Cambodian name

Cambodian names usually consist of two elements including a patronymic, which serves as a common family name for siblings, followed by a given name.[1][2] Surname then given name (Eastern name order). An example is famous singer Sin Sisamouth, his surname (last name) is Sin and his given name (first name) is Sisamouth. (In Western sources, the two are sometimes reversed.)[3] Traditionally, the Khmer do not have Western-style family names shared by multiple generations or entire families. Instead, Khmer children use their father's given name as their family name.[4] Other Austroasiatic indigenous people groups within Cambodia have similar naming customs, while the Sino-Khmer and Viet-Khmer may follow Chinese and Vietnamese naming patterns, respectively. Chams in Cambodia may have either Khmer or Cham names or a combination of both. Cham name order is the reverse of the Khmer; the given name is followed by the father's given name.[5]:23

Given names

Generally, women are given names relating to beauty, while men are given names of virtues.[6][7] Some Cambodian given names are unisex names.

Surnames

Surnames are usually taken from the surname or the given name of the father[1] and are generally monosyllabic.[8] Cambodian surnames are sometimes identical to Chinese or Vietnamese surnames.[8] Women keep their maiden names after marriage.[6]

Origin and meanings

The meanings of Cambodian names are generally very simple and reference positive attributes. Cambodian people are called by their given names without a title (informal) or by their given names with a title (formal); the full name, including both family name and given name is often used[2][6] (Surnames are used as a form of address, however, in the case of names that originated as revolutionary aliases).

Different naming traditions exist among ethnic groups other than the Khmer majority. The Cambodian population is 90% Buddhist and names are often taken from Buddhism. Among the Muslim minority, Arabic names are often used as family names.[1]

Pronunciation

Khmer names are usually pronounced with the stress (emphasis) placed on the last syllable.[9] Khmer uses a glottal stop (the Cockney stop in "ten green bo'les") and other stops: p, t, c and k which may or may not occur with aspiration. In romanizations of Khmer script, aspiration (i.e., a breath sound) is usually marked with an h. Final r, d, g, s, b, and z sounds are not heard: Ngor is pronounced Ngow. Some final consonants are written but not pronounced.[10]

List of some family names

Khmer "family" names are usually simply their father's given name, and as such change with each generation. Other ethnic groups, particularly Chinese-Cambodians and Vietnamese-Cambodians, may have a family name that is taken by each generation, in which case the name is pronounced similarly to the language of origin but within the bounds of Khmer phonology. Below is a list of some common family names,[11] some of which are also found as given names.

