The word "越南" (Yuènán), meaning Vietnam, is formed through a straightforward historical-geographic composition. It combines "越" (Yuè), which refers to the ancient Baiyue peoples and a historical region in southern China/northern Vietnam, with "南" (nán), meaning "south". Thus, the term literally signifies "South of Yue", originally describing the territories lying to the south of the ancient Yue region. Over centuries, this compound solidified as the name for the country.