Proper names in Thai

Abstract Thai proper names exhibit extraordinary diversity and fluidity. With widespread belief that names affect the name-bearer’s fate, the creation of both surnames and given names is undertaken with the utmost consideration. Due to socio-cultural, political, and religious influences from India, Sanskrit and Pali are the roots of many Thai names. Often with advice from monks and fortune-tellers, words from these ‘sacred’ languages are readily adopted in naming Thai children for their power and novelty, as religious beliefs have created diverse and complex rules and customs in name-giving. The complexity of Thai surnames and given names prompts most Thais to go by simple nicknames in their daily lives, which sharply contrast their elaborate legal names. This paper expounds on Thai proper names at various grammatical levels, and discusses the influence of typological characteristics of the Thai language.