Vietnamese last names typically are brief and simple to say.
The naming traditions in Vietnam are distinct. Last names in Vietnam were not used before the Han Dynasty of China conquered Vietnam in 111 B.C. After the conquest, Vietnamese people started incorporating the use of last names into their culture.
We have created an extensive collection of popular Vietnamese surnames along with their explanations. Many of these last names have Chinese origins or are variations of Chinese names, while others have roots in other Asian nations. Keep reading this post ‘Top Vietnamese Last Names Or Surnames’ to discover the background and origins of these family names and gain insight into Vietnam’s diverse history.
Common Vietnamese Last Names Or Surnames
1. Ai
It means mugwort and is a popular Vietnamese last name that originated in China.
2. Ang
Just like the Chinese last name Wang, it signifies ‘to govern.’
3. Anh
Anh, derived from Sino-Vietnamese, refers to ‘flower.’
4. Au
This Vietnamese last name represents tranquility and peacefulness, signifying ‘peace.’ It is derived from both Chinese and Vietnamese roots and can also symbolize a flowing water stream.
5. Banh
This name is a variation of Peng having Chinese roots, and its meaning is ‘large.’
6. Bao
The last name Bao, despite its Chinese roots, is a commonly used last name in Vietnam, signifying ‘treasure.’
7. Bi
It is a Chinese last name that is commonly associated with individuals residing in Western countries. The name translates to ‘to complete’ or ‘to finish’.
8. Bui
The last name Bui is derived from the natural world, with roots in Chinese and Korean languages. It signifies ‘plum.’
9. Cam
Cam is derived from Chinese and means ‘sweet.’ It is a different form of the surname Kam.
10. Can
The last name Can, which has its origins in French, translates to ‘hound.’
11. Cao
Cao is a well-known last name in China and is spelled as Tsao in Chinese characters. It signifies ‘defendant’ and was a division within the government of Ancient China.
12. Chau
The last name Chau has roots in both Vietnam and China and is a variation of the Chinese surname Chow, which translates to ‘pearl.’
13. Che
This last name has Chinese roots and can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. It symbolizes a ‘cart’ and was influenced by a Chinese Prime Minister who used a cart to travel to work.
14. Chi
The energy force known as Chi. The last nmae Chi comes from the Bemba Tribe, as well as having Chinese roots where it signifies ‘pond.’
15. Chu
The last name has its roots in China and refers to a region during the Zhou Dynasty.
16. Co
The typical Vietnamese last name Co has roots in China and translates to ‘to commend.’
17. Cong
This widely known Chinese-origin name is also popular in Vietnam, where it translates to ‘bush.’
18. Dai
The last name Dai, originating from Chinese, is translated to mean ‘to support’ in Vietnamese.
19. Dan
The last name Dan, originating from Vietnam, carries a Biblical significance. In Hebrew, it signifies ‘God is my judge,’ while in Chinese, it conveys the meaning of ‘indifferent.’
20. Dang
The last name of Chinese origin comes from a segment of the Zhou dynasty and signifies ‘affiliation.’
21. Dau
The last name Dau originates from Old German and signifies “heritage.”
22. Dinh
The last name Dinh, which is of Vietnamese origin, is not commonly found. Its meaning is encampment and it has roots in Vietnamese history and culture.
23. Doan
Doan is a last name of topographical origin, meaning ‘at the down.’ The name Doan carries a sense of prestige, as those who have it were seen as guardians of the country.
24. Don
The Vietnamese name, which is well-liked, is derived from the English term Don. It signifies someone who rules over the world.
25. Du
It is of Chinese origin and translates to ‘birch leaf pear’.
26. Duong
The meaning of the Vietnamese last name Duong, which has Chinese origins, is ‘popular.’
27. Duy
In Vietnam, this last name is well-known and translates to ‘rescue.’
28. Giang
The name comes from a mixture of Chinese and Vietnamese languages and signifies the word ‘river.’
29. Hai
The last name Hai has its roots in Chinese language and is commonly known as a Sino-Vietnamese name. It symbolizes the vastness of the ocean.
30. Ho
The last name is a popular Chinese name that signifies ‘unity.’
31. Hoa
This last name has its roots in China and means ‘flawless’ or ‘ideal.’
32. Hoang
The last name Hoang is of Chinese and Vietnamese origin, with the meaning of ‘yellow.’
33. Hong
It signifies ‘deluge’ and is also the title of a well-known Chinese empire. Gongongshi adopted the surname Gong, but they had to alter it to Hong in order to evade their adversaries.
34. Hua
This Vietnamese last name has topographical origins from China and specifically refers to the dwellings of individuals from Mount Hua.
35. Hue
Originating in China, this Vietnamese name means ‘to praise.’
36. Huu
Huu, a popular Sino-Vietnamese last name, translates to ‘friend.’
37. Huy
The last name Huy, of Chinese origin, is well-liked in Vietnam and translates to ‘to make a commitment.’
