The Thai language translation on Affirmation To Marry has made an attempt at translating my European name to Thai? This is then used on the marriage document from the embassy and the Thai's ID card. Is there any strict rules of translation required or is it up to the translator?

Reason I ask is my surname got translated to Thai and now the Thai writing looks odd. The translator wrote what my name sounds like in Thai and the Thai equivalent could be misread as odd and maybe bad luck by comparing it to existing Thai words that just happen to sound like my name or a section of my name? Seems rather silly to me but I don't want to mess with the gods or the Mrs!

I guess a similar reverse scenario is translating Thai name to English. E.g Pornthip opens a new convenience store and calls it Porn Shop!

AFAIK there is no standard rule to write Thai word in English and vice versa.

There are some common rules but none can claim that other writings are wrong.

Hence, it's better if you try to learn reading Thai character and translate (or read if it is already translated) your name in Thai.

Let's use my name for an example.

My Thai teacher suggest the writing as อินดรา (Indraa, with the long a, which pronounced like a in Baht)

But I preferred to write it as อินดระ (with short a) and so does my wife (she is not Thai and she only knows Thai language a little)

I used อินดระ for a while until certain point I feel that it's better to have อินดรา (long a) instead of อินดระ (short a)

Now, I use อินดรา

Another way, you can share your last name in this forum together with the Thai translation, and let the experts here help you

Thanks for feedback. Won't get into real names here, but was just wondering. I think I have convinced the Mrs to live with it for now. It just means she shows her ID card with a name in Thai on it no one understands and thinks looks odd?