Image: Midjourney/ MomJunction Design Team
The Vietnamese follow unique naming traditions. 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.”
Trivia7. 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.
Quick fact26. Duong
The Chinese-originated Vietnamese surname Duong means “popular.”
27. Duy
This name is popular in Vietnam and means “save.”
28. Giang
Image: IStock
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
Image: IStock
Liang, is a name of the ancient Chinese dynasty. Also, popular as a Vietnamese surname, it means “bridge.”
Trivia54. 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, making Nguyen the most popular surname in Vietnam. This surname refers to a “musical instrument.”
Angel Xie, a blogger, recounts an experience she had regarding how many people are aware of the most common Vietnamese surname, Nguyen. He says, “When I lived in Michigan in 2006, I met a very friendly and chatty white man in his 60s in a restaurant. Upon finding out one of my friends was ethnically Vietnamese, he immediately asked if her last name was Nguyen. When my friend told him otherwise, he was not only disappointed but even slightly offended that his ‘Asian insight’ was disputed. He challenged: ‘How could it be? Don’t all Vietnamese have the last name of Nguyen? (i).”
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.”
Quick tip82. 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
Image: IStock
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.”
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Illustration: Popular Vietnamese Last Names Or Surnames With Meanings
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
3. How did Vietnamese last names originate?
Vietnamese last names originate from multiple sources, including Chinese. Chinese influence is reflected in various aspects of Vietnamese culture, including language and naming practices. Therefore, several Vietnamese last names are derived from Chinese surnames or last names.
However, Vietnam also had indigenous naming traditions, including a matrilineal system, which eventually diminished under Chinese influence. Today, a patrilineal system is more common, with children inheriting their father’s family name at birth. In some cases, children carry both their parents’ family names, placing them before their given name. Post-marriage, women do not change their legal names, but may sometimes choose to refer to themselves by their husband’s first name. For example, if Nguyen Thi Lam marries Le Van Nam, she may call herself Mrs. Nam.
4. How do Vietnamese people address each other using their last names?
In Vietnamese culture, people typically address each other using their given names rather than their last names. However, in formal or professional settings, Vietnamese people often address each other using appropriate titles followed by the given name.
5. What are the most common variations in Vietnamese surnames?
Vietnamese surnames are differentiated based on diacritics — glyphs added to letters change their pronunciations and meanings. In such cases, two surnames may have the same Anglicized spelling but different diacritics, making their contexts completely different. One such variation is in the surnames Đoàn and Doãn, derived from the Chinese Duan and Yin respectively. However, in English, they are both transliterated as Doan. Understanding these differences can help cultural studies and research in genealogy.
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.
Infographic: Vietnamese Last Names Derived From Other Countries
China has a great influence in Vietnam that can be seen in their cultures and even in their names and surnames. But there are still some popular Vietnamese surnames derived from different origins other than China. Let’s take a look at the infographic below to broaden your knowledge and understanding of some of these surnames. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Many Vietnamese surnames are of Chinese origin or share roots with other Asian countries, reflecting cultural and historical influences.
- Vietnamese names follow a specific order: surname followed by a middle name and a given name.
- Vietnamese women can retain their maiden surnames after marriage and do not necessarily have to adopt their husbands’ last names.
- People mostly use given names instead of surnames for informal interactions. They use a title before the given names in formal interactions to show respect.
- Learning about the origins and meanings of Vietnamese last names can help one understand Vietnamese culture and history.
Most people need help pronouncing Vietnamese names. Here is a video to learn 20 standard Vietnamese titles and their correct pronunciation.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. “Don’t all Vietnamese have the last name of Nguyen?”https://angelxie.medium.com/dont-all-vietnamese-have-the-last-name-of-nguyen-5ea49d3b5d97
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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