I was born Michael Francis Chau.
Which was kinda odd, because everyone else in my family has names like , Vu Thuy Chau, Vuong Vai Chau and Diep Chau. I got and english name because I am the first from my family to be born in the states, so my parents wanted to give me a name that sounded american. The two doctors present in the refugee camp where I was born were named Michael and Francis. So they became my name. They screwed up my family's last name when they immigrated to the states. Most asian surname are written first before the first name. My father's name is Minh Chau Nguyen, but the documents showed Nguyen Minh Chau. My father could not speak english at the time so he could not correct this.
When I was 12, my dad became and american citizen and took that opportunity to change it. That is when My last name became Nguyen.
As far as meanings?
Michael - one who is like god
Francis - frenchmen
Chau- pearls
Nguyen Origin
I got those definitions from the name website.
My main complaint with my name these day is that I ended up two very common names.
Michael and Nguyen. It seems like everyone in vietnam has that last name. :)