Hanh

Hanh is a Vietnamese-language name that may refer to a personal name or, less commonly, a surname. When Vietnamese diacritics are omitted, two distinct characters commonly transliterated as Hanh are implicated: Hạnh (with acute and dot below) and Hành (with a circumflex and grave). Each character carries a different meaning, and the unaccented form can correspond to either in written records without diacritics.

As a given name, Hạnh is widely used as a feminine name in Vietnam, where it conveys connotations of happiness or virtue. It is often found in compound given names such as Hạnh Phúc (happiness) or Hạnh Dung. The unaccented form Hanh appears in international contexts, including passports, academic publications, and diaspora communities, where diacritics are not always preserved. Hành as a component appears in various names and is less commonly encountered as a stand-alone given name.

As a surname, Hanh exists within Vietnamese communities but is relatively uncommon compared to more prevalent surnames like Nguyen, Tran, or Le. When used as a family name, it is inherited independently of its meaning as a given-name character and may not reflect the same diacritical distinctions.

In broader contexts, Hanh may appear in transliterations of non-Vietnamese terms or as part of organizational names, but such uses are distinct from its role as a Vietnamese personal name. The spelling Hanh thus reflects a convergence of multiple Vietnamese characters and transliteration practices rather than a single, fixed meaning.

See also: Hạnh, Hành, Han.