Thai Names
Almost every Thai person has two names. The formal first name, often long and drawn from Pali or Sanskrit, appears on documents and wishes the child luck, beauty or success. Then there’s the chue len (“play name”), a short nickname like Nok (bird) or Ploy (gem) that friends and family actually use every day.
This page covers 70+ Thai names with their meanings, from classic formal names to nicknames and surnames. For fuller lists, see our Thai girl names, Thai boy names and Thai last names, or explore neighboring traditions with our Vietnamese names.
Thai Names: browse all lists
Classic Thai girl names
Thai girls’ formal names often refer to flowers, jewels, stars or grace. Many come from Sanskrit and Pali, the classical languages of Thai Buddhism.
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Malee | Jasmine flower | mah-LEE |
| Kanya | Young woman, maiden | KAN-yah |
| Rattana | Jewel, gem | rat-ta-NAH |
| Siriporn | Glorious blessing | see-ri-PORN |
| Anong | Beautiful woman | ah-NONG |
| Kannika | A fragrant white flower | kan-ni-KAH |
| Nittaya | Eternal, always | nit-ta-YAH |
| Kulap | Rose | koo-LAHP |
| Dara | Star | dah-RAH |
| Mayuree | Peahen, graceful | mah-yu-REE |
| Busaba | Flower | boot-sa-BAH |
| Arunee | Dawn | ah-ru-NEE |
| Duangjai | Heart, beloved | duang-JAI |
| Chantra | Moon | jan-TRAH |
| Kamala | Lotus | ka-ma-LAH |
| Pranee | Living being, beloved | prah-NEE |
Classic Thai boy names
Thai boys’ names often wish for victory (chai), power (sak) or prosperity. Somchai is so common it works like “John” in English.
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Somchai | Worthy man, fitting victory | som-CHAI |
| Somsak | Worthy of power | som-SAK |
| Somboon | Complete, perfect | som-BOON |
| Anan | Endless, infinite | ah-NAHN |
| Arthit | Sun; Sunday | ah-THIT |
| Kittisak | Honor and power | kit-ti-SAK |
| Niran | Eternal | ni-RAHN |
| Prasert | Excellent | pra-SERT |
| Sombat | Wealth, riches | som-BAHT |
| Sakda | Power, might | sak-DAH |
| Surachai | Brave victory | su-ra-CHAI |
| Chaiya | Victory | chai-YAH |
| Kasem | Happiness, joy | ka-SEM |
| Narong | Battle, warrior | na-RONG |
| Chalerm | To celebrate, exalt | cha-LERM |
| Wichai | Knowledge and victory | wi-CHAI |
Popular Thai nicknames (chue len)
Thai nicknames are chosen by parents at birth and used for life. Some are Thai words for animals or small things; many modern ones are borrowed from English. If you like playful names, see also our cute nicknames.
| Nickname | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Nok | Bird | Girl |
| Ploy | Gem, precious stone | Girl |
| Noi | Small, little | Unisex |
| Lek | Little one | Unisex |
| Fah | Sky | Girl |
| Nam | Water | Unisex |
| Kung | Shrimp | Unisex |
| Pla | Fish | Unisex |
| Moo | Pig (affectionate) | Unisex |
| Kwan | Spirit, soul, well-being | Girl |
| Pim | Lovely, pretty (from pimpha) | Girl |
| Mint | From English “mint” | Girl |
| Gift | From English “gift” | Girl |
| Bank | From English “bank,” for prosperity | Boy |
| Golf | From the sport | Boy |
| Ice | From English “ice” | Unisex |
Thai nature names
Words for sky, light and precious things are popular for both formal and nickname use. More ideas in our nature names and names that mean sun.
| Name | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Tawan | Sun | Boy or unisex |
| Dao | Star | Girl nickname |
| Duean | Moon, month | Girl |
| Saeng | Light, ray | Unisex |
| Mek | Cloud | Boy |
| Rung | Rainbow | Girl |
| Kaew | Crystal, glass, precious | Unisex |
| Thong | Gold | Boy nickname |
| Phet | Diamond | Unisex |
| Fon | Rain | Girl |
| Buppha | Flower | Girl |
| Nuan | Soft, gentle | Girl |
Thai last names
Thailand only adopted surnames in 1913, and each family had to register a unique one. That’s why Thai surnames are long and rarely shared, except for Thai-Chinese names beginning with Sae- (“clan”). Full list on our Thai last names page.
| Surname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Srisuk | Glorious happiness | Common |
| Boonmee | Has merit | Very common, rural |
| Thongdee | Good gold | Common in the northeast |
| Jaidee | Good heart | Common |
| Sukjai | Happy heart | Common |
| Saetang | Clan of Tang (Chen) | Thai-Chinese |
| Saelim | Clan of Lim (Lin) | Thai-Chinese |
| Saelee | Clan of Lee | Thai-Chinese |
| Kaewmanee | Crystal gem | Elegant |
| Rattanakul | Family of jewels | <em>-kul</em> means family |
| Srisawat | Glorious prosperity | Auspicious |
| Chaiwong | Lineage of victory | <em>wong</em> means lineage |
How Thai names work
- Formal names are chosen for good fortune. Parents often consult a monk or astrologer, who considers the day of birth and the letters considered lucky for that day.
- Everyone uses nicknames: a colleague named Siriporn may be known to everyone as Ploy. When in doubt, ask what someone likes to be called.
- Address people by first name: Thais use Khun plus the first name (Khun Malee), not the surname.
- Romanization varies: the same name may be spelled Chai, Chay or Jai. Pick one spelling and stick with it.
- Looking for other Southeast Asian names? Try Filipino names or Japanese names for East Asian options.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Thai people have nicknames?
Traditionally a short nickname was used to protect the child from bad spirits and because formal names are long. Today nearly every Thai person has a chue len used by family and friends.
What is the most common Thai name?
Somchai is widely considered the classic Thai male name, much like “John” in English. For girls, names such as Malee and Siriporn are very familiar.
Why are Thai last names so long?
The 1913 Surname Act required every family to register a unique surname, so families combined several auspicious Pali and Sanskrit words.
Do Thai names come from Sanskrit?
Many formal Thai names come from Sanskrit and Pali, the languages of Hindu and Buddhist texts, adapted to Thai pronunciation.
Can Thai people change their name?
Yes. Changing one’s first name for better luck is common and legally simple in Thailand.