Thai Girl Names
Thai girls’ names sound soft and melodic, and nearly all of them carry a wish: to be beautiful, pure, precious or blessed. We’ve gathered 93 Thai girl names with meanings, from the classic names of grandmothers to the longer, literary names popular with parents today, plus the flower, jewel and moon names that make Thai naming so lovely.
Most formal names come from Sanskrit and Pali, but daily life runs on nicknames, so we’ve included those too. For background on how Thai names work, visit our guide to Thai names; for brothers, see Thai boy names, and for nearby traditions compare Vietnamese girl names.
Classic Thai girl names
These names were everywhere among women born from the 1950s to the 1980s. Several start with Som- (“worthy”) or Wan- (“day”), two of the most productive building blocks in Thai.
| Name | Thai script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Somsri | สมศรี | Worthy of glory |
| Malee | มาลี | Flower |
| Kanya | กันยา | Maiden; also the month of September |
| Duangjai | ดวงใจ | Heart, beloved one |
| Jintana | จินตนา | Imagination |
| Kanokwan | กนกวรรณ | Golden complexion |
| Lamai | ละมัย | Soft, gentle |
| Nittaya | นิตยา | Always, eternal |
| Niramon | นิรมล | Pure, spotless |
| Nongnuch | นงนุช | Lovely young woman |
| Pranee | ปราณี | Living being; kind-hearted |
| Suda | สุดา | Daughter, young woman |
| Supaporn | สุภาพร | Good blessing |
| Wanida | วนิดา | Woman |
| Anong | อนงค์ | Lady, graceful woman |
| Wilai | วิไล | Beautiful |
| Sukanya | สุกัญญา | Good maiden |
| Thida | ธิดา | Daughter |
Modern Thai girl names parents love
Newer names tend to be longer compounds with a glossy, literary feel. Many parents pick them with help from a monk so the letters match the baby’s day of birth.
| Name | Thai script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pimchanok | พิมพ์ชนก | Image of the father |
| Pattaraporn | ภัทราภรณ์ | Ornament of goodness |
| Kanyarat | กัญญารัตน์ | Jewel among maidens |
| Nareerat | นารีรัตน์ | Gem among women |
| Siriporn | ศิริพร | Glorious blessing |
| Sirirat | ศิริรัตน์ | Glorious gem |
| Pornthip | พรทิพย์ | Divine blessing |
| Rattanaporn | รัตนาภรณ์ | Jewel ornament |
| Lalita | ลลิตา | Graceful, charming |
| Suwanna | สุวรรณา | Golden |
| Wanna | วรรณา | Color, fair complexion |
| Wimon | วิมล | Pure, clear |
| Ratana | รัตนา | Jewel |
| Orawan | อรวรรณ | Beautiful complexion |
| Wassana | วาสนา | Good fortune, destiny |
| Sirilak | ศิริลักษณ์ | Auspicious features |
| Kanjana | กาญจนา | Gold |
| Siriwan | ศิริวรรณ | Glorious complexion |
| Amporn | อัมพร | Sky |
Thai girl names that mean flower
Flowers carry strong symbolism in Thailand: jasmine for mothers, the lotus for Buddhist purity. See more in our list of names that mean flower.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mali | Jasmine | Jasmine garlands are the Thai symbol of Mother’s Day |
| Kulap | Rose | Also spelled Kularb |
| Ubon | Lotus | Also a northeastern city, Ubon Ratchathani |
| Nalinee | Lotus | From Sanskrit nalini |
| Bua | Lotus | Everyday Thai word; often a nickname |
| Kannika | Night-flowering jasmine | A fragrant white-and-orange blossom |
| Busaba | Flower, blossom | A heroine in the classic tale Inao |
| Buppha | Flower | Soft and old-fashioned |
| Sumalee | Beautiful flower | Su- means “good, beautiful” |
| Kesorn | Pollen, stamen | Delicate and poetic |
| Laddawan | Flowering vine | Pretty, uncommon choice |
| Chompoo | Pink | Popular as a nickname too |
Thai names inspired by gems and gold
Jewel names suggest something precious — and are common both as formal names and as nicknames.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Phailin | Sapphire | Also spelled Pailin; a gem-mining town |
| Mookda | Pearl | From Sanskrit mukta |
| Morakot | Emerald | The Emerald Buddha is Phra Kaew Morakot |
| Tabtim | Ruby | Also a popular dessert, tabtim krob |
| Petch | Diamond | Often used as a nickname |
| Kaew | Crystal; precious one | Also means “beloved” in endearments |
| Ploy | Gemstone | One of the most popular girls’ nicknames |
| Ploypailin | Sapphire gem | A longer, modern formal name |
