Oanh
A Vietnamese feminine name meaning "gentle radiance" or "spring fragrance".
Name Census estimates that about 224 living Americans carry the first name Oanh. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Oanh today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Oanh births was 1981 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Oanh. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
224
~ 1 in 1,530,153 Americans
Peak year
1981
23 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
2002 SSA rank
#17,414
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Oanh: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Oanh from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 154 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Oanh by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Oanh during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Oanhs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Oanh
Oanh is a Vietnamese feminine given name. It is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese word oanh, meaning "phoenix" or "luan" meaning "beautiful jade". The name has its origins in ancient Vietnamese culture and mythology, where the phoenix was revered as a symbol of rebirth, renewal, and immortality.
In Vietnamese folklore, the phoenix was often associated with the feminine principle and was believed to possess mystical powers. The name Oanh may have been bestowed upon daughters in the hope that they would embody the grace, beauty, and resilience of this mythical creature.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Oanh can be traced back to the 10th century, during the Ly Dynasty in Vietnam. Historical records from this period mention several noble women bearing the name, suggesting that it was favored among the aristocracy and upper classes.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Oanh was Oanh Khuat Thi Huyen, a renowned 13th-century Vietnamese poet and scholar. Huyen's works were celebrated for their lyrical beauty and profound insights into the human condition. Her birth and death years are unknown, but she is believed to have lived during the Tran Dynasty, which ruled from 1225 to 1400.
Another notable figure was Oanh Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, a revolutionary and feminist activist who played a crucial role in Vietnam's struggle for independence from French colonial rule in the early 20th century. Born in 1886 and executed by the French in 1941, Minh Khai was a prominent member of the Indochinese Communist Party and dedicated her life to the cause of national liberation.
In the realm of literature, Oanh Nguyen Thi Vinh, a celebrated Vietnamese writer and poet, left an indelible mark with her works exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Born in 1927 and still active today, Vinh's poetic voice has resonated with generations of readers.
Oanh Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, a contemporary Vietnamese author and dissident, gained international recognition for her courageous writings challenging the government's censorship policies. Born in 1951, Huong's works have been translated into numerous languages and have earned her numerous literary awards.
Oanh Le Thi Cong Nhan, a Vietnamese mathematician and educator, made significant contributions to the field of mathematics education in Vietnam. Born in 1926, Nhan dedicated her life to improving math education and authored several influential textbooks.
While the name Oanh may have ancient roots, it continues to be bestowed upon Vietnamese girls to this day, carrying with it the rich cultural heritage and symbolism of the phoenix.
People
Oanh + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Oanh as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Oanh: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Oanh?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 224 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Oanh going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,530,153 US residents.
Is Oanh a common name?
We classify Oanh as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 237 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Oanh most popular?
The single biggest year for Oanh was 1981, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Oanh is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Oanh a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Oanh in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.