Name Taboo
Kỵ húy / Tên húy
The Vietnamese cultural practice of avoiding the use of names belonging to ancestors, elders, or revered figures, rooted in Confucian respect hierarchies.
Kỵ húy (name taboo) is the Vietnamese practice of avoiding the spoken or written use of names belonging to deceased ancestors, living elders, and — historically — the emperor and royal family.
Historical Practice
During the imperial era, name taboos were enforced by law. The emperor's given name was forbidden from use throughout the kingdom. If the emperor's name was a common word, that word would be replaced with a synonym in official documents and daily speech. Within families, children could not be given the name of a grandparent or ancestor.
Modern Relevance
While imperial name taboos ended with the fall of the Nguyễn Dynasty in 1945, family-level kỵ húy remains widely practiced. Most Vietnamese families still avoid giving children the exact name of a living grandparent or recently deceased ancestor. The practice influences naming creativity — parents must navigate around names already 'claimed' by ancestors.