Nguyen is a gender-neutral Vietnamese name that means "Musician Of Stringed Instrument." It is the most common surname in Vietnam and is also prevalent among Vietnamese emigrants. The name originates from the Sino-Vietnamese pronunciation of the character 阮, which was historically associated with a state in Gansu and an ancient Chinese stringed instrument. Many significant events in Vietnamese history have contributed to the prominence of the Nguyen surname. In addition to Vietnam, the name is also found in China, Australia, France, Norway, the United States, and the Czech Republic. Pronounced as [ŋwiən˦ˀ˥] in Northern dialect or [ŋwiəŋ˨˩˦] in Southern dialect, Nguyen is commonly rendered without diacritics outside of Vietnam. Notable individuals with the name include heads of state, poets, writers, scientists, composers, actors, models, and professional athletes.