Vietnamese surnames are a profound reflection of the country’s dynastic history, with a naming tradition that is unique within Southeast Asia due to its strong Sinitic influences. In 2026, as Vietnamese culture gains massive global traction through cinema and culinary arts, understanding these names is essential for authentic storytelling and genealogical clarity.
The most striking feature of Vietnamese naming is the dominance of the name Nguyen, which is held by nearly 40% of the population. This was often a result of political shifts, where citizens adopted the surname of the ruling dynasty to show loyalty or avoid persecution. This A-Z guide for 169+ Vietnamese last names with meanings will help you navigate the linguistic heritage of the “Land of the Blue Dragon.”
Naming Tradition: Unlike Western names, Vietnamese names follow the order of Surname + Middle Name + Given Name.
A to D – Names of Light and Power
An – Meaning “Peace” or “Safe.”
Ân – Meaning “Favor” or “Grace.”
Bạch – Meaning “White” or “Pure.”
Bành – Meaning “Expansive” or “Great.”
Bế – A name common among the Tày ethnic group.
Biện – Meaning “To argue” or “Distinguish.”
Bùi – Meaning “Distinguished” or “Excellent” (Top 10).
Ca – Meaning “Song” or “High.”
Cái – Meaning “Great” or “Cover.”
Cầm – Meaning “Lute” or “Bird.”
Cao – Meaning “High” or “Tall.”
Cát – Meaning “Lucky” or “Sand.”
Chế – A surname of Cham origin (Champa Kingdom).
Chiêm – Meaning “To observe” or “Cham person.”
Chu – Meaning “Silver” or “Vermillion.”
Chung – Meaning “Final” or “Gathering.”
Cổ – Meaning “Ancient.”
Cung – Meaning “Respectful” or “Palace.”
Cù – Meaning “Island.”
Dã – Meaning “Wild” or “Field.”
Danh – Meaning “Famous” or “Name.”
Đào – Meaning “Peach” or “Flower.”
Đặng – Meaning “Forest” or “Upland.”
Đậu – Meaning “Bean.”
Diệp – Meaning “Leaf.”
Doãn – Meaning “Governor” or “Leader.”
Dư – Meaning “Surplus.”
Đường – Meaning “Path” or “Sugar.”
Dương – Meaning “Ocean” or “Light/Sun.”
G to L – Names of Strength and Nature
Giả – Meaning “False” or “Artificial.”
Gia – Meaning “Family.”
Giang – Meaning “River.”
Giao – Meaning “Interchange” or “Crossing.”
Giáp – Meaning “Armor” or “First.”
Hà – Meaning “River.”
Hạ – Meaning “Summer.”
Hàm – Meaning “Envelope” or “Contain.”
Hàn – Meaning “Cold.”
Hồ – Meaning “Lake.”
Hoa – Meaning “Flower.”
Hoàng – Meaning “Royal” or “Yellow” (North).
Hồng – Meaning “Rose” or “Pink.”
Hứa – Meaning “Promise.”
Huỳnh – Meaning “Royal” or “Yellow” (South).
Kha – Meaning “Admirable.”
Khang – Meaning “Prosperity.”
Khâu – Meaning “Mound.”
Khoa – Meaning “Examination” or “Degree.”
Khổng – Meaning “Great” or “Hollow.”
Khuất – Meaning “Hidden” or “Yield.”
Khưu – Meaning “Hill.”
Kiều – Meaning “Graceful” or “Beautiful.”
Kim – Meaning “Gold” or “Metal.”
La – Meaning “Net.”
Lã – Meaning “Of the family La.”
Lạc – Meaning “Joy.”
Lại – Meaning “To return.”
Lâm – Meaning “Forest.”
Lê – Meaning “Pear tree” (3rd most common).
Liên – Meaning “Lotus.”
Liễu – Meaning “Willow.”
Lô – Meaning “Reed.”
Lộc – Meaning “Prosperity” or “Deer.”
Lôi – Meaning “Thunder.”
Lục – Meaning “Green” or “Six.”
Lương – Meaning “Good” or “Virtuous.”
Lưu – Meaning “To flow” or “Stay.”
Lý – Meaning “Reason” or “Plum” (Ly Dynasty).
M to P – Names of the Radiant and Resilient
Ma – Meaning “Horse.”
Mã – Meaning “Horse” (Chinese origin).
Mạc – Meaning “Desert” or “Silent.”
Mai – Meaning “Apricot blossom.”
Mạnh – Meaning “Strong.”
Mẫn – Meaning “Clever.”
Minh – Meaning “Bright.”
Mông – Meaning “Mongol.”
Nghiêm – Meaning “Strict” or “Serious.”
Ngô – Meaning “Corn” or “To wake up.”
Ngọc – Meaning “Jade” or “Precious stone.”
Nguyễn – Meaning “Musical instrument” (No. 1).
Nhâm – Meaning “Great.”
