Hien is a Vietnamese given name for females. It has no specific meaning or origin in Vietnamese culture, as it is not derived from any Vietnamese words or concepts. Instead, Hien was created by the French during their colonial rule of Vietnam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They combined two Vietnamese characters, "Hi" (喜) which means happiness, and "En" (恩), meaning grace or kindness. Thus, Hien is considered a Sino-Vietnamese name with a positive connotation.
The use of the name Hien became popular among the Vietnamese elite during this period, as they were heavily influenced by French culture and education. Many families chose to give their daughters names that were easy for French people to pronounce and remember. Consequently, Hien was one of the many Vietnamese female names created during this time that had a Sino-Vietnamese origin but a French-inspired sound.
Today, Hien is still a popular name among Vietnamese people, both in Vietnam and in Vietnamese communities around the world. Although its origin and meaning may not be deeply rooted in traditional Vietnamese culture, it has become an important part of modern Vietnamese nomenclature nonetheless.
The name Hien experienced fluctuating popularity over the years, with a notable spike in 1982 and another peak in 1991. However, it seems to have declined steadily since then, reaching its lowest point in recent years (2011 and 2016).