175+ Vietnamese Baby Names That Are Musical and Meaningful

Vietnamese names are built like little poems. Most have three parts — a family name, a middle name that often signals gender or family generation, and a given name chosen with almost startling intention. Parents will spend weeks weighing a single syllable, because in Vietnamese, the tone you give a word changes its meaning entirely. Mai with a flat tone is a plum blossom. With a falling tone, it becomes tomorrow. Both are beautiful, and neither is an accident.

Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store – 

If you’re drawn to names that carry weight without shouting, Vietnamese names reward the long look. They’re often nature-based — flowers, seasons, jade, moonlight, rain — but they can also be virtue names (gentle, brave, loyal), or aspirational names parents whisper like a small prayer over a crib. Many work beautifully as middle names in mixed-heritage families, and many translate cleanly into English-speaking schoolyards because the spellings are phonetic and short.

A quick note on tones before you scroll: Vietnamese has six tones, and the diacritical marks aren’t decorative — they’re the difference between mother and horse. Where I can, I’ve included a pronunciation guide and the tone in parentheses (level, rising, falling, etc.), so you have what you need to say each name the way it’s meant to be said.

Below: 200+ Vietnamese given names organized by feel — soft and floral, strong and sky-bright, virtue names, names with shimmer to them, classic names with deep roots, and a handful of fresh-feeling modern picks. Read them out loud. The right one will sound like something you’ve always known.

Floral and Botanical Names (For a Spring-Soft Baby)

Flower names are arguably the heart of Vietnamese girls’ naming tradition — every blossom carries a season, a region, a personality. These names sound like a garden in full bloom.

Mai

• Origin: kanji-dependent (Japanese) or English variant of Mae/May
• Pronunciation: MY · ˈmaɪ
• Meaning: Plum blossom
• Popularity: #3,245 and falling (#3,207 → #3,245, 2024)

Hoa

• Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese)
• Pronunciation: HWAH · ˈhwɑː
• Meaning: flower (from a Chinese root, 華, whose core literary sense is ‘flower, splendid’)
• Popularity: #12,018 as of 2004 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A pure, classic name that pairs beautifully with a second given name like Hoa Mai or Hoa Lan.

Lan

• Origin: Vietnamese (also used in Chinese contexts)
• Pronunciation: LAHN · ˈlɑːn
• Meaning: orchid
• Popularity: #8,670 and rising (#13,349 → #8,670, 2024)

Cúc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: chrysanthemum
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Autumn-coded and quietly stately; the chrysanthemum is one of Vietnam’s “four noble flowers.”

Hồng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: the color red/pink; the same syllable is also used for other characters meaning ‘flood, vast’ or ‘wild goose, grand’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm and feminine, popular across generations.

Đào

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Peach (tree/fruit); poetically extends to ‘peach blossom’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The northern counterpart to Mai, blooming for Tết in Hanoi.

Liên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: lotus
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that carries Buddhist symbolism of purity rising from murky water.

Sen

• Origin: Vietnamese (native)
• Meaning: lotus flower
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Slightly more grounded and folksy than Liên.

Trúc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: bamboo
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Suggests resilience and a slender, upright grace.

Quỳnh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: night-blooming cereus flower (the root character literally means ‘fine jade’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a daughter with quiet mystery; the flower blooms once a year at midnight.

Hạnh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: apricot; or, with a different character, virtue/good conduct or good fortune
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A double-meaning name parents love.

Tùng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Pine tree
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for boys; signals longevity and steadiness.

Bách

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: likely ‘cypress’ or ‘pine’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A handsome boys’ name suggesting noble character.

Thảo

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: grass, herb/plant (a homophone also corresponds to a separate word meaning ‘filial devotion’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sweet, modest, and extremely common in a good way.

Diệp

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: leaf
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and underused, with a slight literary feel.

Quế

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: cinnamon; the cassia tree
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm and spice-toned, used for both sexes.

Ngân

• Origin: Milky Way) (Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Silver, or the silver river
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often paired with Hà as Ngân Hà.

Liễu

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: willow (tree)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Graceful, slender, slightly melancholic in classical poetry.

