148 Vibrant Vietnamese Last Names: Full of Eastern Promise

Family names first appeared in Vietnam during the Chinese Han Dynasty’s conquest around 111 B.C. Because of this early history, many Vietnamese surnames trace their roots directly back to ancient Chinese culture.

As centuries passed, other neighboring cultures shaped the naming traditions we recognize now. Let us explore the fascinating origins and hidden meanings behind the most popular Vietnamese last names.

148 Vibrant Vietnamese Surnames

Vietnamese family names carry deep history, ranging from simple everyday objects to profound spiritual meanings.

1. Ai: Some Vietnamese last names have Japanese roots, like Ai, which means “love and affection.”
2. Ang: An “A” surname dripping in Chinese influence, meaning “floor,” “deluge,” and “great.”
3. Anh: The perfect Vietnamese surname for your angel, meaning “bright” and “intellectual.”
4. Au: A name of Vietnamese and Chinese origin that translates to “peace.”
5. Ba: A simple Vietnamese surname meaning “third” or “three.”
6. Banh: This food-based Vietnamese name means “cake” and “bread.”
7. Bao: A popular masculine Vietnamese name that means “treasure.”
8. Bi: This versatile Vietnamese name translates to “marble,” “shredded pork skin,” or “green jade.”
9. Bien: Most Vietnamese surnames carry diverse meanings, like Bien, which means “ocean” in Vietnamese and “good” or “fine” in Spanish.
10. Bo: A name with Chinese influence that means “slim,” “thin,” and “weak.”
11. Bui: A highly popular name in the Chinese and Vietnamese community, meaning “long and flowing.”
12. Cam: Another food-based Vietnamese surname meaning “orange fruit.”
13. Can: Popular in the Indonesian Chinese community, this name means “once already” and “in the past.”
14. Cao: The perfect name for taller babies, meaning “high,” “tall,” and “above average.”
15. Chan: A common surname across Vietnam and China, meaning “right.”
16. Chau: Your child’s heritage is precious, making this name meaning “pearl” a beautiful choice.
17. Che: This quirky Vietnamese last name literally means “no.”
18. Chi: A unisex Vietnamese name meaning “tree branch” and “twig.”
19. Chiem: Many Vietnamese family names derive from Chinese, like Chiem, meaning “excellent and verbose.”
20. Chu: A classic Chinese and Vietnamese mash-up meaning “padding for a garment” and “pocket.”
21. Co: A common name among the Chinese community that translates to “to praise.”
22. Cong: Stemming from Sino-Vietnamese origins, this name means “fair,” “equitable,” and “public.”
23. Dai: If your kid is destined for greatness, this short and sweet Vietnamese name means “great.”
24. Dam: This name of Chinese and Vietnamese origin means “to talk and discuss.”
25. Dan: A snappy Vietnamese name with a highly positive and uplifting meaning.
26. Dang: This unique and highly popular surname translates to “valuable.”
27. Danh: Recognize your child’s star power with a Vietnamese name meaning “famous.”
28. Dao: A Chinese name adopted in Vietnam meaning “pleased” and “pottery.”
29. Dau: This interesting Vietnamese name translates to “rooster,” “bride,” or “mulberry.”
30. Diep: A Chinese name with many meanings, including “harmony,” “leaf,” “period in history,” and “page.”
31. Dieu: An ideal Vietnamese name for children with mysterious and subtle personalities.
32. Dinh: A strong Vietnamese name with an interesting structure, meaning “encampment.”
33. Dinn: Likely derived from Din, this peaceful name means “calm and settled.”
34. Do: A variant of the Chinese Du, signifying a descendant of the Tao-Tang tribe.
35. Doan: Meaning “to protect,” this regal name relates directly to royal guards and generals.
36. Don: A classic Chinese and Vietnamese name meaning “already,” “in the past,” and “great.”
37. Dong: The perfect moniker for an organized child, meaning “to supervise” or “manage.”
38. Du: A simple, authoritative name meaning “to stop,” “prevent,” and “restrict.”
39. Duong: Highly popular among the Chinese population in Vietnam, meaning “poplar tree.”
40. Duy: A common Chinese name that translates to “dimension.”
41. Giang: A beautiful name rooted in Chinese culture that means “river.”
42. Hai: Known as the 293rd most popular Chinese name in 2013, it means “ocean.”
43. Ho: Derived from the classical Chinese Hu, meaning “wattle and dewlap.”
44. Hoa: A wonderfully short Chinese name meaning “together and harmonious.”
45. Hoang: A staple Chinese and Vietnamese name on the list, meaning “yellow” and “to fall through.”
