50 Popular Vietnamese Last Names & Their Meanings

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Plus, discover Vietnam's unique naming convention

Co-authored by Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: July 25, 2026 Fact Checked

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Most Common Surnames

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Other Surnames

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Naming Conventions

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More Asian Names

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Ever wonder what the most popular Vietnamese last names are, and why you tend to see some more than others? You've come to the right place! In this article, you'll find a list of the most common surnames in Vietnam, plus other Vietnamese last names you might come across. We'll also explain the unique Vietnamese naming conventions and more!

What are popular Vietnamese last names?

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Nguyen (pronounced ng-wen or wen) is the most popular Vietnamese name, with about 40% of the population having it as their surname! Other popular last names are Tran, Pham, Le, and Hoang. Most Vietnamese last names were created during the Chinese occupation from 111 BC to 938 AD, and are of Chinese origin.

Section 1 of 4:

Most Common Vietnamese Last Names

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The most common surnames in Vietnamese are Nguyen, Tran, and Pham. Unlike in Western countries, most people born in Vietnam share the same last names! This doesn't mean they're all related, however. During the Chinese occupation of Vietnam, the Chinese government gave the native people names derived from Chinese characters or clans to make tax collection and census-taking easier. That's why many Vietnamese men and women you meet might have a last name like Nguyen, which is by far the most common surname in their home country.^{[1]
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Research source} Here's a full list of extremely common Vietnamese last names, sorted by popularity:
- Nguyen (ng-wen or wen): "Musical instrument"; also associated historically with nobility and a Chinese ruling dynasty
- Tran: "Display" or "arrange"
- Pham: "Cultivate" or "nurture"
- Le (leh): "Plum"
- Hoang (hwahng): "Yellow" or "royal"
- Vu (Vo) (view or voh): "Military" or "brave"
- Phan (fan): "Plate" or "tray"
- Bui (boo-ee): Signifies historical roots in a specific region
- Huynh (hwhin): "Yellow" or "royal"; derived from the same Chinese root as Huang
- Dang (dung): "Light" or "bright"
- Truong (choong): "Chief" or "leader"
- Ngo (ng-oh): "Fine" or "majestic"
- Duong (yoo-ung): "Poplar tree" or "sun"
- Ha (hah): "River"
- Do (doh): "To cross" or "ferry"

Section 2 of 4:

Other Vietnamese Last Names

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Rarer Vietnamese surnames include Thi, Dao, and Lam. While the other names on this list are still used by thousands of people, you might not come across them as often as Nguyen or Tran. Some are derived from Chinese words or characters, and others are of Vietnamese origin.
- Dinh (ding): "Stable" or "firm"
- Ho (hoh): "Lake" or "river"
- Trinh (chin): "Order" or "arrange"
- Doan (dwahn): "Group" or "section"
- Thi (tee): Poetry
- Hong (hawng): "Rose" or "red"
- Dao (dow): "Peach"
- Hung (hoong): "Prosperity" or "abundance"
- Lam: "Forest"
- Cao (kow): "High" or "lofty"
- Luong (lwahng): "Beam" or "bridge"
- Luu (lee-oo): "Stay" or "remain"
- Thai (tie): "Peace" or "safe"
- Nam (nahm): "South"
- Ly (lee): "Plum"
- Thanh (tan): "Clear," "blue," or "accomplished"
- Tu (too): "Scholar" or "master"
- Lan (lahn): "Orchid"
- Mai (my): "Apricot blossom"
- Son (sun): "Mountain"
- Van (vun): "Cloud" or "literary"
- Phung (fung): "Phoenix"
- Anh (awn): "Bright" or "intelligent"
- Chau (chow): "Pearl" or "gem"
- Minh (ming): "Bright" or "clear"
- Vuong (wong): "King" or "ruler"
- Chu (choo): "Territory" or "division"
- Tan (tawn): "New" or "fresh"
- An (ahn): "Peace" or "safety"
- Ta (tah): "Left" or "assist"
- Ngoc (nyawk): "Jade" or "gemstone"
- Tam (tahm): "Heart," "mind," or "kindness"
- Tung (toong): "Pine tree"
- Yen (ian): "Peace" or "calmness"
- Phuong (foo-uhng): "Direction" or "method"

Section 3 of 4:

Vietnamese Naming Conventions Explained

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The Vietnamese have 3 names: a last name, a middle name, and a first name. Names in Vietnam are arranged backward compared to names in Western countries. They start with a last name (the individual's family name), followed by a middle name and a first name (the individual's given name). For example, a female name might be Nguyen Tanh Mai, and a male name might be Pham Quoc Nam.^{[2]
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- To distinguish between people who share the same last name, address them by their first name, then their last name (e.g., Dr. Mai Nguyen). If they're a friend or a casual acquaintance, you might call them by their first name only (Mai).
- Did you know? Vietnamese women don't change their last names to their husbands' names when they get married. They keep their maiden name (their father's family name) their whole life.