Phượng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: phoenix; also the flame/royal-poinciana tree in Vietnamese usage
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Striking and regal; the flame-tree blooms scarlet in summer.

Hương

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: fragrance, scent
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that literally means *the lingering scent of something lovely.*

Nhài

• Origin: Vietnamese (native)
• Meaning: jasmine (flower)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sweetly informal and rarely used in compounds.

Trà

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: tea (also used poetically for the camellia flower, the plant tea is made from)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and contemporary-feeling.

Huệ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: tuberose, a fragrant flower (hoa huệ); sometimes loosely rendered as ‘lily’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A funeral flower in some regions, but also deeply beloved as a name.

Tường Vi

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: Wild rose (rose species, Rosa multiflora)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A two-syllable name with a vintage softness.

Bích

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: jade-green; a blue-green precious stone
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Works as a stand-alone or in Bích Ngọc, Bích Liên.

Mộc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: wood; tree (one of the Five Elements)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quiet and elemental; works for boys or as a unisex pick.

Sương

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: frost; used poetically for dew or mist
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Atmospheric and ethereal — best for a quiet, dawn-born daughter.

Tuyết

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Snow
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unusual in tropical Vietnam, which makes it feel rare and pristine.

Vân

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Cloud
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Light, drifting, lovely as a middle name (Hồng Vân, Thúy Vân).

Trinh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: chaste, pure, virtuous
• Popularity: #12,921 as of 2015 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A traditional virtue name with a clean, simple sound.

Names of Light, Sky, and Water

These names take their cues from the natural world above and around — moon, river, ocean, sunlight. They sound like wide horizons.

Hà

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: river; the same syllable can also derive from a different character meaning ‘lotus’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Crisp and common; the name of countless poets and authors.

Hải

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: sea, ocean
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A staple boys’ name with quiet grandeur.

Dương

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: sun / masculine principle, or ocean, depending on which Chinese character underlies the syllable
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong and bright; used for boys.

Nguyệt

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Moon
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old-fashioned in the best way — slightly literary, deeply romantic.

Hằng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: eternal, constant, everlasting
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often paired with Thúy or Bích.

Sao

• Origin: Vietnamese; also an unrelated Ancient Greek mythological name
• Meaning: star (Vietnamese)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Direct, modern, increasingly popular for girls.

Tinh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: star (the same syllable also corresponds to a separate word meaning ‘spirit/essence’, as in Sơn Tinh/Thủy Tinh)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Slightly more formal cousin of Sao.

Thiên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: sky, heaven
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sweeping and aspirational; common for boys.

Vũ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Rain (or ‘martial/valor, ‘ depending on which of two distinct characters is used)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most popular boys’ middle names in Vietnam.

Mưa

• Origin: Vietnamese (native)
• Meaning: rain
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern and bold for a daughter.

Long

• Origin: Chinese (Mandarin)/Sino-Vietnamese; unrelated English surname also exists
• Meaning: dragon
• Popularity: #3,845 and rising (#8,037 → #3,845, 2024)

Phong

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Pronunciation: FAWNG · ˈfɔːŋ
• Meaning: wind
• Popularity: #9,626 and falling (#8,751 → #9,626, 2024)

Cool and lyrical for a son.

Vũ Phong

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: Storm (rain and wind)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A more dramatic, layered choice.

Thủy

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: water
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for girls; gentle and adaptable.

Giang

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Pronunciation: ZAHNG · ˈzɑːŋ
• Meaning: river
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often paired with Trường (Trường Giang = “long river”).

Khê

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: stream, brook
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quiet, less common, beautifully understated.

Quang

• Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese, from Chinese)
• Pronunciation: KWAHNG · ˈkwɑːŋ
• Meaning: bright, radiant (light)
• Popularity: #13,598 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most common male names — radiant and dependable.

Minh

• Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese)
• Pronunciation: MIN · ˈmɪn
• Meaning: bright, clear-minded
• Popularity: #3,125 and rising (#3,522 → #3,125, 2024)

Universal favorite; works for any gender.