46. Hong: An evocative name of Chinese origin, meaning “water,” “flood,” and “rainbow.”
47. Hua: A pretty Chinese girl’s name meaning “blossom” and “flower.”
48. Hue: The direct Vietnamese translation for this lovely name is “lily.”
49. Huu: A cool Sino-Vietnamese name meaning “friend” and “companion.”
50. Huy: This masculine Vietnamese name carries the powerful meaning of “glorious.”
51. Huynh: This widespread name means “yellow or golden” in Chinese and “older brother” in Vietnamese.
52. Hy: We all need positivity, and Hy is the perfect Vietnamese name, meaning “hopeful.”
53. Kha: A classic Vietnamese name meaning “fairy,” “rather,” and “enough.”
54. Khanh: A joyful name of Chinese and Vietnamese origin, meaning “celebrate and congratulate.”
55. Khong: This Chinese name has many meanings, including “empty,” “vacant,” “in vain,” and “leisure.”
56. Khuu: Likely a habitational Vietnamese name meaning “mound,” “hillock,” and “grave.”
57. Kien: A Chinese-inspired Vietnamese name that means “strong.”
58. Kieu: This uncommon Vietnamese name translates to “unavailable” and “pretty.”
59. Kim: A highly popular Vietnamese surname that translates to “gold” and “metal.”
60. Ky: One of the shortest names on the list, meaning “sign” and “date.”
61. Lac: A Chinese-influenced Vietnamese name meaning “camel” and “white horse with a black mane.”
62. Lai: This Cantonese name translates to everything from “to depend” and “disclaim” to “rascal” and “blame.”
63. Lam: A beautiful nature-inspired name meaning “forest.”
64. Lang: A feminine Vietnamese name that translates to “sweet potato.”
65. Lavan: This name means “white” in Hebrew and “literature” in Vietnamese.
66. Le: A widely used name of Chinese origin, meaning “happiness.”
67. Liang: Famous for its ties to the Chinese Liang Dynasty, meaning “structure and roof beam.”
68. Lien: The perfect nature-inspired name for your daughter, meaning “lotus flower.”
69. Lieu: This French-sounding Vietnamese name beautifully translates to “willow tree.”
70. Linh: A deeply spiritual Vietnamese name meaning “soul” and “spirit.”
71. Lo: This Chinese surname is spelled ten different ways and means “to collect” and “gather.”
72. Loi: A tiny Vietnamese name carrying the impressive and powerful meaning of “thunder.”
73. Lu: This surname means “clumsy,” “from Lu state,” and “foolish” in Chinese and Vietnamese cultures.
74. Luc: Originating in Taiwan but derived from the English Lucy, meaning “to reveal,” “expose,” and “west.”
75. Luong: Similar to Liang, this Chinese and Vietnamese name means “structure and roof beam.”
76. Luu: A battle-ready Chinese name that translates to “to kill” and “to slaughter.”
77. Ly: A simple Vietnamese name with an even more straightforward meaning of “plum.”
78. Ma: Sourced from Chinese, Mandarin, and Cantonese origins, meaning “horse.”
79. Mac: A philosophical Chinese and Vietnamese name meaning “nothing” and “non-existent.”
80. Mach: Popular in the Vietnamese Chinese community, meaning “wheat,” “barley,” and “oats.”
81. Mai: Similar to Mach, this lovely name also means “cherry blossom” and “yellow.”
82. Manh: Another popular Chinese surname meaning “ten thousand” and “a great number.”
83. Minh: A highly common name among Asian communities, meaning “bright.”
84. Nam: A foundational component of the word Vietnam, meaning “south.”
85. Ng: This incredibly common Chinese surname means “yellow” and “to fall through.”
86. Nghiem: A Chinese-inspired Vietnamese name that means “strict,” “tight,” “severe,” and “father.”
87. Ngo: Ranked as the 12th most popular surname in Vietnam in 2021, meaning “corn.”
88. Ngoc: This beautiful and highly coveted female name means “jade” in Vietnamese.
89. Ngu: A Chinese name meaning “five,” “to associate with,” and “fish.”
90. Nguy: A mixture of Taiwanese and Vietnamese linguistics meaning “to endanger” and “danger.”
91. Nguyen: Approximately 40 percent of Vietnamese people have this surname, meaning “small state” and “musical instrument.”
92. Nhan: This Chinese surname is highly common in Vietnam and means “person” or “face figure.”
93. Nhu: This Vietnamese name possibly translates to “alike,” “to eat,” and “to endure.”
94. Nong: In a 2013 study, Nong was the 189th most popular surname in China, meaning “farmer.”
95. Nzuyen: Likely derived from Nguyen, sharing the exact same meaning and origin.
96. O: Possibly of Korean and Japanese origin, meaning “king” and “written.”
97. On: A classic and soothing Vietnamese and Chinese name meaning “peace.”
