huge challenge which was that many Vietnamese people didn't have a correct last name. So the French decided to give those people the last name, and they chose Nguyen.
What last name is the most popular? ›Smith is the most common last name in the United States, followed by Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson, according to genealogy company Ancestry.com.
Is Park A Vietnamese last name? ›Park is a common last name found among Overseas Chinese communities around the world. In fact, "Park" is the transliteration of several different Chinese surnames. Its meaning varies depending on how it is spelled in Chinese, and which dialect it is pronounced in.
Is Tran a first or last name? ›Tran, like all of the names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey.
Is Tran a surname? ›The Tran family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Tran families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 14 Tran families living in New York. This was about 30% of all the recorded Tran's in USA.
Is NGO a Vietnamese last name? ›Ngô Surname Meaning
Ngô is a last name commonly found in Vietnam among its Chinese community. It is the transliteration of a Chinese surname meaning: area comprising southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang and Shanghai, name of states in Southern China at different historical periods.
Vietnamese (Vũ): from the Chinese surname 武 see Wu Vietnamese: from the Chinese surname 巫 see Wu Chinese: alternative Cantonese form of the surname 鄔 see Wu 5.
Is Yang a Vietnamese name? ›Yang ([jǎŋ]; simplified Chinese: 杨; traditional Chinese: 楊; pinyin: Yáng) is the transcription of a Chinese family name. It is the sixth most common surname in Mainland China.
Is Thai a Vietnamese last name? ›
Thái Surname Meaning
Thái is a last name commonly found in Vietnam among its Chinese community.
Correct Pronunciation of Nguyen
Win/When: Silent Ng. N'win/Ng'win: One syllable. Ng'win is closest to the correct Vietnamese pronunciation. Noo-yen/Ngoo-yen: Two syllables.
How to Pronounce Thuy? (CORRECTLY) Name ... - YouTube
What is Nguyen in Chinese? ›Nguyễn is derived from a Chinese surname. Nguyễn is the Vietnamese transliteration of the Chinese surname (阮), which is often transliterated as Ruan in Mandarin, Yuen in Cantonese, Gnieuh /ɲɥø˩˧/ in Wu Chinese, or Nguang in Hokchew. Many events in Vietnamese history have contributed to the name's prominence.
What does the name Tran mean in Vietnamese? ›What is the meaning of the name Tran? The name Tran is primarily a gender-neutral name of Vietnamese origin that means Old, Ancient.
What kind of last name is Lee? ›England. There are several distinct origins of the Lee surname. The most common is derived from Old English lēah, meaning a meadow or forest clearing. This developed variously into the surnames Lee, Lea, and Leigh.
Is Pham Vietnamese or Chinese? ›Pham is a last name commonly found in Vietnam among its Chinese community. It is the transliteration of a Chinese surname meaning: pattern, model, example.
What are the 100 surnames in China? ›- 李 Lǐ
- 王 Wáng.
- 张 Zhāng.
- 刘 Liú
- 陈 Chén.
- 杨 Yáng.
- 赵 Zhào.
- 黄 Huáng.
According to the website Forebears, Xi is the 708th most common surname in the world with 774,021 holders. The surname Mu, on the other hand, is the 527th most common in the world with 1,028,966 people bearing it.
Is Minh a Vietnamese last name? ›Minh (Chữ Nôm: 明) is a popular unisex given name of Vietnamese origin, written using the Chinese character (明) meaning "bright", and is also popular among other East Asian names.
What is Vietnam female name? ›
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Cai | Female | |
| Cam | sweet citrus | Female |
| Chau | pearls | Female |
| Chi | tree branch | Female |
How to say "Honey, Babe, Sweetie" in Vietnamese - YouTube
Who named Vietnam? ›In a series of campaigns that lasted 14 years, Nguyen Anh defeated the Tay Sons and gained control of the entire kingdom. When Hue and Thang Long fell to his armies in 1802, he proclaimed himself emperor, under the name Gia Long, of a reunited Da Viet, which he renamed Vietnam.
Is Linh a female name? ›The name Linh is primarily a gender-neutral name of Vietnamese origin that means Not Available.
