Why did Korat change its name to Nakorn Ratchasima?

When I meet folks from their, they say they are from Karat.

There is probably a good reason, maybe not, can anyone shed some light on this?

Thx. Just Curious.

Kor Rat = NaKORn RATchasima.

Khorat is just a nickname for Nakorn Ratchasima.

Best answer I found is:-

Khorat was the second name for Nakhon Ratchasima even back when Tao Suranaree saved the town from being ransacked by the king of Vientiane. That was before the US GIs came to town.

But most Americans based in Nakhon Ratchasima were based at the Royal Thai Air Force Base ... which is named Khorat RTAF Base ... so that is probably the main reason American veterans call Nakhon Ratchasima Khorat.

As mentioned, the name Khorat predates Khunying Mo (and the arrival of Americans), but little is known about the early history of Khorat, except that it used to be part of a kingdom called Sri Janas (or Si Janat), an empire that extended its power to the entire Khorat Plateau.

After that, the Khmer (Angkor) empire asserted its influence and constructed Ban Prasat and other temple compounds.

The change of name to Nakhon Ratchasima most probably came about after Thai "tribes" wrested control from Khmer "tribes" and when Khorat reached a certain size. Nakhon is used in Thai to denominate cities (dominating a certain area or upland) as opposed to towns.

Not unusual for the Thais to Nickname their moo baans, tambons, amphurs etc. as they do their families.