Vietnamese names that mean flower, moon or sky

Vietnamese has many given names drawn from nature: Hoa and Lan mean flower and orchid, Nguyệt and Hằng relate to the moon, and Thiên and Vân point to the sky and clouds. Because Vietnamese names are chosen for their meaning, these images of beauty, light and openness are popular, especially for girls.

Here is a guide to the main options, with simple pronunciation hints.

How do Vietnamese name meanings work?

A Vietnamese given name usually comes last, after the family name and middle name. Parents pick it for its meaning and sound, often from Sino-Vietnamese words (vocabulary with roots in Classical Chinese) or native Vietnamese words. The middle name can shape the meaning too, so a full name often reads like a short phrase. For background, see Vietnamese names: meanings, order and how to say them.

Names that mean flower

Flower names are traditionally used for girls.

• Hoa ("hwah") means "flower." Simple and classic.
• Lan ("lahn") means "orchid," a symbol of elegance.
• Mai ("my") refers to the yellow apricot blossom, a symbol of Tết in the South.
• Đào ("dow") means "peach blossom," the Northern Tết flower.
• Cúc ("kook") means "chrysanthemum."
• Liên ("lee-en") means "lotus" in Sino-Vietnamese. Sen is the native word for lotus.
• Quỳnh ("kwing") is a night-blooming flower in the epiphyllum family, admired for blooming briefly at night.

Other flower names include Huệ (lily or tuberose), Hồng (rose, also the word for pink) and Trà (camellia). Many girls' names combine a middle name with a flower, such as Ngọc Lan ("jade orchid") or Thanh Mai.

Names that mean moon

• Nguyệt ("nwee-et") is the Sino-Vietnamese word for moon. It feels poetic and is used for girls.
• Hằng ("hung," falling tone) comes from Hằng Nga, the moon lady of legend, closely tied to the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• Trăng ("chahng" in the South, "trahng" closer to Northern speech) is the native Vietnamese word for moon. It is less common as a formal name and more likely as a nickname.

Names that mean sky and heaven

• Thiên ("tee-en") means "heaven" or "sky." It is used for boys and girls, often in combinations like Thiên Ân ("heaven's grace").
• Thanh ("tahn") means "blue," "clear" or "pure," and evokes a clear sky. It works for both genders.
• Thiên Thanh combines the two, giving the image of a clear blue sky, and is used as a girl's name.

Names that mean cloud, star and light

• Vân ("vun" in the North, "yun" in the South) means "cloud" and is mostly a girls' name.
• Mây ("may") is the native word for cloud, used more as a nickname.
• Tinh means "star" in Sino-Vietnamese, and appears in some names and combinations.
• Minh ("ming") means "bright" or "clever." It is common for boys and also used for girls.
• Ánh ("ahn," rising tone) means "light" or "ray," usually for girls.
• Nhật ("nyut") means "sun" or "day," usually for boys.

Nature names beyond the sky

If you like this style, related nature names include Hải (sea), Giang (river), Sơn (mountain), Phong (wind) and Xuân (spring). Boys' names more often use strong landscape images like mountain and sea, while girls' names lean toward flowers, moon and clouds, though there are many exceptions.

Pronunciation tips

Tones matter in names. Hằng and Hạnh, for example, are different names with different meanings. When you meet someone, listen to how they say their own name and repeat it back. Southern and Northern speakers also pronounce some letters differently, especially v, d and gi. For more help, see how to pronounce Vietnamese names.

Choosing a nature name

If you are choosing a Vietnamese name for a child, consider:

• The full name together. Read the family name, middle name and given name aloud as one phrase.
• Family customs. Some families avoid repeating an elder's name out of respect.
• Regional sound. A name may sound slightly different in the North and South.
• Meaning in combination. The middle name can turn "flower" into "precious flower" or "spring flower."

If you are drawn to one of these names, ask a Vietnamese speaker to say it aloud with its middle name; hearing the full phrase is the best way to know whether it fits.