Vietnam is known for its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and its rich cultural history. You will see motorbikes, rice terraces, and floating markets in this paradisal country and if you’re lucky, you’ll taste the distinct flavor of Vietnamese coffee. Choosing a Vietnamese name for your baby is a good way to honor your family heritage.

Vietnamese Names

Vietnamese names are often gender-neutral and many of their meanings come from the natural world, like Chi, meaning “branch,” or Tuyết, meaning “snow.” Vietnamese, which is spoken by more than 1.5 million people in the U.S., follows a unique naming convention which puts the family name first followed by the middle and given names.

If you want to give your child a Vietnamese name in the English speaking world, you may want to reorder the names on their birth certificate.

Here are some of the most popular and unique Vietnamese baby names for girls along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information. 

Bích

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Bluish-greenAlternative Spellings & Variations: Aoi, BichFamous Namesakes: Novelist Bich Minh Nguyen, 1988 Miss Vietnam Bui Bich PhuongPeak Popularity: Bich is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Cam

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Orange (the fruit)Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cameron, Camryn, Kam, KamrynFamous Namesakes: Football player Cam Akers, filmmaker and writer Cam Archer, ice hockey player Cam JanssenPeak Popularity: Cam is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Chi

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: BranchAlternative Spellings & Variations: Chinwi, Chichi, ChiomaFamous Namesakes: Musician Chi Cheng; politician, doctor, and pastor Chi Hyun Chung, British politician Chi OnwurahPeak Popularity: Chi is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Diệp

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: LeafAlternative Spellings & Variations: Diem, ĐiệpFamous Namesakes: Athlete Diệp Hoài XuânPeak Popularity: Diệp is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Diệu

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Mysterious, subtle, exquisiteAlternative Spellings & Variations: Diem, Dieu, MiaoFamous Namesakes: Television actress Dieu NhiPeak Popularity: Diệu is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Hằng

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: LadyAlternative Spellings & Variations: HangFamous Namesakes: Singer and actress Minh Hằng, Instagram starHang IseoulPeak Popularity: Hằng is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000, but it is common in Vietnam, ranking at No. 50.

Hoa

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: FlowerAlternative Spellings & Variations: Hana, Hòa, HuaFamous Namesakes: World music singer Hoa MinzyPeak Popularity: Hoa is a rare name in the US and has never been in the top 1,000.

Huệ

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Bright, intelligent or tuberose flowerAlternative Spellings & Variations: Hue, HuiFamous Namesakes: Second emperor of the Tây Sơn dynasty of Vietnam Nguyễn HuệPeak Popularity: Huệ is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Kim

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Gold, metalAlternative Spellings & Variations: Kimberly, KimballFamous Namesakes: Vietnamese prime minister Trần Trọng KimPeak 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.

Liên

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Lotus, water lilyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Carolien, LienFamous Namesakes: Taiwanese politician Lien Chan, Taiwanese businessperson Lien Sheng-wu, actress Lien Van de KelderPeak Popularity: Liên is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Loan

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Mythological birdAlternative Spellings & Variations: Elouan, Loann, Lohan LoaneFamous Namesakes: Soccer player Loanny Cartaya, politician Peter van LoanPeak Popularity: Loan is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Mai

  • Origin: Vietnamese
  • Meaning: Plum, apricot
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mae, Maia, May, Maya, Mei, Ume
  • Famous Namesakes: Voice actress and singer Mai Nakahara, voice actress and singer Mai Kadowaki, singer Mai Oshima
  • Peak Popularity: Mai ranks at number 64 in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Mỹ

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: BeautifulAlternative Spellings & Variations: Maia, Maya, Mei, MyFamous Namesakes: Singer Mỹ LinhPeak Popularity: Mỹ is the number 10 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Phượng

