If you have ever come across Thai names, you probably would be shocked by how long the names are, especially the surnames. So, why are Thai names so long? This is a common question that many individuals ask when dealing with Thais.
Simply put, Thai names are usually so long because the names are expected to be different and special. Besides, no two unrelated families are supposed to have the same surname. This is to ensure that there is no confusion in identifying people as well as knowing whether they are related or not.
Therefore, when you see a long, unusual Thai name, you should understand that such a name is meant to be different from other Thai names. Besides, if you see Thais with the same last name, you can rest assured that those individuals are somewhat related. However, there are Thai last names that are short. This is especially common among ethnic Thais.
Some of the reasons for long Thai names
To explain the reasons for the long Thai names, it is essential to explain a few vital things.
- It ensures that each last name is unique
According to Tasty Thailand, it is not every Thai family that has a long last name. Ethnic Thais don’t have long names as these people usually have short names with around 6 to 8 characters. They often have surnames with ethnic meanings. Notably, these names have been in existence for numerous centuries and used by the same families.
However, when some people moved from China to Thailand, long last names started springing up. Immediately after their arrival, these Chinese-Thais maintained their Chinese names such as Wu, Tan, Lee, etc. Over time, some of these descendants of the Chinese immigrants decided to adopt Chinese names. To do so, they started applying for a change of names with the government of Thailand.
In addition, the Thai government required everyone to register their surnames at a particular time.
Unfortunately, in Thailand, it is against the law for two unrelated families to have the same surname. In other words, each family must have a unique surname. Therefore, these Chinese-Thais could not use any of the existing Thai last names. Even Chinese-Thais with similar surnames had to change or increase the characters in their names to make them different from others. To deal with this challenge, these individuals started creating long names with some resemblance to Thai names.
Over time, various families started making long, unique surnames. Therefore, Thais now have some of the longest last names in the world.
- It is easy to change names
In Thailand, it is quite easy for anyone to change their last name. Generally, many people in Thailand change their surnames for personal or religious purposes. For instance, someone may feel as if they don’t like the religious meaning of their last name; hence, they may go ahead to change it without any hassle.
Since people cannot choose existing last names in Thailand, they have to change to another long surname that no one is currently using in the country. In fact, several individuals have changed their names innumerable times. Ohmissannabella.com offers more explanation about how people change names easily and quickly in Thailand.
- It is to select a meaningful name
When forming new surfaces, many Thais often want to choose a name that has meanings that speak positively about the family. Therefore, they will select the last name with lengthy words. The King of Thailand, for instance, has a name that can be loosely translated as “adorned with thunderbolts or jewels”.
Due to the awesome meanings of the names, they are usually long.
- Long last names are often given by Thai royalty
According to Rosette.com, if a family has done something exceptional to improve Thailand, the Royal Family of Thailand often gives them an honorary surname. Although such surnames are usually meaningful, they often come with several characters.
What are the issues associated with these long names?
Considering the need for the Thai last names to be unique, it is easy to conclude that Thai names will continue to get longer. This is because more families will continue to add extra characters to their existing last names to make it longer.
One of the issues with long Thai last names is that it becomes extremely difficult for people to remember these names. Even many Thais are unable to write the names of their fellow countrymen.
Besides, many Thais change their names so often that the documents don’t reflect the changes. This often leads to questioning at foreign airports and other places. In some other cases, people are even denied visas because of their name changes.
Thais also have funny nicknames
Apart from the long last names of Thais, another unique thing about them is that almost everyone has a nickname. These names are often given by the parents based on their emotions or experiences. In Thailand, you can come across funny nicknames such as Name, Password, Benz, Toyota, Book, Penguin, Cherry, Bank, Username, Apple, Orange, Boat, and lots more.
It is noteworthy that every parent has different reasons for picking these weird nicknames. For instance, some parents may like Mercedes Benz and, as such, decide to name their child Benz. Others may consider their emotions or condition at the time of the birth of the child to give him or her a nickname.
Notably, these nicknames are usually short and easy to remember. Hence, they can come in handy when Thais are trying to communicate with one another. They don’t need to remember the long last names.
Conclusion
In Thailand, many families have long surnames. This is because every family must register a unique surname with the Thai government. As a result of this, each family often tries to create a long surname that no other family has registered with the government. Similarly, people have long last names because it is easy for them to change their surnames or want to have meaningful names.