Nhật

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: sun, day
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bright and direct for boys.

Ánh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Ray of light, gleam/glow
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft, gentle, popular for girls.

Triêu

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: morning, dawn
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare and poetic.

Đông

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: either ‘winter’ or ‘east’, depending on which Chinese character the syllable renders
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for boys; quietly powerful.

Thu

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: autumn
• Popularity: #9,108 as of 2018 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Wistful and beautiful, evoking falling leaves and pale gold light.

Xuân

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Spring (the season)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hope-filled and youthful; works for either sex.

Băng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: ice
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Cool, contemporary, and a touch dramatic.

Lệ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: tear (teardrop); a separate homophonous character also gives ‘graceful, beautiful’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bittersweet and poetic.

Trăng

• Origin: Vietnamese (native word)
• Meaning: Moon
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Folksy and earthy compared to Nguyệt.

Virtue Names (Built On Quiet Strength)

Vietnamese parents have always loved naming children for the qualities they hope they’ll grow into. These are unisex unless noted, and they tend to age very well.

Đức

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: virtue or moral integrity
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Trí

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: wisdom, intellect
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sharp and respected for boys.

Nhân

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: benevolence, humaneness
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the five Confucian virtues.

Nghĩa

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: righteousness, moral duty/loyalty
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Another Confucian core virtue, used for boys.

Tín

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Trust, faithfulness
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quiet and dependable.

Hiếu

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: filial piety, devotion to one’s parents
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for boys; one of the most culturally loaded names a parent can give.

Trung

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: loyalty (the same syllable also corresponds to a separate word meaning ‘central, middle’)
• Popularity: #13,908 as of 2014 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common middle name for boys.

Dũng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: bravery, courage
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong and direct.

Hùng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: heroic, mighty, powerful
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Think Hùng Vương, the legendary first kings of Vietnam.

Cường

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: strong, powerful
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Punchy and masculine.

Kiên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: firm, steadfast
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quietly resolute.

Bình

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: peaceful, level, calm
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most-used boys’ names of the late 20th century.

An

• Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese 安)
• Pronunciation: AHN · ˈɑːn
• Meaning: peace, safety
• Popularity: #4,313 and rising (#4,610 → #4,313, 2024)

Short, gentle, and unisex; rising fast in popularity.

Phúc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: fortune, blessing
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Warm and hopeful for boys.

Lộc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: prosperity, blessing; historically also ‘an official’s salary/stipend’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the trio of good-fortune names (Phúc, Lộc, Thọ).

Thọ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: longevity
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Traditional and slightly grandfatherly — in a charming way.

Khang

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Pronunciation: KAHNG · ˈkɑːŋ
• Meaning: health, strength
• Popularity: #5,545 and falling (#4,540 → #5,545, 2024)

Solid and reassuring.

Tâm

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Heart, mind, inner spirit
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unisex and beloved.

Tài

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Talent, ability
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ambitious and warm for boys.

Lương

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: virtuous, kind, good-natured
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft-strong for a son.

Hậu

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: generous, thick (as in depth of kindness)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lovely middle name.

Hiền

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: gentle, virtuous, good-natured
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most-used girls’ names — soft without being saccharine.

Mỹ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: beautiful
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Direct and lovely; also the Vietnamese word for America.

Nghi

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: propriety, decorum, fitting ceremony
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Refined and increasingly popular for girls.

Tú

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Refined, elegant, outstanding/talented
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for both sexes; especially handsome for boys.

Khiêm

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: humble, modest
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Quietly self-possessed.

Thành

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: sincere; also ‘to succeed, be accomplished’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common, warm, and aspirational.

Toàn

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: complete, whole
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that wishes wholeness on a child.

Names With Shimmer (Jade, Pearl, and Precious Things)

Vietnamese culture treasures jade above gold, and names that reference precious materials are abundant — especially for girls. They feel rich without being flashy.

Ngọc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Jade, gem
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The most common “precious” name; pairs with almost anything (Ngọc Anh, Ngọc Lan, Ngọc Trâm).

