The preference for the middle name “Văn” for boys:
In the ancient feudal society, boys had the opportunity to attend school and take exams to pursue a career in the civil service.
Therefore, many families chose the word “Văn,” which means culture and literature, as the middle name for their sons, wishing for their children to be intelligent and academically successful. Over time, “Văn” became a popular choice to express parents’ high aspirations for their boys.
The traditional use of “Thị” as a middle name for girls:
“Thị” originates from Sino-Vietnamese and was used to refer to married women. In the past, adding “Thị” to a girl’s name was a way to indicate gender, and this practice was influenced by Northern culture.
However, over time, many people misunderstood “Thị” to be simply a way to address females, and thus, it was commonly used in girls’ names without much thought.
Today, naming conventions are not as rigid as they once were. Modern parents often opt for more unique and personalized middle names for their children, which has led to a decrease in the popularity of “Văn” and “Thị.”
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Vietnamese people have a tradition of giving middle names to their children. Sons are often given the middle name “văn” while daughters are given the middle name “thị” to distinguish their gender. It is considered important to be cautious when choosing a name for a child.