Nhân – Meaning “Humanity” or “Kindness.”
Nhiếp – Meaning “To photograph” or “Govern.”
Nhung – Meaning “Velvet.”
Ninh – Meaning “Serene” or “Peaceful.”
Nông – Meaning “Agriculture” or “Farmer.”
Ô – Meaning “Black.”
Ông – Meaning “Grandfather” or “Gentleman.”
Phạm – Meaning “Law” or “Model” (4th common).
Phan – Meaning “Flag” or “Banner.”
Phí – Meaning “Fee” or “Expend.”
Phó – Meaning “Assistant.”
Phong – Meaning “Wind.”
Phù – Meaning “Support.”
Phùng – Meaning “To meet.”
Phương – Meaning “Direction” or “Fragrant.”
Q to T – Names of Virtue and Tradition
Quách – Meaning “Outer city wall.”
Quan – Meaning “Official.”
Quản – Meaning “Manager.”
Quang – Meaning “Light.”
Quyền – Meaning “Power” or “Authority.”
Sầm – Meaning “Distant mountain.”
Sơn – Meaning “Mountain.”
Sử – Meaning “History.”
Tạ – Meaning “To thank.”
Tăng – Meaning “To increase.”
Tào – Meaning “Official” or “Caste.”
Thạch – Meaning “Stone.”
Thái – Meaning “Great” or “Extreme.”
Thân – Meaning “Close” or “Body.”
Thắng – Meaning “Victory.”
Thanh – Meaning “Clear” or “Blue.”
Thảo – Meaning “Grass” or “Medicinal herb.”
Thi – Meaning “Poetry.”
Thích – Meaning “To like” (Monastic).
Thiện – Meaning “Goodness.”
Thiệp – Meaning “Card” or “Leaflet.”
Thiệu – Meaning “To introduce.”
Thịnh – Meaning “Prosperity.”
Thôi – Meaning “To stop.”
Thông – Meaning “Clear” or “Through.”
Thu – Meaning “Autumn.”
Thủ – Meaning “Leader.”
Thuận – Meaning “Agreement” or “Smooth.”
Thủy – Meaning “Water.”
Tiên – Meaning “Immortal” or “Fairy.”
Tiếp – Meaning “To continue.”
Tiêu – Meaning “To consume” or “Vanished.”
Tô – Meaning “To revive” or “Perilla.”
Tòng – Meaning “To follow.”
Trà – Meaning “Tea.”
Trác – Meaning “Eminent.”
Trại – Meaning “Camp.”
Trang – Meaning “Serious” or “Page.”
Trần – Meaning “Ancient” or “Display” (2nd common).
Triệu – Meaning “Million.”
Trình – Meaning “To present.”
Trịnh – Meaning “Serious” or “Solemn.”
Trương – Meaning “To expand” or “Sheet.”
Tú – Meaning “Elegant” or “Star.”
Tuấn – Meaning “Handsome.”
Tùng – Meaning “Pine tree.”
Tuyên – Meaning “To declare.”
Tuyệt – Meaning “Absolute.”
Từ – Meaning “Compassion.”
U to Y – Names of the Enduring
Uông – Meaning “Vast” or “Deep.”
Ứng – Meaning “Response.”
Văn – Meaning “Literature” or “Culture.”
Vận – Meaning “Luck” or “Transport.”
Vi – Meaning “Tiny” or “Subtle.”
Viên – Meaning “Garden” or “Round.”
Việt – Meaning “Vietnamese” or “Beyond.”
Vĩnh – Meaning “Forever.”
Võ – Meaning “Martial” or “Military.”
Vũ – Meaning “Rain” or “Martial” (North).
Vương – Meaning “King.”
Vừ – Common in the Hmong community.
Xa – Meaning “Distant.”
Xà – Meaning “Snake.”
Xuân – Meaning “Spring.”
Yên – Meaning “Peaceful.”
1. The Name Order
Unlike Western names, Vietnamese names follow this order: Surname + Middle Name + Given Name. For example, in Nguyễn Minh Tú, “Nguyễn” is the last name. In daily life, people are called by their given name (Tú).
2. The Royal “Nguyen”
Why is Nguyễn so common? In 1802, the Nguyen Dynasty took power. Historically, many families changed their names to Nguyen to show loyalty. Today, it covers nearly 40% of the population.
3. Middle Name Indicators
Historically, middle names like Văn (for males) and Thị (for females) were mandatory. In 2026, parents are moving towards poetic middle names like “Minh” or “Ngọc.”
What are the top 3 most common Vietnamese surnames?The top three are Nguyễn (38.4%), Trần (12.1%), and Lê (9.5%).
Is “Lee” the same as “Lê”?No. Lê is specifically Vietnamese, while Lý is the Vietnamese version of the Chinese Li.
Do Vietnamese last names mean anything?Yes, almost all are derived from Hán-Việt (Sino-Vietnamese) characters with meanings related to nature or virtues.
