Thai name

Thai surnames are required by law since 1913. All Thai nationals were required to accept a last name as a surname, in front of only simple names were common. The names are the same as in the West following the rule " first name last name" set up.

If a surname, the addition is given na followed by a place name, it means similar to the German "von" that the family of noble descent (see also: Thai noble title ). So take, for example, descendants of the royal family of the additive na Ayutthaya.

Family name was first awarded by the king to his sons and to members of the court - as is the surname of the current King of Thailand Rama IX. ' Adulyadej '.

The names used today or their components usually have a positive eulogische importance.

In the official traffic you but always speaks in using the name, possibly carried out an additional function, such as General or Adschaan ( for high school teachers ). This is also transferred to foreigners, so that one is always addressed by their first name, without that this requires special closeness.

Also lists of names - such as telephone directories - are sorted alphabetically by first name.

Thais with each other in the use of friends and acquaintances almost exclusively nickname:

• Nu ( หนู - mouse), also known as Title for subordinate ( female ) common people
• Daeng ( แดง - Red )
• Raek ( แรก - or the first ), for firstborn
• Lek ( เล็ก - Small) for " Small " or " Small "
• Mali ( มะลิ - jasmine)

Often nicknamed as animals or colors used ( Gung - Shrimp, Mu - Pork, Pueng - bee).

Meanwhile, however, also be naturalized English names, such as James, Bebe, Beam etc.