Most Common Vietnamese Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Vietnamese last names, also known as family names, are an essential part of Vietnamese culture and identity. These names often hold significant meaning and are passed down through generations. This guide will provide a list of the most common Vietnamese last names along with their detailed meanings, offering insights into the rich history and traditions of Vietnamese naming practices.
1. **Nguyễn:** The most common Vietnamese last name, representing approximately 38% of the population. It is believed to have originated from the name of a powerful dynasty that ruled Vietnam in the 13th century. The name is also associated with the concept of "origin" or "source."
2. **Trần:** The second most common last name, accounting for approximately 11% of the population. It is linked to the Trần dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1225 to 1400, and is often associated with ideas of "dynasty" or "ruling power."
3. **Lê:** This last name is closely associated with the Lê dynasty, which ruled Vietnam during various periods from the 15th to 19th centuries. It represents approximately 10% of the population and is connected with notions of "rule" or "government."
4. **Phạm:** This name ranks fourth in prevalence, representing approximately 7% of the population. It is believed to have originated from a Chinese clan and is often linked to ideas of "law" or "justice."
5. **Phan:** This last name is often associated with the concept of "spreading" or "expanding." It represents approximately 4% of the population and is linked to the idea of "growth" or "flourishing."
6. **Vũ:** The name is connected with the concept of "universe" or "cosmos," often associated with "power" or "influence." It represents approximately 3% of the population.
7. **Đặng:** This name holds connections to the concept of "light" or "brightness," often associated with "knowledge" or "wisdom." It represents approximately 3% of the population.
8. **Hoàng:** The name is often linked to "royalty" or "emperor" and carries connotations of "power" and "influence." It represents approximately 2% of the population.
9. **Hồ:** This name often represents "lake" or "pond" and is associated with concepts of "tranquility" and "peace." It represents approximately 2% of the population.
10. **Bùi:** The name is often associated with "bamboo" and carries connotations of "strength" and "flexibility." It represents approximately 2% of the population.
11. **Đỗ:** This name often represents "to arrive" or "to reach" and is associated with concepts of "success" and "achievement." It represents approximately 2% of the population.
12. **Tạ:** The name is often linked to the concept of "thanksgiving" or "gratitude" and carries connotations of "appreciation" and "generosity." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
13. **Cao:** This name often represents "tall" or "high" and is associated with concepts of "strength" and "ambition." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
14. **Võ:** The name is often linked to "martial arts" and carries connotations of "strength" and "skill." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
15. **Lý:** This name often represents "theory" or "reason" and is associated with concepts of "wisdom" and "understanding." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
16. **Ngô:** The name is often linked to the Ngô dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 939 to 965, and carries connotations of "rule" and "government." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
17. **Thái:** This name often represents "great" or "grand" and is associated with concepts of "power" and "influence." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
18. **Trương:** The name is often linked to the concept of "archery" and carries connotations of "skill" and "precision." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
19. **Đinh:** The name is often linked to the Đinh dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 968 to 980, and carries connotations of "rule" and "government." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
20. **Hứa:** This name often represents "promise" or "agreement" and is associated with concepts of "trust" and "honesty." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
21. **Mai:** The name is often linked to the "plum blossom" and carries connotations of "beauty" and "elegance." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
22. **Lưu:** This name often represents "to flow" or "to circulate" and is associated with concepts of "movement" and "change." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
23. **Đỗ:** The name is often linked to the concept of "to arrive" or "to reach" and carries connotations of "success" and "achievement." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
24. **Trịnh:** This name is often linked to the Trịnh dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1545 to 1789, and carries connotations of "rule" and "government." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
25. **Chu:** This name is often linked to the Chu dynasty of China, and carries connotations of "rule" and "power." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
26. **Lý:** This name is often linked to the Lý dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1009 to 1225, and carries connotations of "rule" and "government." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
27. **Bùi:** This name is often linked to the concept of "bamboo" and carries connotations of "strength" and "flexibility." It represents approximately 1% of the population.
28. **Nguyễn Văn:** This name is a combination of the most common Vietnamese last name "Nguyễn" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Nguyễn" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
29. **Trần Văn:** This name is a combination of the second most common Vietnamese last name "Trần" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Trần" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
30. **Lê Văn:** This name is a combination of the third most common Vietnamese last name "Lê" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Lê" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
31. **Phạm Văn:** This name is a combination of the fourth most common Vietnamese last name "Phạm" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Phạm" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
32. **Phan Văn:** This name is a combination of the fifth most common Vietnamese last name "Phan" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Phan" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
33. **Vũ Văn:** This name is a combination of the sixth most common Vietnamese last name "Vũ" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Vũ" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
34. **Đặng Văn:** This name is a combination of the seventh most common Vietnamese last name "Đặng" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Đặng" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
35. **Hoàng Văn:** This name is a combination of the eighth most common Vietnamese last name "Hoàng" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Hoàng" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
36. **Hồ Văn:** This name is a combination of the ninth most common Vietnamese last name "Hồ" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Hồ" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
37. **Bùi Văn:** This name is a combination of the tenth most common Vietnamese last name "Bùi" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Bùi" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
38. **Đỗ Văn:** This name is a combination of the eleventh most common Vietnamese last name "Đỗ" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Đỗ" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
39. **Tạ Văn:** This name is a combination of the twelfth most common Vietnamese last name "Tạ" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Tạ" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."
40. **Cao Văn:** This name is a combination of the thirteenth most common Vietnamese last name "Cao" and the common middle name "Văn." It carries the same meanings as "Cao" with an added layer of "culture" or "literature" associated with "Văn."