anh

Anh is a Vietnamese given name commonly used for males, and it is also found among Vietnamese communities abroad. As with many Vietnamese names, its meaning depends on the han character chosen to represent it. The two most common characters associated with Anh are英 meaning “hero” or “brilliant” and 安 meaning “peace” or “safety.” The word anh itself also exists as a everyday noun in Vietnamese, meaning “older brother” and used as a respectful address for a male older than the speaker; these associations contribute to a sense of strength, trust, or leadership attached to the name.

The name is widespread in Vietnam and among the Vietnamese diaspora, and it is frequently used as part of two-syllable given names, such as Anh Dũng or Anh Minh. In Vietnamese naming practice, the family name comes first, with the given name last; when used internationally, Anh is usually the chosen given name.

Variants and cross-cultural usages include Ánh (with a different tone and meaning) which means “light” and is a distinct name in its own right. In other languages and contexts, Anh may appear as a romanization of different names or as a surname in rare instances, but in Vietnamese it is primarily a masculine given name.