Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Anh
UnisexVietnamese· “bright, intelligent; also flower, essence”
- Meaning
- bright, intelligent; also flower, essence
- Origin
- Vietnamese
- Pronunciation
- AHN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #6,137
- US babies 2025
- 19
- Best rank
- #1,635 (1984)
- Peak year
- 1984
Meaning and origin of Anh
Anh is a Vietnamese name that is usually said to mean “bright, intelligent; also flower, essence”.
Anh is a Vietnamese name from the Sino-Vietnamese anh, related to Chinese ying, meaning flower, essence, or outstanding and heroic. It is widely used for both boys and girls in Vietnam, often as the final element of two-part given names such as Minh Anh or Tuan Anh. The word anh also means older brother in everyday Vietnamese. It is said AHN, with a single syllable and a nasal ending; the h is not pronounced. In the United States it is used mostly in Vietnamese American families. Because Vietnamese writes it with tone marks that English drops, the written form can stand for more than one word.
Popularity over time
Anh first appears in US Social Security records in 1975. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,635 in 1984, the same year it reached its highest count of 67 babies. In 2025, 19 babies were named Anh, and it ranked #6,137 nationally. That is 37% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,982 in 1980, #3,991 in 2000, #4,869 in 2010, and #6,137 in 2025. Of the 1,581 US girls named Anh since records began, 33% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 313 babies. Since 2010, 374 more have been named Anh.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Michal and San.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Anh ranked highest in California and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #3148 | 5 |
| Texas | #3332 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Anh is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 71% of US babies named Anh were girls and 29% were boys.
Anh is usually pronounced AHN, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with A and ends in “-nh”.
Middle names for Anh
A few middle names that flow with Anh: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Anh
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Lists that include Anh
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anh mean?
Anh is a Vietnamese name that is usually said to mean “bright, intelligent; also flower, essence”.
What is the origin of the name Anh?
Anh has Vietnamese roots. Anh is a Vietnamese name from the Sino-Vietnamese anh, related to Chinese ying, meaning flower, essence, or outstanding and heroic.
Is Anh a popular name?
Not especially. Anh ranked #6,137 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Anh a boy or girl name?
Anh is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 71% of US babies named Anh were girls and 29% were boys.
How do you pronounce Anh?
Anh is usually pronounced AHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings