Vũ

Vũ is a Vietnamese given name (and also a surname) that carries multiple meanings depending on the Sino-Vietnamese character used. Pronounced roughly as 'voo' with a low rising tone, it can be derived from vũ meaning 'military, martial' (from 武), or from vũ meaning 'rain' (雨), or vũ meaning 'feather' (羽). As a given name, Vũ is unisex and used across Vietnam.

Etymology

The name's origins lie in the Chinese characters borrowed into Vietnamese via Sino-Vietnamese readings. Each character gives a distinct meaning: 武 (vũ) relates to warfare and strength, common in male names; 雨 (vũ) evokes rain, a natural element; 羽 (vũ) symbolizes feathers or lightness. For example, the kingdom Vũ Xuân nois.

Vũ is also a common Vietnamese surname (often romanized as Võ in southern regions). It is the 7th most common surname in Vietnam, borne by about 3.9% of the population. The surname has been present since the 9th century, tracing back to a Tang-dynasty official named Wǔ Hún. In given names, V-;