Minh Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: meen /miŋ/
Origin: Vietnamese
Meaning: bright; intelligent
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Minh has its roots in Vietnamese, where it is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese word "明" (míng), which means "bright" or "clear." This character has its origins in Chinese, where it also carries similar meanings, often associated with light and clarity. The adoption of Chinese characters into the Vietnamese language, known as Chữ Nôm, occurred during the period of Chinese rule over Vietnam, which lasted for over a millennium, beginning in the 2nd century BCE.
As a result, many Vietnamese names, including Minh, reflect this historical linguistic influence. Historically, the name Minh has been borne by various notable figures in Vietnamese history, including emperors and scholars.
One prominent example is Emperor Minh Mạng, who ruled from 1820 to 1841 during the Nguyễn dynasty. His reign is marked by significant cultural and political developments in Vietnam, including efforts to consolidate the state and promote Confucian values.
The name has also been associated with various Vietnamese leaders and intellectuals throughout the centuries, further embedding it in the cultural consciousness of the nation. Culturally, the name Minh embodies qualities such as intelligence, clarity, and enlightenment, which resonate deeply within Vietnamese society.
It is often used in combination with other characters to create compound names that convey additional meanings, such as Minh Tuấn or Minh Đức, which can signify virtues like intelligence and morality. This tradition of combining names reflects a broader cultural practice in Vietnam where names are chosen not only for their sound but also for their meanings, often aiming to bestow positive attributes upon the bearer.
The enduring nature of the name Minh in Vietnamese culture highlights its significance and the values it represents.
Famous people named Minh
In this section, you will find notable people named Minh. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Minh who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Minh who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Minh Nguyen is a chef best known for his work on MasterChef and his restaurant, The Pho King.
Minh Le is a game developer best known for creating the game series Counter-Strike and the game Tactical Intervention.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Minh, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Minh. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Minh was first seen in the United States in 1975.
Minh has ranked as high as #1069 nationally, which occurred in 1982, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Louisiana.
In the past 5 years the name Minh has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Minh is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Minh was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Minh (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 8 | |
| CA | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Minh.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2017 | 36 |
| 2016 | 29 |
| 2015 | 39 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2012 | 46 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2010 | 37 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2008 | 47 |
| 2007 | 45 |
| 2006 | 38 |
| 2005 | 41 |
| 2004 | 38 |
| 2003 | 50 |
| 2002 | 37 |
| 2001 | 40 |
| 2000 | 30 |
| 1999 | 33 |
| 1998 | 28 |
| 1997 | 57 |
| 1996 | 48 |
| 1995 | 40 |
| 1994 | 62 |
| 1993 | 58 |
| 1992 | 68 |
| 1991 | 42 |
| 1990 | 50 |
| 1989 | 46 |
| 1988 | 58 |
| 1987 | 50 |
| 1986 | 46 |
| 1985 | 59 |
| 1984 | 57 |
| 1983 | 70 |
| 1982 | 80 |
| 1981 | 67 |
| 1980 | 50 |
| 1979 | 35 |
| 1978 | 20 |
| 1977 | 16 |
| 1976 | 21 |
| 1975 | 6 |