KhmerIPARomanizationOrigin
កូយ Kuy
កឹម Kem
កែប Kep
កែវkaewKeo(2nd most popular surname in Cambodia) meaning glass or jewel or crystal
ខាត់kʰatKhatChinese
ខាយkʰaːyKhay凱/凯 (triumphant, victorious)
ខៀវkʰiəwKhiev喬/乔 (Chinese "qiao", Vietnamese "kiều")
ខ្លូតkʰloutKhlotgeneric name for melon-like fruit
គឹមkɨmKim (Korean "Kim" / Mandarin Chinese "Jin", meaning gold)
គួច Kouch
កាំង Kaing
ឃាង Kheang
ឃិនKhinChinese 欽/钦 (respect, admiration)
ឃីម Khim
ចន្ទChan/Chhan/JanSanskrit word canda (चन्द) meaning moon
ចាន់ Chan
ចាប Chap Bird
ចេង Cheng
ចេនceːnChen/Jen陳/陳 (Given only to Cambodians of Chinese descent)
ឆនcʰɑːnChhorn終/终; whole, complete, entire.
ឆាយ Chhay
ជាciəChea (Chinese Xie)
ជាមciəmCheambowl.[12] From Persian جام (jam) meaning "cup". Or could be from Chinese (zhan) meaning "talk too much."
ជិនcinChin/Jin
ជឹមcɨmChim/Choem
ជ័យcɨjChey/Jey/JayMost popular surname in Cambodia, the Cambodian word "chey" meaning "victory" or "victorious", derived from Sanskrit Jaya (जय)
ឈិតcʰitChhet/Chhit (odd, unusual)
ឈិន 陳/陈 (old)
ឈឹមcʰəmChhim/Chhem (respect, admiration)
ញឹកɲɨkNhekabbreviation of 涅槃 (Nirvana)
ដួងduəŋDuongbeloved, dear, darling
ឌិតdɨtDithḍita from Sanskrit Paṇḍita (पण्डित) meaning wise man or scholar; or Chinese ("Di")
ឌិនdɨnDinfrom ḍina (डिन) in Pali meaning flight
ឌី Dy
ឌុលdulDulfrom ḍula (डुल) in Pali meaning earring or tremble
ឌួងduəŋDuongChinese 東/东 (east)
តក់ Tok Droplets of water
តាងtaːŋTang
តាតtaːtTat達/达 (attain)
តូចtouc ~ tuːcToch/TouchSmall or Tiny
តាំងtaŋTaingPossibly from Chinese meaning "bench" or "chair".[12]
ថន Than
ទាវ Teav
ទីtiːTy
ទុំ Tum
ទ្រី Try
ទេពteːpTepfrom Deva (देव), Sanskrit for god or divine
ធីtʰiːThy
នី Ny
ប្រាក់PrakKhmer for silver
ប៉ាងpaːŋPang龐/庞 (vast)
ប៉ុកpokPok (Bo)
ប៊ុនbunBun (the four winds, from Vietnamese bốn)
ប៉ែនpaenPen/Ben賓/宾 (guest/visitor)
ផានpʰaːnPhan (to overflow; be abundant)
ពិជ Pech
ពេជ្រ Pichmeans Diamonds in Cambodia
ភីpʰiːPhyguardian, one of great importance
មាmaːMaม้า (Thai version of Chinese "Ma")
មានmiənMeanrich or wealthy; or 緬/缅 (nostalgic, distant)
មាសmiəhMeasKhmer for gold
មួយmuəyMuy/Muoythe number 1
មូលmuːlMulround
មេងmeːŋMeng (Chinese "Meng")
ម៉ៅmaʋMao (Chinese "Mao"), locals argue that it came from a spoken form of the Khmer word black or kmav (ខ្មៅ).
However this word is reconstructed from Proto-Austro-Asiatic as *kVm and thus is unlikely to be so.
យស់yuəhYos/Yous
យុនyunYun (Chinese "Yun")
យូyuːYu (Chinese "Yu")
រស់rʊəhRos/Rousto live
រួយ Rouy
លិមlimLim (Chinese "Lin", meaning forest)
លី Ly
លីវ Liv
លឹម Lim
វ៉ាងʋaaŋVang
វង្សʋʊəŋVongCircle, line of descent. Derived from the Sanskrit word vansha (वंश) meaning lineage.
sɑːSor/SarWhite
សងsɑːŋSangPayback
សមsɑːmSam
សរsɑːSor/Sar
សាងsaːŋSang (Variation of Chinese "Chang")
សាតsaːtSat
សានsaːnSan
សាយsaːjSay
សិនsɨnSin森; (Forest)
សឺនsəɨnSon
សុខsokSokfrom Sanskrit sukha (सुख) meaning joy or happiness
សុងsoŋSong
សុនsonSon
ស៊ុយsuySuy (Sui Dynasty)
សូsoːSo蘇/苏 (Chinese "Sū")
ស៊ូsuːSu蘇/苏 (Chinese "Sū")
សួនsuənSounGarden
សឿង Seoung
សៀងsieŋSieng/SeangSoy or Shang (From Shang Hai City)
សេងseiŋSeng (Variation of Chinese "Chang"). Or from Chinese (seng) meaning "to multiply" [12]
សេនseinSenCent
សោមsaomSomfrom Sanskrit soma (सोम) meaning moon or sky
សៅ Sao
ហាក៉ Hak
ហុងhoŋHongfrom Chinese "Hong" meaning water or flood listed 184th among the Song-era Hundred Family Surnames
ហ៊ុនhunHunmoney investment, share (of stocks). Thai or Chinese etymology.[12] Possibly related to ("Hun" in Hokkien) meaning "share, portion."
ហូhouHo/Hu (Chinese "Hu")
ឡាយ Lay 來/来 (Chinese "Lai", meaning Come)
ឡុងloŋLong龍/龙 (Chinese "Long", meaning dragon)
អាងaːŋAng/Aang吳/吴 (Cantonese variation of surname "Wu")
អិមʔimIm/Yim (Hakka Chinese 'jim5')
អុងʔoŋOng (Chinese "Wang" (pronounced Ong in Hokkien dialect), meaning king)
អ៊ុចʔucUch/OuchTo Light
អ៊ុយʔujUy
អៀមʔiəmEam/Iem/Iam
អៀវʔieʋIv/Eav/Eaw楊 (Chinese "Yang")
អ៊ុំʔumUmAunt (Your parents older brother or sister)
ឯកʔaekEk/AekSelf, Single; from Sanskrit eka (एक)
ឱកʔaokOk/Aok玉 (Jade)
ឱមʔaomOm嚴/严 (Chinese "Yan")

