Letters In Names

[NguuMuu]

My girlfriend tells me there are some sort of 'rules' that determine the letters used in a name in order to make it appear more beautiful. Which ones are considered สวย (suay) and how do you know when to use them? What are these supposed rules? For example, I've been told you (usually or always?) don't use น at the end of names, only ณ.

[Neeranam]

It seems more common to end with a "law ling".

I think the more unusual letters are attractive.

[meadish_sweetball]

Unusual letters are more attractive, yes, in order for it to become as difficult as possible to intuitively know how to spell the names of course...

The longest and most complicated surnames often belong to Chinese families. They did not keep their Chinese names but changed to Thai ones, and for some reason seemed to pick the most longwinded Sanskrit-based surnames they could find.

When naming their children, Thai people will often consult a monk, who will tell them what letters are auspicious for the day of birth. It is not uncommon that people change names when they feel they have been plagued by bad luck, believing that changing their name will somehow change their fortune.

[spear]

Beautiful words must...

1. use specific alphabet ฎ ฑ ณ ญ ฐ ฤ ฆ ฏ ฌ ษ ศ ฒ ฬ ฦ

2. use many letter in 1 word ex. ลักษณ์ ( lak )=beautiful ลัก ( lak ) =Simple

3. Karan at the end

4. From Pali or Sansakrit

Edited September 18, 2005 by RDN

[spear]

Ahhh i forget something these words used in , royal family language , academic , literature, people' name ( both name and surname )

It's High Class language

[MyNameIsFarang]

The longest and most complicated surnames often belong to Chinese families. They did not keep their Chinese names but changed to Thai ones, and for some reason seemed to pick the most longwinded Sanskrit-based surnames they could find.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's simply because most of the shorter, simpler names were already taken. They were not permitted to poach the established family names of Thais. And the Chinese did have a superstitious streak leading many to go a bit overboard in seeking propitious names.

[Dara]

The longest and most complicated surnames often belong to Chinese families. They did not keep their Chinese names but changed to Thai ones, and for some reason seemed to pick the most longwinded Sanskrit-based surnames they could find.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's simply because most of the shorter, simpler names were already taken. They were not permitted to poach the established family names of Thais. And the Chinese did have a superstitious streak leading many to go a bit overboard in seeking propitious names.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, in the 1950's or early 1960's, there was a rule that new Thai names registered by foreigners (perhaps only Chinese - I'm not sure) had to be 5 syllabus and up. Can't remeber the reasons now - something having to do with not taking well known surnames and immitate them or something like that...

As for the OP's question - it depends on what name you end up with. I've seen some names spelled differently so that the first letter used is less common. This could be so that the name will not disappear into the list of common letters such as so sua (ส), etc., since in Thailand, a list of names are file alphabetically by first names.....

[RDN]

วรรณ์วิษา - my ex's first name (Wanvisa).

[steveromagnino]

Depends on the day born; I have no children and have not had this conversation for like 5 years, but from what I recall Monday names have no vowels at all...so for example I could guess that say Tanaporn or Tanatorn (names spelt without vowels) would be born on a Monday.

Friday and Saturday names are often using a สศษ mostly ส because I think those days you are supposed to begin the name with a certain letter. I know this is why my Thai name begins with ศ which is supposedly quite rare.

There is some book you can buy that explains this.

In terms of names, the last name has nothing to do with the first name; all the Thai Chinese stuff is not strictly relevant, since we are not in the position of choosing surnames, we are choosing a first name. In general, the meaning is supposed to have some grander meaning...people don't just mix up the letters as they see fit to make it look "nice" it isn't like saying..ok I like the name Frank, but I am going to spell it Phrankew (with a silent W) because it looks cool. Rather, many of the formal names originate from Sanskrit, or formal Thai, and thus use words and phrases that we would often not normally encounter in everyday Thai.

e.g. Somchai - the most common man's name: Som means something like good, and of course chai is a man, so it means something like a man who is good; that sort of thing. Of course, the standing joke is this is like having a name like John Smith or something, because it is kind of common. That said, choosing a very uncommon name, and one is forever having to explain how to spell it, what it means, and so on. Incidentally, you could not give the name Somchai to a woman. Even a manly looking one :-)

More than a few people have changed their name from a less auspicious name to a more auspicious name based on an episode of bad luck or similar.

In general, the full name has a deeper meaning; the nick name is a reflection of perhaps character, physique, family that sort of thing. Not a good idea to do what some idiot farang asked about a while back and give your son the name ควาย because you think he would be strong. Actually, I think someone stopped him, but he was ranting on and on about how he should be allowed to do what he wanted.....hmmm... Anyone else remember that thread?!

[RDN]

วรรณ์วิษา  - my ex's first name (Wanvisa).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

วรรณนิภา - my current g/f's first name (Wanipha).

But no garan over the ณ