Vietnam has remarkably few surnames — a handful cover most of the population, and Nguyễn alone is borne by roughly 40%. Most derive from Chinese characters and were often adopted from ruling dynasties, so they say little about a specific family line.

Name order and meaning

The family name comes first, followed by a middle name and the given name. Because so many people share a surname, Vietnamese are usually addressed by their given name. The meanings below reflect the Chinese character each surname derives from.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common Vietnamese surname?

Nguyu1ec5n, borne by roughly 40% of Vietnamese people.

Do Vietnamese surnames have meanings?

They derive from Chinese characters with meanings, but because they were widely adopted from dynasties, they say little about an individual family.

Does the surname come first in Vietnamese names?

Yes u2014 the family name comes first, then a middle name, then the given name.

All last names A–Z