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Direction, wayAlternative Spellings & Variations: FangFamous Namesakes: Musician, songwriter, and singer Le Uyen Phuong, singer Phuong Hong Que, empress of Vietnam Marie-Thérèse Nguyễn Hữu Thị LanPeak Popularity: Phượng is the 22nd most popular name in Vietnam but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Thi

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Poetry, poem, verseAlternative Spellings & Variations: ThịFamous Namesakes: Female wrestler Nguyen Thi LuaPeak Popularity: Thi is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Tiên

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Immortal, transcendent, celestial being, fairyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Tiến, TienFamous Namesakes: Educator, politician, and Chinese diplomat Cheng Tien-fong, distinguished professor of mathematics Tien-Yien LiPeak Popularity: Tiên ranks at No. 39 in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Trinh

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Virtuous, chaste, loyalAlternative Spellings & Variations: Jeong, Jong, Jung, ZhenFamous Namesakes: First Cardinal of the Catholic Church of Vietnam and Archbishop of Archdiocese of Hanoi Trịnh Như Khuê, first Vietnamese astronaut Eugene Huu Chau Trinh, scientist Trinh Xuan Thuan Peak Popularity: Trinh ranks at No. 37 in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Tuyết

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: SnowAlternative Spellings & Variations: Xue, YukiFamous Namesakes: Businesswoman Tuyet LePeak Popularity: Tuyết is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Yên

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Calm, peacefulAlternative Spellings & Variations: An, YasuFamous Namesakes: Baseball player Yen Chun-Hao; basketball player, singer, actor, and model Yen Hsing-Shu, president of China Yen Chia KanPeak Popularity: Yên is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Here are some popular and unique Vietnamese baby names for boys along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information. 

Fun Fact: Dieu means “God” in French.

Fun Fact: The accent mark in the name Hằng denotes a high-rising pitch.

Fun Fact: Extracts from the tuberose flower, which is one of the meanings of the name Huệ, are often used as a note in perfumery.

Fun Fact: Kim is one of the most common Korean last names.

Fun Fact: Made of rum, orange curaçao, fresh lime juice and orgeat, the Mai Tai is one of the most famous Tiki drinks in the world.

Fun Fact: Mỹ is pronounced like the English word “me.”

Fun Fact: When Empress Marie-Thérèse Nguyễn Hữu Thị Lan first visited Europe in 1939, she made such an impression on European women that they began to dress in Vietnamese-inspired fashions.

Fun Fact: Hồ Động Tiên cave, which means “Fairy Lake Cave” in Vietnamese, is a cave that you can visit in Vietnam. The cave is in pristine condition and under governmental protection to prevent it from being exploited for tourism, and to maintain the cave’s magnificent natural beauty.

Bảo

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Treasure, jewelAlternative Spellings & Variations: Bao, TakaraFamous Namesakes: Cultural icon of justice Bao Zheng, Han dynasty general Bao Xin, Qing dynasty general and official Bao ChaoPeak Popularity: Bảo is a top 100 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Chí

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Will, spiritAlternative Spellings & Variations: ZhiFamous Namesakes: Musician Chi ChengPeak Popularity: Chí is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Dương

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Male, virileAlternative Spellings & Variations: Duong, Haru, YangFamous Namesakes: King of Vietnam Dương Tam Kha, footballer Dương Hồng Sơn, composer Dương ThụPeak Popularity: Dương is a top 100 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Hải

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Sea, oceanAlternative Spellings & Variations: Hai, KaiFamous Namesakes: Basketball player Hai Rui, football player Yu Hai, music artist Ocean HaiPeak Popularity: Hải is a top 20 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Hào

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Brave, heroicAlternative Spellings & Variations: Hạo, HaoFamous Namesakes: Taichi master Hao Weizhen, football player and coach Hao Haitao, writer Hao QunPeak Popularity: Hào is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Khánh

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Congratulate, celebrateAlternative Spellings & Variations: Kei, KhanhFamous Namesakes: Prime minister of South Vietnam Nguyễn Khánh, singer Khánh Ly, founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire Genghis KhanPeak Popularity: Khánh is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Liêm

