Vietnamese Baby Names

Vietnamese names are written in the Latin alphabet, with a set of accent marks that show the tones of the language. Those marks are usually dropped in English, but they matter in Vietnamese, where a change of tone can change the meaning entirely. Minh is linked to brightness and intelligence, An to peace, Nam to the south, Thien to heaven or the sky, and Vinh to glory.

A full Vietnamese name usually has three parts: the family name first, then a middle name, then the given name. People are normally addressed by the given name, the last part, so it carries much of the personal meaning. Middle names have traditionally helped signal whether a name is for a boy or a girl, while many given names, such as An and Anh, can suit either.

Images from nature are common. Mai is the apricot blossom that brightens homes during the Lunar New Year, and Vy and Nhi are gentle, short choices often used for girls. Khang, Khai and Quan are popular for boys. Short Vietnamese names are easy to pair with English surnames, but if family members speak Vietnamese, ask them how the name sounds with its tone, since the spelling alone does not tell the full story.