Thai Last Names
Thai surnames are young, long and remarkably unique. Until King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) made family names compulsory just over a century ago, most Thais had only a given name; the king personally coined thousands of new family names, and the law still requires each newly registered surname to be distinct. The result is a system where a surname like Shinawatra or Srivaddhanaprabha almost always points to a single extended family.
The Surname Act took effect in 1913. Below are more than 90 Thai last names with meanings: everyday surnames, famous families, Chinese-Thai clan names and royal lineages, plus the word roots that build them. Pair them with our lists of Thai boy names and Thai girl names, or go back to the main Thai names guide.
Common Thai surnames and what they mean
Most Thai surnames are compounds of auspicious words — merit, gold, glory, happiness. Because each registered surname is supposed to belong to one family, even “common” ones are far rarer than Smith or Nguyen.
| Surname | Meaning | Thai script |
|---|---|---|
| Srisuk | Glory and happiness | ศรีสุข |
| Boonmee | Having merit | บุญมี |
| Thongdee | Good gold | ทองดี |
| Jaidee | Kind heart | ใจดี |
| Suksawat | Happiness and well-being | สุขสวัสดิ์ |
| Srisawat | Glory and well-being | ศรีสวัสดิ์ |
| Kaewmanee | Crystal jewel | แก้วมณี |
| Rattanapong | Jewel lineage | รัตนพงศ์ |
| Saengthong | Golden light | แสงทอง |
| Thongsuk | Gold and happiness | ทองสุข |
| Boonsong | Carried by merit | บุญส่ง |
| Phromma | From Brahma, the creator god | พรหมมา |
| Sriwichai | Glorious victory | ศรีวิชัย |
| Suwannarat | Golden jewel | สุวรรณรัตน์ |
| Jitjaroen | Flourishing mind | จิตเจริญ |
| Sukprasert | Excellent happiness | สุขประเสริฐ |
| Charoensuk | Prosperity and happiness | เจริญสุข |
| Rungrueang | Thriving, prosperous | รุ่งเรือง |
| Siriwat | Growing glory | ศิริวัฒน์ |
| Wongsuwan | Golden lineage | วงศ์สุวรรณ |
| Chaisiri | Victory and glory | ชัยศิริ |
| Petchsri | Glorious diamond | เพชรศรี |
| Meesuk | Having happiness | มีสุข |
| Buasri | Glorious lotus | บัวศรี |
| Srithong | Glorious gold | ศรีทอง |
| Thongkham | Pure gold | ทองคำ |
| Mungmee | Wealthy | มั่งมี |
| Kaewsai | Clear crystal | แก้วใส |
| Chokdee | Good luck | โชคดี |
Famous Thai last names
You’ll recognize many of these from Thai politics, sport and business news.
| Surname | Meaning / origin | Well-known bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Shinawatra | From Pali jina, “conqueror,” an epithet of the Buddha | Prime ministers Thaksin, Yingluck and Paetongtarn Shinawatra |
| Chan-o-cha | “Moon” + “delicious, fragrant” | Prayut Chan-o-cha, prime minister 2014–2023 |
| Vejjajiva | “Physician” + Jivaka, the Buddha’s legendary doctor | Abhisit Vejjajiva, prime minister 2008–2011 |
| Leekpai | “Avoiding danger” | Chuan Leekpai, twice prime minister |
| Thavisin | “Increasing wealth” | Srettha Thavisin, prime minister 2023–2024 |
| Wongsawat | “Prosperous lineage” | Somchai Wongsawat, prime minister in 2008 |
| Sundaravej | “Beautiful” + “physician” | Samak Sundaravej, prime minister in 2008 |
| Kittikachorn | “Spreading fame” | Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn |
| Thanarat | “Wealth” + “silver” | Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat |
| Pibulsonggram | From the noble title Luang Phibunsongkhram | Plaek Phibunsongkhram, wartime prime minister |
| Chulanont | Royally granted surname | Surayud Chulanont, prime minister 2006–2008 |
| Limjaroenrat | Chinese clan Lim (林) + “prosperous jewel” | Politician Pita Limjaroenrat |
| Charnvirakul | “Skilled” + “heroic family” | Anutin Charnvirakul, party leader |
| Intanon | From Indra, king of the gods | Ratchanok Intanon, 2013 badminton world champion |
| Banchamek | “Commanding the clouds” | Muay Thai star Buakaw Banchamek |
| Punsawad | “Shaping well-being” | Kultida Woods, mother of Tiger Woods (née Punsawad) |
Chinese-Thai (Sino-Thai) surnames
Around one in seven Thais has Chinese ancestry, mostly Teochew. Some families kept their clan name with the prefix Sae (แซ่, from the Chinese word for surname); others wove the clan name into a Thai-style surname. Compare with our list of Chinese last names.
