Fun Facts About the Name Nhi
- More than 1 thousand babies named Nhi: U.S. records list 1,071 babies given the name Nhi from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Nhi Mean?
Nhi is a Vietnamese given name meaning "little one" or "child." It comes from the Sino-Vietnamese element nhi, the Vietnamese reading of the Chinese character 兒 (simplified 儿), which means "child" or "young one." The same element survives in everyday Vietnamese words such as nhi đồng ("children") and thiếu nhi ("the young"). In names, the plain sense "child" is usually taken in the affectionate sense "little one," which is how the name is normally understood rather than as a literal statement about age.
Because Vietnamese is written with the Latin alphabet, the spelling Nhi alone does not show which character lies behind it, and unrelated Sino-Vietnamese words share the same sound - nhị (二), "two," for instance. Those are separate elements and are not the usual source of the given name.
Nhi Name History & Origins
Nhi belongs to the large group of Vietnamese names formed from Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary, the layer of the language that entered through Chinese during the long period of Chinese rule and the centuries of cultural contact that followed. Names of this type are chosen for the meaning of the element rather than in memory of one particular person or event.
Nhi appears both as a name on its own and, very commonly, as the second half of a two-element name. In compounds such as Bảo Nhi, Yến Nhi, Thảo Nhi, and Tuệ Nhi, the first element carries the main meaning while Nhi contributes "little one" or a warm, diminutive tone. It is used most often for girls.
As with other names of this kind, there is no single founding moment. The name circulates within families and is written in quốc ngữ, the romanized Vietnamese script that became the standard way of writing the language in the twentieth century.
How Popular is the Name Nhi?
Nhi has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1999. Its best rank was #2,837 in 1990.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,789 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #7,469 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2023 | #10,917 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #10,192 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #10,066 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #7,619 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #10,353 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #9,770 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #8,738 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #6,647 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #5,935 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #5,605 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2012 | #5,210 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #6,503 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #5,209 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2009 | #6,742 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2008 | #5,902 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #4,189 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2006 | #4,436 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2005 | #4,175 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2004 | #5,037 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2003 | #4,634 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2002 | #4,861 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2001 | #3,402 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2000 | #3,956 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1999 | #3,089 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1998 | #4,757 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1997 | #4,213 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1996 | #3,010 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1995 | #2,918 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1994 | #3,355 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1993 | #3,266 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1992 | #3,124 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1991 | #2,918 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1990 | #2,837 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 1989 | #3,979 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1988 | #2,961 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1987 | #3,013 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1986 | #6,957 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #7,373 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #6,621 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #6,087 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #5,439 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #7,191 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #11,596 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #8,680 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Nhi
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with N
Unique Short Girl Names That Start with N
How the Name Nhi Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Nhi's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Nhi's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.