Châu

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: pearl
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and luminous; also the word for a continent.

Trân

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: treasure, precious
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sweet for girls; often paired (Bảo Trân).

Bảo

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: precious, treasured
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unisex; popular boys’ middle name (Gia Bảo).

Kim

• Origin: Vietnamese/Korean (from Sino-Vietnamese/Hanja 金); also English (short form)
• Pronunciation: KIM · ˈkɪm
• Meaning: gold/metal (Vietnamese and Korean usage); in English mainly a short form of Kimberly with no independent meaning of its own
• Popularity: #4,817 and falling (#3,939 → #4,817, 2024)

Crisp and unisex.

Bạc

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Meaning: silver
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare but striking.

Linh

• Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese)
• Pronunciation: LIN · ˈlɪn
• Meaning: spirit, soul (or ‘tinkling of jade’, depending on character)
• Popularity: #8,201 and rising (#16,597 → #8,201, 2024)

Diệu

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: wonderful, marvelous, exquisite
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often paired (Diệu Linh, Diệu Hương).

Huyền

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: dark, mysterious, profound (the color of onyx)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sleek and dark-haired beautiful.

Trâm

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: hairpin
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Old-world and lovely.

Khuê

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: a classical term for either a ceremonial jade tablet or a lady’s private chamber (‘inner chambers’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Refined and slightly literary.

Yến

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Swallow (the bird)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Elegant and unusual.

Phụng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (Southern dialectal variant of Phượng)
• Meaning: phoenix (Southern-dialect reading of the same character as Phượng)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Regal feminine counterpart to Long (dragon).

Loan

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: a mythical bird resembling a phoenix, traditionally paired with the phượng bird as a symbol of marital harmony
• Popularity: #6,664 and rising (#13,391 → #6,664, 2024)

Soft and graceful for girls.

Quyên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: cuckoo (bird), or ‘graceful, lovely’ — two possible Sino-Vietnamese roots
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pretty and a little wistful.

Oanh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: oriole (songbird)
• Popularity: #17,414 as of 2002 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Musical and bright.

Hoàng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: royal, imperial; the same syllable is also used for a different character meaning ‘yellow’ (basis of the surname Hoàng/Huỳnh)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for boys; carries echoes of emperors.

Lam

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: indigo, deep blue
• Popularity: #9,475 and rising (#11,694 → #9,475, 2024)

Cool, modern, and unisex.

Cẩm

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: brocade, fine embroidered silk
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Luxurious and tactile.

Tuấn

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Handsome, talented/outstanding
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Confident boys’ name.

Khôi

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: foremost, chief among others; the ‘handsome’ sense comes from the compound word ‘khôi ngô’ (fine-featured) rather than the syllable alone
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong and ambitious.

Vinh

• Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese)
• Pronunciation: VIN · ˈvɪn
• Meaning: eternal, everlasting
• Popularity: #4,679 and rising (#7,687 → #4,679, 2024)

Warm and proud.

Classic Names With Deep Roots

These are the names you’ll find in poetry, history textbooks, and on the doors of every other apartment in Hanoi. They’ve been loved for generations and don’t feel dated — they feel anchored.

Nam

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Pronunciation: NAHM · ˈnɑːm
• Meaning: south
• Popularity: #8,730 and rising (#9,472 → #8,730, 2024)

Việt

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: The Vietnamese people/nation (from the ancient ethnonym ‘Việt/Yue’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name of national pride for boys.

Quốc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: country, nation
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often paired (Quốc Anh, Quốc Bảo).

Sơn

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: mountain
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Steady and elemental for boys.

Khoa

• Origin: Vietnamese (Sino-Vietnamese, from Chinese)
• Pronunciation: KWAH · ˈkwɑː
• Meaning: science, scholarly subject
• Popularity: #5,149 and falling (#4,067 → #5,149, 2024)

For a scholarly boy.

Học

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: study, learning
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Earnest and old-school.

Thị

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: a traditional female middle-name marker (from a word meaning ‘clan name, Mrs.’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Less common in modern names but historically near-universal.