Do Vietnamese eat chocolate? ›While the average US American eats four kilograms a year, the people in Vietnam consume just a couple of hundreds of grams of chocolate each. However, the potential in Vietnam is huge.
What does thi mean Vietnamese? ›The name Thi is primarily a female name of Vietnamese origin that means Single Female.
What race are Vietnamese? ›'Viet people') or Kinh people (Vietnamese: người Kinh) are a Southeast Asian ethnic group originally native to modern-day Northern Vietnam and Southern China.
What last name is Ng? ›Ng (pronounced [ŋ̍]; English approximation often /ɪŋ/ or /ɛŋ/) is a Cantonese transliteration of the Chinese surnames 吳/吴 (Mandarin Wú) and 伍 (Mandarin Wǔ).
What last name is Huynh? ›Huynh is a last name commonly found in Vietnam among its Chinese community. It is the transliteration of a Chinese surname meaning: yellow, to fall through.
How is Nguyen pronounced? ›Correct Pronunciation of Nguyen
N'win/Ng'win: One syllable. Ng'win is closest to the correct Vietnamese pronunciation. Noo-yen/Ngoo-yen: Two syllables. Nuh-goo-yen: Three syllables.
What does Nguyen mean in English? ›
Updated on October 15, 2019. Nguyen is the most common surname in Vietnam and among the top 100 last names in the United States, Australia, and France. Meaning "musical instrument" and actually rooted in Chinese, Nguyen is an interesting name that you'll encounter throughout the world.
Why is Nguyen so common in Vietnam? ›In the 19th century, Vietnam was a territory of the French. The French had a large-scale population investigation during that period and faced a huge challenge which was that many Vietnamese people didn't have a correct last name. So the French decided to give those people the last name, and they chose Nguyen.
What surname is Nguyen? ›Nguyễn (阮) is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元）is a different word and surname. By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this surname.
Are Vietnamese Chinese? ›...
Vietnamese people.
| người Việt / người Kinh | |
|---|---|
| Ukraine | 7,000 |
| Ireland | 5,000 |
| Italy | 5,000 |
| Austria | 5,000 |
How to Pronounce Thuy? (CORRECTLY) Name ... - YouTube
How do you read Pho? ›HOW TO PRONOUNCE "PHO" PHỞ CORRECTLY IN SAIGON DIALECT
What last name is Tran? ›Tran is a last name commonly found in United States among its Chinese community. It is the transliteration of a Chinese surname meaning: Chen (c.
What does Linh mean in Vietnamese? ›Linh is a Vietnamese name that means "soul" or "spirit". It is the Vietnamese pronunciation of the Chinese character 靈 (líng), which is not used as a surname in China.
Is Tran a Vietnamese last name? ›The surname Tran is largely of Vietnamese extraction and is considered a derivation of the Chinese name Chen. A large number of Chinese families have also chosen the Tran version of the name as well, adding to its global popularity.
Does Vietnam have a royal family? ›Today, the Royal Family use the Imperial City for ceremonies, particularly during Tết. The king's official residence while in northern Vietnam is the Maison Hanoi. The extended Royal Family own their own properties in Dalat and Nha Trang. They are maintained by the Royal Household of Vietnam only.
What was the original name of Vietnam? ›
The name Việt Nam (Vietnamese pronunciation: [viə̀t naːm], chữ Hán: 越南), literally “Viet south”, means “Viet of the South” per Vietnamese word order or “South of the Viet” per Classical Chinese word order. A variation of the name, Nanyue (or Nam Việt, 南越), was first documented in the 2nd century BC.
What does the name Tran mean in Vietnamese? ›What is the meaning of the name Tran? The name Tran is primarily a gender-neutral name of Vietnamese origin that means Old, Ancient.
Is Pham Vietnamese or Chinese? ›Pham is a last name commonly found in Vietnam among its Chinese community. It is the transliteration of a Chinese surname meaning: pattern, model, example.
What last name is the most popular? ›Smith is the most common last name in the United States, followed by Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson, according to genealogy company Ancestry.com.
What last name is Ng? ›Ng (pronounced [ŋ̍]; English approximation often /ɪŋ/ or /ɛŋ/) is a Cantonese transliteration of the Chinese surnames 吳/吴 (Mandarin Wú) and 伍 (Mandarin Wǔ).