| Surname | Chinese root | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sae-Tang | 陳 (Chen) | One of the most common Sae- names |
| Sae-Lim | 林 (Lin) | Teochew pronunciation Lim |
| Sae-Lee | 李 (Li) | Very widespread |
| Sae-Heng | 王 (Wang) | Teochew Heng |
| Sae-Ung | 黃 (Huang) | Teochew Ung |
| Sae-Tae | 鄭 (Zheng) | The clan of King Taksin’s father |
| Sae-Chia | 謝 (Xie) | Teochew Chia |
| Limthongkul | Lim (林) + “gold family” | Media figure Sondhi Limthongkul |
| Ungphakorn | Ung (黃) + Thai ending | Economist Puey Ungphakorn |
| Chearavanont | Chia (謝) clan | Founders of the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group |
| Chirathivat | Hainanese-Thai family | Owners of Central Group |
| Sophonpanich | “Splendid merchant” | Founders of Bangkok Bank |
| Wanglee | Named after the family’s Teochew trading house | A 19th-century rice-trading dynasty |
| Srivaddhanaprabha | “Glory, growth and radiance” | King Power; owners of Leicester City FC |
| Sirivadhanabhakdi | “Glorious growth and devotion” | Founders of ThaiBev (Chang beer) |
Royal and noble Thai surnames
Royal descendants below the rank of Mom Luang add na Ayutthaya to their surname. Several former provincial ruling houses received their own “na” suffix.
| Surname | Meaning / origin | Note |
|---|---|---|
| na Ayutthaya | “Of Ayutthaya” | Added by distant descendants of the Chakri kings |
| na Chiang Mai | “Of Chiang Mai” | The Chet Ton dynasty that ruled Lanna |
| na Lampang | “Of Lampang” | Related northern ruling family |
| na Lamphun | “Of Lamphun” | Northern princely house |
| na Nan | “Of Nan” | Former rulers of Nan |
| na Songkhla | “Of Songkhla” | Chinese-descended governors of Songkhla |
| na Nakhon | “Of Nakhon Si Thammarat” | Southern governing family |
| na Ranong | “Of Ranong” | Descendants of Hokkien governor Khaw Soo Cheang |
| na Pattalung | “Of Phatthalung” | Southern governing family |
| Mahidol | Royal house | Family of King Bhumibol’s father, Prince Mahidol |
| Kitiyakara | Royal house | Queen Sirikit’s family |
| Devakula | Royal house | Descendants of Prince Devawongse, foreign minister |
| Pramoj | Royal house | M.R. Seni and M.R. Kukrit Pramoj, both prime ministers |
| Rabibhadana | Royal house | Prince Rabi, “father of Thai law” |
| Chakrabongse | Royal house | Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath |
| Paribatra | Royal house | Sukhumbhand Paribatra, former Bangkok governor |
| Yugala | Royal house | Film director Chatrichalerm Yukol |
Building blocks of Thai surnames
Once you know a dozen roots, most Thai surnames become easy to decode — and you can see why they run so long.
| Root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sri- / -sri | Glory, auspiciousness | Srisuk, Buasri |
| Boon- | Merit (in the Buddhist sense) | Boonmee, Boonsong |
| Thong- | Gold | Thongdee, Thongkham |
| Kaew- | Crystal, precious | Kaewmanee, Kaewsai |
| Suk- | Happiness | Suksawat, Meesuk |
| Wong- / -wong | Lineage, family line | Wongsuwan |
| -pong | Lineage, descendants | Rattanapong |
| -kul | Family, clan | Limthongkul |
| Rattana- | Jewel | Rattanapong |
| Charoen- / Jaroen- | Prosperity | Charoensuk, Limjaroenrat |
| -sawat | Well-being, safety | Srisawat |
| Chai- | Victory | Chaisiri |
| Siri- | Glory, splendor | Siriwat |
| Suwan- | Gold | Suwannarat |
Tips for reading and using Thai surnames
- Thais use first names, not surnames. Mr. Somchai Srisuk is “Khun Somchai,” even in formal settings — and phone books are sorted by first name.
- Expect several spellings. There is no single romanization standard in everyday use, so Srisuk, Srisook and Sisuk may be the same name.
- Look for Chinese clues. A surname starting with Sae-, Lim-, Ung- or Tang- usually signals Chinese ancestry.
- Don’t use a registered surname for a character casually. Because surnames are so family-specific, writers often combine roots (Sri + Thong, Kaew + Suk) to create a believable fictional one.
- Compare other Asian systems. Thai surnames are far more varied than Vietnamese last names or Korean last names, where a handful of names cover most people.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common Thai last name?
There isn’t a dominant one, because Thai law requires new surnames to be unique. Chinese clan names such as Sae-Tang and Sae-Lim, and simple word surnames like Boonmee or Srisuk, are among the most frequently encountered.
Why are Thai last names so long?
Surnames were created only after 1913 and had to be unique, so families combined several Sanskrit, Pali and Thai roots to make distinctive names like Srivaddhanaprabha.
When did Thailand start using surnames?
King Vajiravudh introduced surnames with the Surname Act of 1913. Before that, most Thais used only a given name, sometimes with a father’s name or a title.
What does “na Ayutthaya” mean in a Thai name?
It means “of Ayutthaya” and is added by distant descendants of Thai kings who no longer hold a royal title. Similar suffixes such as na Chiang Mai mark former provincial ruling families.
Can Thai people create their own surname?
Yes. Thais may apply to register a new surname, which must be original, not too long, and not duplicate a royal name or an existing family’s surname.