Thuy
Primarily a girl's name of Vietnamese origin with 1,076 recorded births. Also given to 17 boys.
Meaning & Origin
Thuy sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1974, peaking in 1983, with 1,076 total births across its history.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Thuy is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Thuy is a girl's and boy's baby name of Vietnamese origin, from the Vietnamese Thủy meaning 'water' or 'graceful, gentle.' In Vietnamese culture, water carries associations of purifying clarity, flow, and life — making Thuy a name of natural grace and quiet strength.
One of the most common Vietnamese feminine names, Thuy has been used across generations in Vietnam and in Vietnamese-American communities, where it bridges cultural heritage with a short, melodic sound that works naturally in English conversation. It carries the serene, elemental quality of its water meaning.
EtymologyShow more
Thuy appeared in SSA records in 1974, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Vietnamese roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Thuy’s 1,076 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Thuy has 35+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1974.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | #18875 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 71 | #12738 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 235 | #5398 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 628 | #1976 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 137 | #4264 | — |
The Story of Thuy
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1983, Thuy is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Thuy are most likely born between 1974 and 1993.
How rare is Thuy?
With 1,076 total births on record, Thuy remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1974, peaked in the 1980s with 628 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Thuy by the numbers
- Would fill 22 school buses
- Meeting one Thuy per day would take 2.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(35 years, 1974–2015)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | #18875 |
| 2008 | 5 | #20227 |
| 2006 | 8 | #13511 |
| 2005 | 6 | #16283 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11543 |
| 2003 | 11 | #9629 |
| 2002 | 10 | #10182 |
| 2001 | 7 | #13394 |
| 2000 | 15 | #7133 |
| 1999 | 15 | #6815 |
| 1998 | 10 | #9222 |
| 1997 | 9 | #9746 |
| 1996 | 23 | #4572 |
| 1995 | 17 | #5666 |
| 1994 | 27 | #4006 |
| 1993 | 24 | #4379 |
| 1992 | 29 | #3765 |
| 1991 | 44 | #2735 |
| 1990 | 37 | #3073 |
| 1989 | 41 | #2764 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Thuy as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Thuy has also been given to 17 boys in the U.S. since 1982.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thuy a boy's or girl's name?
When was Thuy most popular?
How popular is the name Thuy?
Can Thuy be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1974–2015