98. Ong: A powerful Asian surname meaning “king,” “monarch,” and “to reign over.”
99. Peng: A bold name possibly meaning “drum beats,” “big,” and “a giant bird” in Chinese and Vietnamese.
100. Pham: Of Vietnamese and Chinese origin, meaning “model,” “pattern,” and “example.”
101. Phan: With deep roots in Vietnamese culture, this Chinese name means “to hope” or “expect.”
102. Phang: A cool, action-oriented Chinese name that means “to gallop,” “to assist,” and “to attack.”
103. Phong: This beautiful nature-inspired Vietnamese name translates to “wind.”
104. Phoung: A cute name with dual meanings of “phoenix” and “direction.”
105. Phu: A great name to manifest success, meaning “rich,” “abundant,” and “wealthy.”
106. Phung: Similar to Phang, meaning “to gallop,” “to assist,” and “to attack.”
107. Quach: An architectural name of Chinese and Vietnamese origin that translates to “outer city walls.”
108. Quang: The perfect Vietnamese name for an innocent child, meaning “pure and clear.”
109. Quoc: A rarely used yet highly patriotic Vietnamese name meaning “country,” “state,” and “nation.”
110. Son: Originating from the Korean name Sohn, meaning “to extend and stretch.”
111. Su: A simple, humble Chinese name meaning “plain,” “simple,” and “respectful.”
112. Ta: This tiny two-letter Vietnamese surname means “to thank,” “wither,” “apologize,” and “decline.”
113. Tan: A widely popular Asian surname meaning “magnificent” and “new.”
114. Thach: This Chinese name has multiple meanings, including “dry measure for grain” and “rock or stone.”
115. Thai: A short form of Thailand, meaning “free” in Vietnamese.
116. Tham: The ideal Vietnamese name for highly gracious and polite children.
117. Than: A vibrant Vietnamese surname meaning “bright blue” and “brilliant.”
118. Thang: This strong name of Vietnamese origin carries the meaning of “victory.”
119. Thanh: A name highly similar to Than, sharing the exact same meaning and origin.
120. Thi: The perfect choice for highly creative Vietnamese children, meaning “poetry and verse.”
121. Thong: An unusual yet highly complimentary Vietnamese boy’s name meaning “smart.”
122. Thu: This charming nature-inspired Vietnamese name translates to “autumn.”
123. Thuy: The ideal name for a water sign baby, as it means “water” in Vietnamese.
124. Tien: An ethereal Vietnamese name meaning “fairy,” “goddess,” and “celestial being.”
125. Ton: A deeply familial Chinese name that describes a “grandson” or “descendant.”
126. Tong: A sweet-smelling Vietnamese boy’s name meaning “fragrant.”
127. Trach: In traditional Vietnam, a “trach” represents a “small earthen pot” or “cooking pot.”
128. Tram: The direct Vietnamese translation of Tram is “incense,” “deep,” and “low.”
129. Tran: A classic gender-neutral Vietnamese name meaning “old and ancient.”
130. Trang: The ideal Vietnamese choice for highly intelligent and serious children.
131. Tri: Rooted in Chinese and Vietnamese history, meaning “wisdom and intellect.”
132. Trieu: A unique Vietnamese name representing abundance, meaning “millions.”
133. Trinh: This beautiful female Vietnamese name means “pure and virginal.”
134. Tron: An unusual Vietnamese name translating to “round” and “circle.”
135. Troung: A name of Chinese and Vietnamese origin, meaning “to open up,” “flatten,” and “spread.”
136. Trung: A practical unisex Vietnamese name meaning “medium.”
137. Tu: According to classic Vietnamese language structures, Tu means “bright and sharp.”
138. Tuan: A well-mannered and polite Vietnamese name meaning “gentlemanly” and “chivalrous lord.”
139. Van: In Vietnamese, Van translates beautifully to “cloud,” “knowledge,” and “culture.”
140. Vang: This Vietnamese surname is rooted in Old Chinese and means “gold” and “yellow.”
141. Vi: With more meanings than actual letters, this Vietnamese name means “tail,” “flavor,” “taste,” and “innocent.”
142. Vien: Primarily a male Vietnamese name meaning “complete” and “full.”
143. Vinh: A deeply respected name of Chinese and Vietnamese origin, meaning “glory.”
144. Vo: This Vietnamese name is perfect for families who value structure, meaning “martial and military.”
145. Voong: Another bold Chinese-inspired name meaning “to gallop,” “to attack,” and “to assist.”
146. Vu: A short and beautifully simple name meaning “wind” in Vietnamese.
147. Vuong: This prominent Vietnamese name has deep royal connections and means “to rule,” “king,” and “monarch.”
148. Yen: A gender-neutral Vietnamese name meaning “peace,” “safe,” and “stand still.”