Công

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: public/fair, and (homophonously) merit/achievement
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A solid masculine middle name.

Gia

• Origin: Italian
• Pronunciation: JEE-ah · ˈdʒiːə
• Meaning: God is gracious (pet form of Gianna); alt. ‘earth’ via Gaia
• Popularity: #267 and rising (#268 → #267, 2024)

Hân

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: joy, delight
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft, popular for girls.

Khánh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: either ‘celebration/good fortune’ or a ceremonial jade/stone chime instrument, depending on the underlying character
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unisex; especially elegant for girls.

Khải

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: triumphant, victorious
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Boys’ name with a confident ring.

– **Hoàng** — Imperial yellow, see above; also one of the most common Vietnamese surnames.
– **Phạm** — A common surname, but also used as a first name in some regions.

Pretty and literate.

Massively popular girls’ name.

Nga

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: elegant, graceful (a poetic term for a lovely woman)
• Popularity: #15,413 as of 1997 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

As a given name, Nga comes from the Sino-Vietnamese word for ‘elegant, graceful’ (cf. 娥); ‘Russia’ is an unrelated homophonous placename (from 俄, short for ‘Nga La Tư’), not the source of the given name’s meaning.

Như

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: as, like, resembling (also used as a soft-sounding name particle)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used in pairs (Như Quỳnh, Như Ý).

Ý

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Intention, meaning, also “Italy”
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short and modern.

Uyên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Mandarin duck (as in ‘uyên ương, ‘ a symbol of marital devotion)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Elegant girls’ name.

– **My** — Without diacritic, often a short modern version of Mỹ; phonetically friendly internationally.

Hà My

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: river beauty (hà ‘river’ + my ‘beauty, charm’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Popular contemporary pairing.

Hồng Nhung

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: velvet rose (a deep-red, velvety rose variety); from ‘hồng’ (rose/red) + ‘nhung’ (velvet)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A famous singer’s name, used for girls.

Bảo Ngọc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: precious jade
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the most-used girls’ compounds.

Minh Anh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: ‘bright’ (minh) combined with either ‘outstanding/hero’ or ‘flower petal/bud’ (anh), depending on the character
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Top-ten girls’ name in Hanoi recently.

Hoàng Yến

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: royal swallow (hoàng ‘royal’ + yến ‘swallow, ‘ the bird)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Refined girls’ compound name.

Tuấn Anh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: Talented and outstanding
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Classic boys’ compound.

Fresh and Modern Picks (Names Rising Now)

These are the names you’ll hear in maternity wards in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City right now — many are shorter, sleeker, more international-friendly, but still rooted in real Vietnamese meaning.

Bo

• Origin: Scandinavian (Danish/Swedish, from Old Norse ‘búa, ‘ to dwell/live); the same spelling is also an established Chinese given name (a separate, unrelated origin), and occasionally a variant of Beau
• Pronunciation: BOH · ˈboʊ
• Meaning: to dwell, to live (the Scandinavian sense)
• Popularity: #451 and rising (#479 → #451, 2024)

Tender and increasingly used as a real given name.

Bin

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: guest (honored guest); now mainly a cute nickname-name
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Cute, unisex, modern.

Ben

• Origin: Hebrew (short form of Benjamin, or English short form of Benedict)
• Pronunciation: BEN · ˈbɛn
• Meaning: son of the right hand (via Benjamin)
• Popularity: #801 and falling (#796 → #801, 2024)

Internationally portable.

Su

• Origin: English, pet form of Sue/Susan
• Meaning: lily (via Susan/Susannah)
• Popularity: #17,307 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Trending for both sexes.

Na

• Origin: Chinese (Mandarin)/Vietnamese — romanization ambiguous
• Meaning: A simple, sweet name
• Popularity: #12,620 as of 2004 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Also the name of the custard apple fruit.

Mi

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: eyelash/eyebrow; also widely used as an affectionate nickname or diminutive rather than a formal given name
• Popularity: #14,634 and falling (#11,833 → #14,634, 2024)

Tiny and adorable.