Thai names for girls meaning moon, star and dawn
Celestial names are a favorite for girls. For more, browse names that mean moon and names that mean star.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sasithorn | The moon | Literally “bearer of the hare,” a Sanskrit epithet for the moon |
| Jantima | Moon | Also spelled Chantima |
| Nuanchan | Soft moonlight | Romantic and old-fashioned |
| Pensri | Glory of the full moon | Classic mid-century name |
| Wanpen | Full-moon day | Wan means “day” |
| Duangdao | Star | Literally “star orb” |
| Dara | Star | Also means “movie star” in Thai |
| Arunee | Dawn | From aruna, the red glow of sunrise |
| Rungnapa | Rainbow in the sky | Lyrical modern name |
| Fah | Sky | Short, bright nickname |
Thai girl names from myth and poetry
Thai literature and temple art are full of celestial women. These names borrow from that world.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Achara | Celestial nymph | Thai form of Sanskrit apsara |
| Kinnaree | Half-bird, half-woman maiden | A graceful figure in Thai dance and temple art |
| Mayuree | Peahen | Linked with beauty and pride |
| Darunee | Young girl | Gentle, slightly formal |
| Chantra | Moon | Also spelled Jantra |
Cute Thai nicknames for girls
Nearly every Thai girl has a short nickname (chue len) that friends, teachers and even co-workers use. Some are Thai words, many are English.
| Nickname | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nok | Bird | A timeless classic |
| Nam | Water | Also used for boys |
| Waan | Sweet | Very common |
| Namwan | Sweet syrup | Literally “sweet water” |
| Kwang | Deer | For a doe-eyed baby |
| Maew | Cat | Cute and playful |
| Pim | Image; print | Short for Pim- formal names |
| Praew | Dazzling, sparkling | Popular for girls born in the 1990s |
| Noi | Little | Used for both genders |
| Aom | Short form of names like Omsin (savings) | Friendly, informal |
| Mint | English “mint” | Fresh and modern |
| Fern | English “fern” | Popular with Gen Z Thais |
| Gift | English “gift” | A child as a present |
| Pear | English “pear” | Sweet and simple |
| Cream | English “cream” | Soft, pretty sound |
| May | English “May” | Easy for foreigners too |
| Joy | English “joy” | Cheerful choice |
| Bow | English “bow” (ribbon) | Cute, short |
| Tukta | Doll | A sweet nickname for a baby girl |
| Nid | Little bit | Short and affectionate |
| Bee | English “bee” | Tiny and busy |
How to choose a Thai girl name
- Pair a formal name with a nickname. A long name such as Pimchanok works beautifully alongside a short nickname like Pim or Praew.
- Follow the weekday tradition if it matters to you. Thai astrology assigns lucky and unlucky letters to each day of the week, and many families consult a monk before registering a name.
- Pick one romanization. Phailin, Pailin and Pylin are all the same name; decide which spelling you’ll use on documents.
- Think about pronunciation abroad. Short names like Dara, Mali, Kanya and Lalita travel well in English-speaking countries.
- Choose a meaning with a story. A jasmine name like Mali honors mothers, while a lotus name like Ubon nods to Buddhism. Compare with our flower names for girls.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pretty Thai girl name?
Mali (jasmine), Phailin (sapphire), Dara (star), Sasithorn (moon) and Kanya (maiden) are all popular for their gentle sound and lovely meanings.
What does Malee mean in Thai?
Malee (มาลี) means “flower” in Thai. It is related to, but different from, Mali (มะลิ), which specifically means jasmine.
What are common Thai nicknames for girls?
Nok (bird), Ploy (gem), Nam (water), Waan (sweet) and Fah (sky) are classics, while English-word nicknames such as Mint, Fern, Gift and Cream are now very popular.
Do Thai women change their surname when they marry?
It is optional. Since 2005 Thai law lets a married woman keep her own surname or take her husband’s, so both are common today.
Where do Thai girl names come from?
Most formal names draw on Sanskrit and Pali vocabulary brought to Thailand through Buddhism and Hindu-influenced court culture, while nicknames are usually everyday Thai or English words.