Nguyen
Nguyễn is the most common surname among Vietnamese people. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. By some estimates 30 to 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this surname.
Meaning & Origin of Nguyen
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nguyễn is the most common surname among Vietnamese people. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. By some estimates 30 to 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this surname.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nguyen
As a girl name
Nguyen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1975, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1992, when 11 Nguyens were born — ranking #7,512 that year. As of 2026, Nguyen ranks #16,866 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 117 Nguyens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Nguyen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1975, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1982, when 19 Nguyens were born — ranking #2,519 that year. As of 2026, Nguyen ranks #10,889 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 477 Nguyens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Nguyen
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Poets ( Nguyễn Trãi , Nguyễn Du , Nguyễn Đình Chiểu , Nguyễn Khoa Điềm , Nguyen Do ...)
- Catholic clergymen ( Nguyễn Văn Thuận )
- Writers ( Viet Thanh Nguyen )
- Scientists ( Nam-Trung Nguyen )
- Composers, actors ( Dustin Nguyen )
- Models ( Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên )
- Professional poker players ( Scotty Nguyen )
- Professional American football player ( Dat Nguyen )
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Nguyen
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nguyen is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nguyen
What does the name Nguyen mean?
How popular is Nguyen in 2026?
When was Nguyen most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nguyen most popular?
Is Nguyen a unisex name?
What names go well with Nguyen?
About the name Nguyen
Nguyen is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 477 births in the dataset. Nguyen's peak popularity came in 1982 when it ranked #2,519. Use the chart and map above to compare Nguyen's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1982 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.