Nhi

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: child, little one (often a softening suffix in female names)
• Popularity: #7,469 and rising (#10,917 → #7,469, 2024)

Very common for girls; often paired (Bảo Nhi, Tuệ Nhi).

Hà Anh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: river blossom (hà ‘river’ + anh ‘flower bud, brilliant’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern girls’ pairing with a singer namesake.

Bảo Hân

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: precious joy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A bright, contemporary girls’ compound.

Khả Ái

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: lovable, endearing
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sweet, slightly playful.

Khả Hân

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: roughly ‘welcome joy’ or ‘pleasing delight’, from ‘khả’ (worthy of/approvable) plus ‘hân’ (joy)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

New-feeling and warm.

Đan Thanh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: Red and blue/green (classical term extended to mean ‘painting/artwork’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Vivid pairing.

Hà Linh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: river spirit (hà ‘river’ + linh ‘spirit, soul’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Popular and pretty.

Tuệ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: Wisdom, intelligence (often Buddhist wisdom)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Increasingly fashionable for girls.

Minh Tuệ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: bright wisdom, clear understanding
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Spiritual and modern.

An Nhiên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: calm and at ease; untroubled peace
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A two-syllable name that’s everywhere right now.

An Khang

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: peace and good health
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for boys; sleek and well-wishing.

Bảo Nam

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: precious south, or (equally likely) precious son/man
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

On-trend boys’ compound.

Gia Khánh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: family celebration (gia ‘family’ + khánh ‘celebration, good fortune’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bright boys’ name.

Gia Huy

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: family brilliance/glory (gia ‘family’ + huy ‘brilliance, radiance’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Strong and current.

Phúc An

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: blessed peace; fortunate and safe
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Calm, modern for boys.

Hoàng Phúc

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: royal blessing/fortune (hoàng ‘royal’ + phúc ‘fortune, blessing’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used for boys.

Khôi Nguyên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: top-ranked scholar; the historical term for whoever placed first in the imperial examinations
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a son parents hope will lead.

Nguyên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: origin, source; by extension ‘whole, intact’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sleek and unisex.

Vy

• Origin: Vietnamese
• Pronunciation: VEE · ˈviː
• Meaning: great, extraordinary
• Popularity: #5,578 and falling (#4,857 → #5,578, 2024)

Top-five girls’ name in modern Vietnam.

Tường Vy

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: Wild rose (rose species, Rosa multiflora) — the same word as Tường Vi
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Soft and floral.

Mây

• Origin: Vietnamese (native, non-Sino-Vietnamese)
• Meaning: cloud
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Modern, atmospheric girls’ name.

Nắng

• Origin: Vietnamese (native)
• Meaning: sunshine, sunlight
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sunny and joyful; one of the freshest picks on this list.

Ru

• Origin: Chinese (Mandarin)/Vietnamese — romanization ambiguous
• Meaning: To lull, like a lullaby
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tender and unusual.

Tâm An

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: Peaceful heart/mind
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that reads like a mantra.

Hạ Vy

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: summer fern (hạ ‘summer’ + vy ‘fern’)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A sun-warm girls’ pairing.

Mythic and Historical Names

For parents who want their child to carry a story. These names come from Vietnamese folklore, classical literature, and the country’s long history of dynasties and dragon-kings.

Lạc

• Origin: Vietnamese (mythological/ethnonym)
• Meaning: tied to Lạc Long Quân, the legendary dragon-lord regarded as a mythical forefather of the Vietnamese people, and to the ancient ‘Lạc Việt’ ethnonym
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mythic and foundational.

Âu Cơ

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (mythological proper name)
• Meaning: ‘Lady of the Âu Việt’; legendary mother-figure of the Vietnamese people in the founding myth
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A rare but iconic name for girls.

Lý

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (surname/dynasty name)
• Meaning: primarily a Vietnamese surname (cognate to the Chinese surname Lǐ 李, literally ‘plum tree’) and the name of the Lý dynasty, rather than a name chosen for independent lexical meaning
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Common as both surname and given name.

