We have named our new son ธีรเมธ which I am romanizing as Tiramate. Is there an official way of romanizing a name or is it up to the individual?

Using the RTGS (Royal Thai General System of Transcription) which is the closest thing we have to a standard, your son's name would be spelt Thiramet.

In his everyday life he can use whatever spelling he likes. I am not sure what the passport issuing authority would say though, for example.

Thanks Meadish

garro: just curious, what is the meaning of your son's name?

According to the Thai names book we used in the hospital it means intelligent or a philosopher.

I am not sure where it originates from. Possibly Pali?

I bet Meadish knows

I am not sure where it originates from. Possibly Pali?

I can't see much to choose between Sanskrit and Pali - it has the same meaning(s) in both. (The second element can mean 'sacrifice' as well as 'wisdom' - two distinct words.). The web has no trace of the Indian form, Dhiramedha.

Sounds like a cross between a famous Italian Desert and a brand of shampooo, Its a bit effeminate! Have you thought this through?

Sounds like a cross between a famous Italian Desert and a brand of shampooo, Its a bit effeminate! Have you thought this through?

Troll Alert.

Not a troll at all, it sounds like a girls name.

Tee-Rah-Mah-Tee

Why the need to Romanize it into a girls name? The guys got to live with his name forever, be fine if he lives his entire life in Thailand but imagine going to other countries and having to say your name is Tiramate, how do you even shorten that? Tira, Tirama?

Dhiramedha is much better, then he can shorten it to Dhira, Medha - just osunds more like a guys name to me.

Edited August 11, 200718 yr by Solosiam

Not a troll at all, it sounds like a girls name.

Tee-Rah-Mah-Tee

Why the need to Romanize it into a girls name? The guys got to live with his name forever, be fine if he lives his entire life in Thailand but imagine going to other countries and having to say your name is Tiramate, how do you even shorten that? Tira, Tirama?

Dhiramedha is much better, then he can shorten it to Dhira, Medha - just osunds more like a guys name to me.

First, it's not Tee-Rah-Mah-Tee, but "Thiramet" - as meadish already made clear.

Second, it doesn't sound "feminine" at all - where does that notion come from?

Third, your choice reads very clearly like an Indian name; granted, that is the origin, but the child is a Thai citizen, from Thai culture. Ergo, he has a Thai name.

Fourth, it is the name that garro has chosen for his own child. What's the problem?

I'm hoping that me being a tiny bit mean for 5 minutes on the internet will save some kid from 18 years of being bullied over having a girls name.

Edited August 11, 200718 yr by Solosiam

I'm hoping that me being a tiny bit mean for 5 minutes on the internet will save some kid from 18 years of being bullied over having a girls name.

Garro, it sounds like a good name to me.

I'm hoping that me being a tiny bit mean for 5 minutes on the internet will save some kid from 18 years of being bullied over having a girls name.

Garro, it sounds like a good name to me.

I'm guessing you are a girl.

I'm hoping that me being a tiny bit mean for 5 minutes on the internet will save some kid from 18 years of being bullied over having a girls name.

Garro, it sounds like a good name to me.

I'm guessing you are a girl.

I personally like the name and like the name as a boys name. In Thailand it will not be considered effeminate and as it's not a standard English name I don't see it effeminate in an English speaking country either.

Most Thais take on English names when traveling to English speaking countries, as English speakers can't pronounce Thai names correctly, and I see the name Matt as a logical shortening from the last syllable of Thiramet. The vowel sound is different but it's not too far of a stretch.

It's a great name.

Edited August 12, 200718 yr by CSS

Thanks guys for all your input especially Richard for the extra information about its origin.

I am pleased with the name and it has already been registered on his birth certificate.

My wife was expecting a girl and the fact that he has so many pink clothes is of more concern to me than whether or not somebody thinks his name sounds girly.

His nick name is 'Timmy' by the way.

Thanks guys for all your input especially Richard for the extra information about its origin.

I am pleased with the name and it has already been registered on his birth certificate.

My wife was expecting a girl and the fact that he has so many pink clothes is of more concern to me than whether or not somebody thinks his name sounds girly.

His nick name is 'Timmy' by the way.

Good one garro, good choice for a name.

My daughters were named Christy and Erica, but somebody ended putting them down as Christty and Arika on their passports..

But we call them Kitty and Candy...

Names are names...

Thanks guys for all your input especially Richard for the extra information about its origin.

I am pleased with the name and it has already been registered on his birth certificate.

My wife was expecting a girl and the fact that he has so many pink clothes is of more concern to me than whether or not somebody thinks his name sounds girly.

His nick name is 'Timmy' by the way.

Gongrat with you na kha khun Garro

And confirm your kid's name is for male.

Not a troll at all, it sounds like a girls name.

Tee-Rah-Mah-Tee

Why the need to Romanize it into a girls name? The guys got to live with his name forever, be fine if he lives his entire life in Thailand but imagine going to other countries and having to say your name is Tiramate, how do you even shorten that? Tira, Tirama?

Dhiramedha is much better, then he can shorten it to Dhira, Medha - just osunds more like a guys name to me.

FYI : Though you really want to name your boy with female name, most officer wont allow as it's a law not to name boy in female name.

the name sounds cool.

and its a Thai name so i dont see how solosiam can determine what thai kids will think is odd or feminine.

the name shortens nicely to "Tee" or "Matt" which wouldn't be a problem if the boy lives overseas.