38. Huynh
This last name Hoang is another version of a name of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, which translates to ‘yellow.’
39. Hy
The last name Hy originates from China and its meaning is ‘to praise.’
40. Kha
This last name of Chinese descent is well-liked by immigrant Chinese communities residing abroad. The significance of the name signifies separation, as it translates to ‘tree branch.’
41. Khanh
The name is well-known in Vietnam and translates to ‘resembling a valuable gem.’
42. Khong
The last name Khong is widely used in Vietnam. It is reminiscent of the Chinese and Korean surname Kong, which is associated with the meaning of ‘peaceful.’
43. Khuu
Khuu originates from the Chinese last name Qiu, which translates to ‘fall’.
44. Kien
The surname Kien in Sien-Vietnamese culture translates to ‘resilient.’
45. Kieu
Even though Kieu is commonly used as a first name for women, it is also recognized as a surname that is not specific to a particular gender. Its origin is Vietnamese and it translates to ‘graceful.’
46. Kim
This last name originates from Korea and also has a variation known as Keum. The name signifies the meaning of ‘gold.’
47. Ky
The last name Ky originates from Vietnam and translates to ‘good luck.’
48. Lac
Lac, a widely used Vietnamese last name with Chinese roots, is particularly popular among Chinese emigrants, as it translates to ‘camel’ in English.
49. Lai
This Chinese surname is popular in various East-Asian nations and translates to ‘reliable’ in English.
50. Lam
This last name means ‘to gather’ and derives from the Chinese surname Luo.
51. Lavan
This name of Hebrew origin signifies ‘white.’
52. Le
The last name Le has its roots in Vietnam, originating from the renowned Le Dynasty.
53. Liang
The name Liang is derived from an ancient Chinese dynasty and is also commonly used as a Vietnamese surname with the meaning of ‘bridge.’
54. Lieu
This common last name, originating from Vietnam, signifies ‘willow tree.’ It is often used as a first name for Vietnamese female infants.
55. Linh
Originating from Vietnamese, this popular surname signifies ‘spirit.’
56. Lo
In Chinese, the word ‘lo’ translates to ‘to sift.’
57. Loi
It signifies the sound of thunder and is a frequently used surname in China and Vietnam.
58. Lu
It is a last name of Chinese origin that translates to ‘path.’
59. Luong
The last name Luong has mixed Vietnamese and Chinese roots. It is comparable to the Chinese surname Long, which signifies ‘dragon.’
60. Luu
It is a version of the Chinese last name Liu and is well-liked in East Asia. This last name is derived from a term meaning ‘battle-ax.’
61. Ly
The meaning of the Vietnamese last name Ly is ‘logic.’
62. Ma
The last name is widely used in both China and Vietnam and translates to ‘horse.’
63. Mac
The last name Mac has roots in both Vietnamese and Scottish heritage. In the Gaelic language, Mac translates to ‘son.’ This name is well-liked in Vietnam because of the Mac clan’s rule over Northern Vietnam in the 16th century.
64. Mai
Mai, which originates from Vietnam, translates to ‘show off.’
65. Manh
The last name is well-known among Chinese immigrants in Vietnam, and it signifies the oldest brother in a family.
66. Minh
Like the Chinese Ming surname, this Vietnamese last name also signifies the meaning of ‘bright.’
67. Nam
Nam is a popular Korean surname that comes from the word meaning ‘south.’
68. Ng
This last name means ‘to fall through’ has its roots in China.
69. Ngo
The last name Ngo originates from Chinese roots and is a variation of the Chinese surname Ao, which translates to ‘squad of five soldiers.’
70. Ngoc
Ngoc is a last name that originates from both Chinese and Vietnamese languages, and its meaning is ‘precious.’
71. Ngu
This common Vietnamese last name of Chinese origin translates to ‘to expect’ or ‘to foresee.’
72. Nguy
Nguy is derived from Chinese and signifies putting in jeopardy.
73. Nguyen
Originating from the Chinese word Ruan, Nguyen is the title of a Vietnamese ruling family. Numerous Vietnamese citizens adopted the surname Nguyen as a gesture of allegiance to the ruling Nguyen dynasty. The surname itself is associated with a traditional musical instrument.
74. Nhan
The name is well-known as a surname and middle name, originating from China and translating to ‘former.’
75. Nhu
This name, which is widely used as both a first name and a last name in Vietnam, translates to “similar” in English.
76. Nong
Nong is a popular Vietnamese surname of Chinese origin that translates to ‘peasant.’
77. O
The well-known surname O has been passed down through the prestigious clans of Vietnam. It is derived from the Chinese Wu and the Korean Oh.
78. On
On, a Vietnamese surname derived from Ahn, translates to ‘peace.’
79. Ong
It is a Chinese last name that is a variation of Vuong, which signifies the color yellow.