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Clean, honest, uprightAlternative Spellings & Variations: Lian, LiemFamous Namesakes: Badminton player Liem Swie King, economist and politician Liêm Hoang-Ngoc, badminton player Liem Tjeng KiangPeak Popularity: Liêm is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Minh

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: BrightAlternative Spellings & Variations: Ming, Myeong, Myung Famous Namesakes: Communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, filmmaker Đặng Nhật Minh, saxophonist Quyền Văn MinhPeak Popularity: Minh is a top 20 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Ngải

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Sagebrush, wormwoodAlternative Spellings & Variations: Ngai, NiFamous Namesakes: Actor Ngai Wai ManPeak Popularity: Ngải is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Nguyên

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Original, firstAlternative Spellings & Variations: Nguyen, NguyễnFamous Namesakes: Poet Nguyễn Du, actor Dustin Nguyen, writer Viet Thanh NguyenPeak Popularity: Nguyên is the No. 1 most popular name for boys in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the US and has never been in the top 1,000.

Quân

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: ArmyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Jun, QuanFamous Namesakes: Football player Quan Lei, actress Quan Yi FongPeak Popularity: Quân is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Quang

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Bright, clearAlternative Spellings & Variations: Guan, Kwang, HikaruFamous Namesakes: Mahayana Buddhist monk Quảng Đức Peak Popularity: Quang is a top 20 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Quyền

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Power, right, authorityAlternative Spellings & Variations: QuyênFamous Namesakes: Anti-colonial activist Nguyễn QuyềnPeak Popularity: Quyền is a top 100 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Sơn

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: MountainAlternative Spellings & Variations: Søn, Son, YamatoFamous Namesakes: Footballer Nguyen Hong SonPeak Popularity: Sơn is a top 100 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Thuần

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Pure, clean, simpleAlternative Spellings & Variations: Jun, ThuậnFamous Namesakes: Astrophysicist Trinh Xuan Thuan Peak Popularity: Thuần is a top 100 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Trai

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: OysterAlternative Spellings & Variations: Trae, TreyFamous Namesakes: Actor Trai Byers, basketball player Trae YoungPeak Popularity: Trai is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Tuân

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Obey, follow, honorAlternative Spellings & Variations: Duan, Tuấn, TuanFamous Namesakes: Professional poker player Tuan Lam, politician Tuan Yi-kangPeak Popularity: Tuân is a top 10 name in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Viên

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Round, full, completeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Viện, ViennaFamous Namesakes: Pianist and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng, politician Thomas VienPeak Popularity: Viên is a rare name in the US and has never been in the top 1,000.

Here are some popular and unique Vietnamese gender-neutral baby names along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information. 

Fun Fact: Bao Xishun is one of the tallest men on Earth. In December 2006, he assisted veterinarians in removing shards of plastic from the stomachs of two dolphins by using his 3-foot arms to reach into the dolphins’ stomachs and remove the plastic manually.

Fun Fact: In traditional Chinese culture, chi refers to the energy force of life itself.

Fun Fact: Rhyming names Hải and Kai both mean “ocean”.

Fun Fact: Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest and most populous city in Vietnam.

Fun Fact: Nguyễn is the most popular surname in Vietnam. While it is often simplified to remove the diacritics (accent marks) when used out of Vietnam, within Vietnamese Nguyễn and Nguyên are different names.

Fun Fact: The diacritic accent mark over the letter ‘a’ in Quân is called a circumflex.

Fun Fact: Quyền is sometimes pronounced like the English word “queen,” another word that refers to power and authority.

