Văn and Thị: the traditional Vietnamese middle names

Văn and Thị are the traditional Vietnamese middle names: Văn for men and Thị for women. For generations they were so common that seeing one in a name, as in Nguyễn Văn Hùng or Trần Thị Lan, usually told you the person's gender at a glance.

Where do middle names fit in a Vietnamese name?

A Vietnamese name is usually written family name, middle name, given name. The middle name is called tên đệm in the North and tên lót in the South, and it sits between the surname and the name people actually use. Do Vietnamese people have middle names? explains the basics.

What does Văn mean?

Văn is a Sino-Vietnamese word associated with literature, writing, culture and refinement, linked to the Chinese character 文. As a middle name, it carried a sense of learning and cultivation, which made it a fitting, respectable choice for sons.

Pronunciation hint: "vun," with a short vowel and a level tone. In many Southern accents, v sounds closer to "y," so you may hear "yun."

What does Thị mean?

Thị is a Sino-Vietnamese element traditionally used to mark a woman's name, often linked to the character 氏, which relates to clan or family lineage. As a middle name, it functioned mainly as a marker of gender rather than a word with a vivid everyday meaning.

Pronunciation hint: "tee," with an aspirated "t" and the heavy tone: your voice drops and cuts off sharply.

Note that the word thị also appears in other Vietnamese words with unrelated meanings, as many single syllables do. In a name, it's simply the traditional female middle name.

Why were they so common?

For a long time, Văn and Thị were the default middle names in many families, especially in rural areas and among older generations. A few reasons are often given:

• Tradition: parents named children the way their own parents had.
• Clarity: the middle name signaled gender clearly, which helped in a naming system where many given names are used for both.
• Simplicity: with the given name carrying the personal meaning, the middle name followed a familiar pattern.

That's why you'll find many grandparents and great-grandparents with these middle names.

How has naming changed?

Many modern parents, especially in cities, now choose more distinctive middle names. Instead of Văn or Thị, you'll see middle names like:

• Minh: bright, intelligent
• Ngọc: jade, gem
• Gia: family, household
• Bảo: treasure, precious
• Khánh: celebration, joy
• Thanh: clear, pure, or blue-green

Some of these are gender-neutral, and parents may choose a middle name for how it sounds with the given name, for its meaning, or to honor someone. Some families also use the mother's surname as a middle name.

Văn and Thị haven't disappeared, though. Many families still use them, and plenty of younger people carry them too. Choices vary by family, region and generation, so it's best not to assume anything about a person from their middle name alone.

How do people feel about Thị today?

Feelings vary. Some women value Thị as a link to tradition and their mothers and grandmothers. Others feel it sounds old-fashioned and prefer to drop it in everyday use, or their parents simply chose something else. On US forms, some women keep it as their middle name, while others leave it off. If you're unsure how someone writes their name, ask them.

Are there other traditional gender markers?

Văn and Thị are the best known, but they're not the only pattern. Some families have used other middle names consistently for sons or daughters, and in some families the middle name marks a generation. Because practices differ, there isn't one rule that covers everyone.

Examples

• Nguyễn Văn An: a traditional male name; he's called An.
• Lê Thị Hoa: a traditional female name; she's called Hoa.
• Trần Minh Khang: a modern male name with a different middle name.
• Phạm Ngọc Anh: a modern female name; Ngọc is a popular choice.

Want to explore given names next? See Vietnamese girl names and their meanings and Vietnamese boy names and their meanings.

If you're helping someone fill in a form and their name has Văn or Thị, put it in the middle name field unless they tell you otherwise.