Vietnamese Last Names FAQs

Which Vietnamese Last Names Are Chinese?

Many Vietnamese last names are Chinese, including Voong, Troung, Ton, Hua, Ang, and Lac. Other Vietnamese surnames, like Thai, Lavan, O, Nguy, and Ai, derive from Thailand, Indonesia, Hebrew, and Japan.

Which Vietnamese Last Names Are the Most Common?

The most common Vietnamese last names include Nguyen, Nong, Mach, Kim, and Minh. Other examples, like Giang, Dinh, Phoung, and Hoang, are also well-loved in Vietnam.

How Do Vietnamese Names Work?

Vietnamese names typically follow a specific order. The family name comes first, followed by the middle name, and finally the given name.

Why Do So Many Vietnamese People Have the Last Name Nguyen?

The surname Nguyen became extremely prominent during the Nguyen Dynasty. Many citizens changed their family names to Nguyen to show loyalty, avoid political persecution, or align themselves with the ruling class.

Do Vietnamese Wives Take Their Husband’s Last Name?

No, women in Vietnam traditionally keep their maiden name after marriage. However, children almost always take their father’s family name.

What Is the Rarest Vietnamese Last Name?

While Nguyen is the most common, surnames like Quach, Ton, and Khuu are relatively rare. These names often belong to specific ethnic minorities or families with distinct Chinese heritage.

Can a Vietnamese Middle Name Be Used as a Last Name?

Middle names like Thi for women and Van for men are strictly used as middle identifiers. They do not function as family names in traditional Vietnamese culture.

How Many Vietnamese Surnames Exist?

There are roughly 200 to 300 Vietnamese family names in existence. Despite this variety, the top 14 surnames account for over 90 percent of the entire population.