Ha

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAH /ˈhɑ/Medium

Meaning: Ha is a genuine Vietnamese given name, most often from 'Ha', 'river', though the toneless English spelling flattens distinctions that Vietnamese marks with diacritics. The same short form also exists as a Korean surname. It entered American records with post-1975 Southeast-Asian refugee and immigrant families; despite being only two letters, it is a real, complete name.Low

In 30 seconds: Ha is a real Vietnamese name, often meaning 'river', that arrived with post-war immigrant families. Though just two letters, it is a complete given name (said 'HAH').

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Origin MediumVietnamese

MeaningHa is a genuine Vietnamese given name, most often from 'Ha', 'river', though the toneless English spelling flattens distinctions that Vietnamese marks with diacritics. The same short form also exists as a Korean surname. It entered American records with post-1975 Southeast-Asian refugee and immigrant families; despite being only two letters, it is a real, complete name.

U.S. rank (2013)#15289 ↘ Falling

2013 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1984

Total births (all-time)≈ 422

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ha is a Vietnamese given name, usually linked to 'river', that entered American data with the Southeast-Asian immigration following 1975. The plain English spelling drops the tone marks Vietnamese would carry.

It appears from about 1976 and peaks faintly near 1984, with use trailing into the twenty-tens as immigrant communities grew. It has stayed rare on the national scale, often held by first-generation Americans.

Did you know? Two letters is all Ha needs: in Vietnamese it is a full given name, commonly tied to the word for 'river', a reminder that a short name can be entirely genuine rather than a nickname.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Ha — Vietnamese 'Ha' river; also Korean surname; post-1975 immigration

Variations

HahHaaHanhHoa

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Ha…

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Linh— a Vietnamese girl's name from the same immigrant wave

Nga— echoes that soft -a sound

Hanh— lands in the same popularity range

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ha mean?

Ha is a Vietnamese given name, most often linked to the word for 'river'; it also exists as a Korean surname.

How do you pronounce Ha?

It's said HAH /ˈhɑ/ - one syllable.

Is Ha a boy or girl name?

Here Ha is recorded as a girl's name.

How popular is Ha?

Ha has always been rare in the United States, appearing chiefly among Vietnamese immigrant families.