An

  • Origin: ChineseMeaning: Peace, quietAlternative Spellings & Variations: Án, Ân, Yasu, YênFamous Namesakes: Computer engineer and inventor An Wang, professional poker player An Tran, shōjo manga artist An NakaharaPeak Popularity: An is a top 10 name in Vietnam but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Anh

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Flower petal or brave heroAlternative Spellings & Variations: AnFamous Namesakes: Actress and model Ahn Duong, foster daughter of former French President Jacques Chirac Anh Dao TraxelPeak Popularity: Ahn is the third most popular name for girls in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Bình

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Level, even, peacefulAlternative Spellings & Variations: PingFamous Namesakes: Viet Minh lieutenant general Nguyễn BìnhPeak Popularity: Bình is a top 50 name for both boys and girls in Vietnam, but is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Châu

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Pearl, gemAlternative Spellings & Variations: Chao, ChauFamous Namesakes: Footballer Nguyễn Minh ChâuPeak Popularity: Châu is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Giang

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: RiverAlternative Spellings & Variations: Yang, ZhangFamous Namesakes: Taekwondo practitioner Hoàng Hà GiangPeak Popularity: Giang is a top 50 name for girls in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Lan

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Orchid, elegant, mountain mistAlternative Spellings & Variations: LanhFamous Namesakes: Tennis player Lan Bale, novelist Lan CaoPeak Popularity: Lan ranks at number 21 for girls in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Linh

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Spirit, soulAlternative Spellings & Variations: Lin, LingFamous Namesakes: Television actor Lin Yi, badminton player Lin Dan, film director Việt LinhPeak Popularity: Linh is the number one name for girls in Vietnam and it is a top 100 name for boys. However, it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Quỳnh

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Deep redAlternative Spellings & Variations: QióngFamous Namesakes: Actress Quynh MiPeak Popularity: Quỳnh is a top-five name for girls in Vietnam, but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Thanh

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Blue, green, young, or sound, voice, toneAlternative Spellings & Variations: QingFamous Namesakes: Vietnamese emperor Thành TháiPeak Popularity: Thanh is a top 20 name for boys in Vietnam and a top 100 name for girls. However, it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Trúc

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: BambooAlternative Spellings & Variations: Take, Truc, ZhúFamous Namesakes: Writer Truc Hoang LePeak Popularity: Trúc is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Tú

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: Luxuriant, beautiful, elegant, outstandingAlternative Spellings & Variations: TuFamous Namesakes: Pharmaceutical chemist and malariologist who discovered a malaria treatment Tu YouyouPeak Popularity: Tú is a top 100 name in Vietnam but it is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Vân

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: CloudAlternative Spellings & Variations: Văn, Van, YunFamous Namesakes: Rock singer Van Morrison, actor Van Crosby, historian Van Wyck BrooksPeak Popularity: Vân ranks at number 25 for girls in Vietnam. In the U.S., Van first appeared on the charts in 2005, rising steadily in popularity over the next five years before peaking in 2010 at position No. 755. Since then it has yo-yoed between positions in the late 700s and the early 900s.

Xuân

  • Origin: VietnameseMeaning: SpringAlternative Spellings & Variations: Haru, XuanFamous Namesakes: Taoist Ge Xuan, political figure Xuân Thủy, gymnast Liu XuanPeak Popularity: Xuân is a rare name in the U.S. and has never been in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: The name Anh is often used as the first name in a compound name. Anh can mean either “flower petal” or “brave hero” depending upon the second element of the compound name.

Fun Fact: Quỳnh is the Vietnamese name for a flowering plant that falls under the genus Epiphyllum.

Fun Fact: Emperor Thành Thái would often slip out of the Forbidden City dressed as a commoner to talk with his people directly and see how they were being affected by government policies in Vietnam.

Fun Fact: Changing the accent in a Vietnamese name will change both its pronunciation and its meaning. While Vân means “cloud,” alternative spelling Văn means “literature, culture, writing.”

Fun Fact: Xuan Bello Fernán is a poet from Tineo, Asturias, Spain. He is one of the best-known contemporary Asturian writers and along with poetry, he has written essays, narratives, children’s literature, and translations.