lâm

Lâm is a Vietnamese surname and, less commonly, a given name. It is the Vietnamese form of the Chinese surname Lin (林), which means forest. The surname is written Lâm in Vietnamese orthography, using the circumflex on the a. In Vietnamese naming order, the family name precedes the middle and given name, so individuals named Lâm typically bear it as their surname.

Lâm is found throughout Vietnam but is especially common in northern and central regions; it is also carried by the Vietnamese diaspora in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and France. As with other Vietnamese surnames, Lâm is patrilineal, inherited from the father, and families may have deep historical lineages.

Lâm can also appear as part of given-name combinations in Vietnamese, though it is most widely recognized as a surname. In cross-cultural contexts, it is sometimes anglicized as Lam.

Notable people with the surname Lâm have contributed to various sectors, including the arts, sciences, sports, and public life, reflecting the surname's presence in Vietnamese society.

See also: Lam (disambiguation), Lin (surname).