NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nhi

Feminine Vietnamese name meaning "petite" or "delicate".

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.

Nhi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nhi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 6 births.

This profile covers 37 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1997 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 37 living people in the UK are called Nhi. 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

  • Nhi ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 6 girls were registered as Nhi.
  • About 37 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nhi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2010

6 births

Estimated living

37

2026

Meaning

What does Nhi mean?

The name Nhi originates from the Vietnamese language and culture, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 15th century during the Later Le dynasty period in Vietnam. Nhi is a diminutive form of the Vietnamese word "nhi" meaning "small" or "little," often used as an endearing term for children or young individuals.

In ancient Vietnamese literature and folklore, the name Nhi can be found in various tales and stories, often associated with characters portraying innocence, youth, or youthful wisdom. One notable example is the story of "Nhi Doan," a young female protagonist known for her intelligence and wit.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Nhi was Nhi Nguyen (1450-1510), a renowned Vietnamese poet and scholar during the 15th century. Her collection of poems, "Nhi Nguyen Tap," is considered a significant literary work from that era.

In the 17th century, Nhi Tran (1620-1679) was a prominent Vietnamese military leader and strategist who played a crucial role in defending the country against foreign invasions. Her bravery and leadership skills were highly respected, and she is remembered as a national heroine.

During the 19th century, Nhi Pham (1810-1888) was a renowned Vietnamese artist and calligrapher, known for her intricate brush strokes and mastery of traditional Vietnamese calligraphy styles.

Another notable figure was Nhi Nguyen (1900-1975), a Vietnamese educator and advocate for women's rights. She dedicated her life to promoting education and empowering women, establishing several schools and educational programs throughout Vietnam.

In more recent times, Nhi Xuan Bui (1924-2005) was a celebrated Vietnamese author and poet, renowned for her poignant works that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Her literary contributions are highly regarded in Vietnamese literature.

While the name Nhi has its roots in Vietnam, it has also been adopted and used in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Thailand, likely due to cultural and linguistic influences in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nhi over time

The chart below shows babies named Nhi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Nhi, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nhi
02356199720102024

Decades

Nhi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nhi 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 #4843 4 1
2010s #5245 15 4
2000s #4460 12 3
1990s #3836 6 2

Related

Names similar to Nhi

FAQ

Nhi: questions and answers

How popular is the name Nhi in the UK right now?

In 2024, Nhi was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Nhi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 6 babies registered as Nhi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nhi?

Feminine Vietnamese name meaning "petite" or "delicate".

How many people are called Nhi in the UK?

A total of 37 babies have been registered as Nhi across the 10 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.