Modern naming trends in Vietnam: a sociolinguistic study of gender and culture

Resumo

This research analyzed 15,689 names from five educational institutions across Northern, Central, and Southern regions during 2023–2024 to study gender-based naming patterns in Vietnam. Grounded in sociolinguistic theory (Anderson, 2007; Reszegi, 2023) and Vietnamese onomastic frameworks (Thompson, 2005; Nguyen, 2010), the study examines how naming practices encode gender identity through sound symbolism (Hough, 2000; Edmondson & Nguyen, 1997) and cultural values rooted in Confucian traditions (Tran, 1999). The methodology employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative analysis (chi-square tests, regression analysis using SPSS 28.0 and R 4.2.1) with qualitative interpretation of phonetic, semantic, and structural aspects of Vietnamese names. Names were systematically coded by two independent linguists across semantic categories (strength, wisdom, beauty, nature, etc.) and phonetic features (strong/soft consonants, vowel patterns), achieving high intercoder reliability (Cohen's κ = 0.87 for semantic, 0.92 for phonetic coding). The study found that while gender differentiation remains a basic organizing principle in Vietnamese naming—with men favoring strong consonants (55%) and strength-related semantics (40%), and women preferring soft consonants (58%) and beauty-related meanings (55%)—traditional gender markers Văn and Thị have declined substantially to approximately 18% and 16% respectively, compared to near-universal usage (estimated 80-90%) in mid-20th century Vietnam (Thompson, 2005; Nguyen, 2010), with this decline particularly pronounced among younger generations. Significant regional variations emerge, with Northern Vietnam maintaining stronger traditional naming patterns, Central Vietnam preserving distinctive aesthetic preferences, and Southern Vietnam showing greater international influences and less rigid gender distinctions. Generational comparison demonstrates accelerating change, with preschool children's names showing substantially lower usage of traditional gender markers than university students. The research indicates that education level (β = 0.38, p < 0.001) and urban residence (β = 0.31, p < 0.001) are stronger predictors of naming patterns than gender alone. The results show that Vietnamese naming customs reflect the broader trends in Vietnamese society toward more flexible gender expressions while also preserving cultural traditions and adjusting to modern social changes. Drawing on Jiménez Segura's (2020) framework of naming as gender identity construction, the study contributes to our understanding of how language encodes and transmits gender perceptions across generations in a cultural context that is rapidly modernizing.