80. Peng
The Vietnamese surnames Pe and its variation Peng are common in Vietnam and have Chinese origins, both translating to ‘long.’
81. Pham
This last name originates from Vietnamese and Chinese origins, with the meaning of ‘extensive.’
82. Phan
The surname Phan, also spelled as Fan, has Chinese roots and translates to ‘fence.’
83. Phong
The name Phong comes from Vietnamese and means ‘wind.’ It is commonly used as a given name.
84. Phoung
This surname of Vietnamese origin signifies the mythical bird known as the Phoenix.’
85. Phung
This surname of Chinese origin, also known as Pung and Fung, is translated to mean ‘great.’
86. Quach
Quach is a Vietnamese last name that has different forms in Chinese, Cantonese, and Japanese. Its other Asian variations include Guo, Kuoko, and Gwak. This surname is derived from a habitational term that describes someone who resides close to the outer city wall.
87. Son
Alternatively known as Sohn or Shon, this surname has Korean roots and was originally used to identify a specific clan that derived their name from the Sun.
88. Su
The name originates from China and signifies ‘group of stars.’
89. Ta
This last name was chosen by individuals from Southern China who relocated to Vietnam.
90. Tan
This surname originates from China and translates to ‘to show’ in English.’
91. Thai
This is a surname that indicates the person is from Thailand.
92. Tham
It signifies being well-known and is a name of Vietnamese descent.
93. Than
Than is a Burmese name that is well-liked in various Asian countries. The name signifies the meaning of ‘million.’
94. Thang
The last name Thang, which has Chinese origins, translates to ‘rushing current’ in Vietnamese.
95. Thanh
The last name Thanh is recognized in Chinese and Vietnamese circles, symbolizing ‘sound.’
96. Thi
The last name is of Chinese and Vietnamese origin and it signifies ‘poetry.’
97. Thong
The last name Thong, originating from China, signifies ‘smart.’ It seems like there is a misunderstanding regarding your request.
98. Thu
Thu is a surname of Sino-Vietnamese origin, commonly found in Vietnam and carries the meaning of ‘autumn’.
99. Thuy
The surname Thuy originates from Vietnam and signifies the element ‘water.’
100. Tein
According to the Vietnamese people, Tien is considered as a supernatural being known as a ‘fairy.’
101. Ton
This last name means ‘Descendant’ which is derived from the Chinese community that resides in Malaysia.
102. Tong
Tong is a name derived from the landscape, referring to an individual residing in the middle of the country.
103. Tran
Tran is the Vietnamese equivalent of the Korean Jin and the Chinese Chen, signifying ‘ancient.’
104. Trang
This last name is commonly used by Vietnamese people of Chinese descent. It signifies ‘serious.’
105. Tri
The last name originates from Indonesia and it signifies the word ‘third.’
106. Trieu
Trieu is the Vietnamese equivalent of the Chinese surname Zhao, which originated from one of the seven states during the Warring States period.
107. Trinh
The commonly used Chinese and Vietnamese last name Trinh translates to ‘to rule.’
108. Troung
This surname of Chinese origin denotes ‘a piece of paper.’
109. Trung
This name is derived from Vietnamese and signifies ‘center.’
110. Tu
The surname Zoutu originates from the Chinese military city of Zoutu, leading to the formation of the surnames Zou and Tu. This surname is common in China and is comparable to the surname Du, which signifies ‘capital.’
111. Tuan
This Vietnamese last name, derived from Chinese, signifies ‘brave and honorable.’
112. Quang
The name originates from Vietnam and signifies ‘transparent.’
113. Quoc
Quoc has its roots in both Chinese and Vietnamese languages, and it translates to ‘country.’
114. Van
Its roots can be traced back to Dutch and is often added as a prefix to last names. This surname is descriptive, indicating a place of origin or association.
115. Vi
Vi is a Chinese surname widely recognized internationally, with a meaning of ‘soft leather’.
116. Vo
Vo is a well-known name within the Chinese and Vietnamese populations. It symbolizes harmony and unity as it translates to ‘harmonious.’
117. Vu
Vu is a form of the Chinese last name Wu and translates to ‘shaman.’
118. Voong
This last name from Vietnam signifies ‘royalty.’
119. Vuong
This last name originates from the Chinese word Wang and signifies ‘to govern.’
120. Yen
Originating from China, this Vietnamese name means to ‘calm’ or ‘peaceful.’
Frequently Asked Questions
Vietnamese names typically consist of three components: a family name that is passed down patrilineally, a middle name, and a given name. In Vietnamese culture, women retain their family name even after marriage. Some well-known Vietnamese individuals include Ho Chi Minh, Nguyen Hue (Emperor Quang Trung), Bao Dai, Bich Minh Nguyen, and Bui Bich Phuong. If you are not set on choosing a distinct Vietnamese name for your child, you may consider using one of the suggested names based on your customs and preferences.