Quang Trung

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound, historical regnal name)
• Meaning: light/brightness combined with loyalty (or ‘center’) — literal gloss of the two syllables; best known as Emperor Nguyễn Huệ’s regnal name
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

For a son with big aspirations.

Kiều

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: beautiful, graceful (a homophonous character gives ‘prominent/outstanding’); separately, the name of the heroine of Nguyễn Du’s epic poem ‘Truyện Kiều’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Beautiful, tragic, deeply literary.

Vân Kiều

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: Graceful/beautiful cloud
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A poetic compound nodding to the epic.

Thạch Sanh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: literally ‘stone-born’ (Thạch, stone + Sanh, born); the proper name of the kind, superhumanly strong hero of a classic Vietnamese folktale
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used occasionally for boys.

Mỵ Châu

• Origin: Vietnamese/Sino-Vietnamese (legendary name)
• Meaning: old title for a chieftain’s/king’s daughter (‘lady, princess’) combined with ‘pearl’ — the name of the legendary Cổ Loa princess
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Beautiful and bittersweet.

Tiên

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: fairy, immortal being
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pretty and ethereal for girls.

Rồng

• Origin: Vietnamese (native)
• Meaning: dragon
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bold and rare.

Phượng Hoàng

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (compound)
• Meaning: phoenix (the full male-and-female phoenix pairing)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Regal; usually shortened to Phượng.

Hằng Nga

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (mythological)
• Meaning: the moon goddess of Chinese mythology (Chang’e), known in Vietnamese folklore as chị Hằng
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lovely full-form name.

Chử Đồng Tử

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese (legendary figure’s name)
• Meaning: legendary poor youth who married a princess and became an immortal sage
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Historical depth.

Sơn Tinh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: the Mountain Spirit — a mountain deity from Vietnamese founding mythology
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mythic for boys.

Thủy Tinh

• Origin: Sino-Vietnamese
• Meaning: the Water Spirit — a water deity from Vietnamese founding mythology, rival of the Mountain Spirit Sơn Tinh
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lyrical and mythic.

How to Choose a Name From This List

Start with sound. Vietnamese names are tonal — they’re meant to be spoken, sung, called across a yard. Read your shortlist aloud, ideally with the family name you’ll be using, and listen for rhythm. A name that flows in three syllables (family + middle + given) often feels more complete than a strong given name that gets crushed against a stark surname.

Then check the meaning in full, not just the rough translation. Many Vietnamese names shift meaning depending on the Chinese character (chữ Hán) behind them — Dương can mean ocean, sun, or poplar tree depending on which character your family uses. If you have Vietnamese-speaking elders, ask them which character they’d write for your favorite. The answer often comes with a story.

Consider whether your child will live in or visit Vietnam. Some names that sound poetic in English (Phở, Pho) carry unintended associations in country. Others (Việt, Hùng, Anh) signal heritage and pride. If your baby is mixed-heritage, a short, phonetic Vietnamese name like Mai, An, Linh, or Nam often travels beautifully — easy for English speakers to pronounce, and full-weight in Vietnamese.

Don’t dismiss compound names. Bảo Ngọc, Minh Anh, An Nhiên — these two-syllable given names are increasingly popular in modern Vietnam and let you stack two meanings into one name. They tend to age more elegantly than single-syllable names that can feel slightly bare.

And finally: trust the long pause. The right Vietnamese name often arrives quietly. You’ll say it once, and your partner will look up. That’s the one.

Name Art for Your Favorite

Love a name from this list? MinimalistMama offers custom Name Art prints — personalized, minimalist nursery art with the name you choose, designed to match your aesthetic. A perfect gift for baby showers or to hang above the crib.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Vietnamese names work — is the family name first or last?

Vietnamese names traditionally go family name first, then middle name, then given name. So Nguyễn Văn Hùng is “Mr. Hùng of the Văn branch of the Nguyễn family.” The given name (the last one in the sequence) is what people use in everyday address, usually with a title like Anh (older brother), Chị (older sister), or Cô (aunt/Miss). When Vietnamese names appear in Western contexts, they’re often reordered to “given name first” — so Hùng Văn Nguyễn — but the traditional order is the meaningful one.

