Saigon: Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Saigon – Origin: Vietnamese (origin disputed) – Pronunciation: sy-GAHN


Saigon is a Vietnamese (origin disputed) name. It appears in our list of 225+ City Names for Babies With a World-Traveler Soul.

Meaning & Origin of Saigon

Origin: Vietnamese (origin disputed).

A common claim: Often said to come from the Khmer phrase 'Prey Nôkôr,' meaning 'forest city.' Actually: This is one of several competing theories, not a settled fact -- the name's true origin has never been conclusively established.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Saigon

Phonetic: sy-GAHN   IPA: /saɪˈɡɒn/

Popularity of Saigon

Saigon doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.

Lists That Include Saigon

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