UK name, mostly boys
Minh
A Vietnamese name meaning bright, brilliant, intelligent, or enlightened.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 27 girls.
Minh is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Minh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 9 births.
This profile covers 111 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 89% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 110 living people in the UK are called Minh. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Minh ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 9 boys were registered as Minh.
- • Minh is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 110 living people in the UK are estimated to have Minh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 80.4% of Minh registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2014
9 births
Estimated living
110
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Minh
In England and Wales birth records, Minh has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 80.4% of registrations are for boys and 19.6% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Minh registered for boys
- Ranked #2,671 in 2024
- 8 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2014 (9 births)
Minh registered for girls
- Ranked #4,192 in 2024
- 5 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Minh mean?
The given name Minh has its origins in the Vietnamese language and culture. It is a gender-neutral name that can be used for both males and females. The name Minh is derived from the Vietnamese word "minh," which means "bright," "brilliant," or "enlightened."
In Vietnamese culture, the name Minh has long been associated with intelligence, wisdom, and enlightenment. It was often given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be intelligent, insightful, and knowledgeable individuals.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Minh can be traced back to ancient Vietnamese literature and historical records. One notable mention is in the Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, a historical text compiled in the 15th century, which mentions several individuals with the name Minh.
Throughout history, there have been many notable individuals who bore the name Minh. One of the most famous was Minh Mang (1791-1841), the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam. He was known for his strict Confucian policies and his promotion of Vietnamese culture and traditions.
Another prominent figure was Minh Tri (1807-1847), a Vietnamese emperor who ruled from 1841 to 1847. He was known for his efforts to modernize the Vietnamese military and his reforms aimed at improving the lives of the Vietnamese people.
Minh Khai (1910-1986) was a prominent Vietnamese revolutionary and politician who played a significant role in the Vietnamese independence movement and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Minh Duong (1909-1964) was a Vietnamese poet and writer who is considered one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century in Vietnam. His works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
Minh Phung (1919-2010) was a renowned Vietnamese artist and painter who was known for his vibrant and expressive depictions of Vietnamese landscapes and everyday life. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Minh. The name has remained popular in Vietnam and among Vietnamese communities around the world, carrying with it the cultural significance of intelligence, wisdom, and enlightenment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Minh over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Minh in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Minh, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Minh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Minh was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3340 | 30 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3414 | 44 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3266 | 28 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2902 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Minh
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Minh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Minh in the UK right now?
In 2024, Minh was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Minh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 9 babies registered as Minh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Minh?
A Vietnamese name meaning bright, brilliant, intelligent, or enlightened.
How many people are called Minh in the UK?
A total of 111 babies have been registered as Minh across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.