Do the tone marks really matter when naming my baby?

Yes, absolutely. The diacritical marks (à, á, ả, ã, ạ, plus the breve and circumflex over certain vowels) aren’t just spelling decoration — they indicate one of Vietnam’s six tones, and changing the tone changes the word entirely. Mai (level tone) is a plum blossom; Mài (falling tone) means “to grind.” If you’re naming a child who’ll live in an English-speaking country, it’s common to drop the diacritics in legal documents and keep them for family use. But for the official Vietnamese spelling, get the marks right — ask a Vietnamese-speaking friend or use a Vietnamese keyboard.

What’s the difference between “Sino-Vietnamese” and pure Vietnamese names?

Sino-Vietnamese names use words borrowed from Chinese (chữ Hán) that have been part of Vietnamese for over a thousand years — names like Minh, Hoàng, Quốc, and Bảo. Pure Vietnamese names use native words — like Mưa (rain), Nắng (sunshine), or Trăng (moon). Sino-Vietnamese names tend to feel more formal and traditional; pure Vietnamese names often feel folksier, more modern, or more poetic in a homespun way. Modern parents increasingly mix both styles, and there’s no rule saying you have to pick one.

Can I use a Vietnamese name if I don’t have Vietnamese heritage?

Many Vietnamese-origin names work beautifully across cultures — *Mai*, *An*, *Linh*, *Kim*, and *Anh* are all phonetically friendly in English and don’t carry strong cultural-specific markers. If you’re drawn to a name, do your homework: confirm the meaning across multiple sources, ask a Vietnamese friend or community member how it lands, and consider whether you can pronounce it correctly with tones. Names like *Mai* and *An* generally travel without issue. Names with strong historical or religious significance (like *Hùng* or *Lạc*) carry more weight and may feel like overreach if you have no connection to Vietnamese culture.

Are Vietnamese names usually unisex?

A surprising number are! Names like Anh, Linh, Minh, Tâm, Bảo, Quân, and An are commonly used for both sexes. Traditionally, the middle name signals gender — Văn for boys, Thị for girls — but those middle names have fallen out of fashion among younger Vietnamese parents, who prefer more meaningful middle names like Gia, Khả, or Bảo. The given name on its own often gives no hint of gender, which makes Vietnamese a great source for unisex picks.

What are the most popular Vietnamese baby names in 2026?

For girls, the standouts in recent Vietnamese name registries include Linh, Anh, Vy, Hân, Nhi, An, and compound names like Bảo Ngọc, Minh Anh, An Nhiên, and Hà Linh. For boys, the favorites are Minh, Quân, Bảo, Khang, Khôi, An Khang, Gia Huy, and Bảo Nam. There’s a clear move toward shorter, sleeker names and toward two-syllable given names that pack more meaning into the same space.

How do I pronounce names with letters that don’t exist in English, like “đ” or “ư”?

The letter “đ” (with a horizontal bar through the D) is pronounced like the English “d” in “dog” — the regular “d” in Vietnamese sounds more like “z” (in the north) or “y” (in the south). The letter “ư” is a sound English doesn’t quite have — it’s like saying “oo” but pulling your lips back into a smile instead of rounding them. For tricky names, YouTube has dozens of “how to pronounce Vietnamese names” tutorials, and Forvo.com lets you hear native speakers pronounce specific words. When in doubt, ask a Vietnamese-speaking friend for a 30-second voice memo.

📊 Curious how popular a name actually is? Look it up in our Baby Name Popularity Checker — pulls live SSA data to show ranking trends.

Final Thoughts

Naming a baby is the first long conversation you’ll have with them — before they’re born, before they have a face you’ve seen, before they can answer back. Vietnamese names invite you into that conversation slowly. They ask you to consider sound and meaning and history all at once, and then to pick the one word that holds all three. Take your time. Read the names aloud at breakfast. Try them with your last name and your partner’s. The right one will start to feel like a small, warm weight in your hands — and one day, you’ll say it out loud to a brand new person, and they’ll be exactly who they were always going to be.

Read next;

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