List of given names

Unlike Cambodian family names, given names may have multiple syllables and differ greatly. Given names were influenced greatly by Sanskrit.

KhmerIPARomanizationOrigin
ɓɑːliːnBalin(bah-lin)
បទុមBotum(bo-toum): Meaning lotus
ជាciəCheagood health
ជាតាCheata(chea-tah) meaning birth, nation, origin
ឆេងCheng鄭/郑 (Variation of Chinese "Zheng")
ឈៀងChheang (Chinese "Chang")
តាDa (Similar to Chinese "Da" but not related; Khmer meaning for "elder man")
ដារាɗɑːrɑːDaraSanskrit, meaning star
ឡេងLeng (Chinese "Liang")
Lo羅/罗 (Chinese "Luo")
ណារុងNarong(nah-rong)
Naroeung(nahroong)
និមលNimolWhich is without doubt, without blemish, always happy
ភួងPhuong(poong) name of a kind of flower
សារឿនSaroeung(sah-roong)
ស្រីSrey(sareiy): (Khmer, meaning girl; from the Sanskrit strī́ [स्त्री])
សនSon(sawn): 孫/孙 (Variation of Chinese "Sun")
បុប្ផាBopha(bo-pha): Meaning flower or blossom
ចិន្ដាChenda(chen-dah): Meaning heart or mind
ឈួនChhoun(choo-en)
Khan(kahn)
កុសលKosal(ko-sahl): Meaning good deed
គុន្ធាKunthea(kun-thea): Means "sweet-smelling" or "good deed"
ឡាយLai(lah-ee): 賴/赖 (Chinese "Lai")
លំអងLom Ang(loom-ang): 倫/伦 (Variations of Chinese "Lun" and "Wu")
ម៉ាលីMaly(mahlee)
ម៉ីMey(Mae) "妹" (Chinese "mèi" meaning "youngest" sister or "little" sister)
ម៉ាប់Map(mahp): Mập ("Fat" or "Chubby")
Moeuk(mew)
ផល្លាPhalla(pah-lah): Meaning fruit (फल्ला) in Pali
ភារៈPhireak(phi-raek)
ពិរុណPhirun(phi-run): Means "rain" in Khmer, from the name of a rain god in the mythologies of southeast Asia. The god's name is possibly derived from Varuna.
ពៅPov(pohew): youngest (sibling)
រិទ្ធិRith(rit) meaning power
រីRy(ree)
សំណាងSamnanglucky
សារិទ្ធSarit(sahrit)
សុផលSophal(sohpahl): (More popular Khmer names)
សារិទ្ធSophea(so-phea): Means "wisdom"
សារិទ្ធSopheap(so-pheap): Means "gentle or proper"
សួនSuon(soo-in): meaning garden
Tren(trayng): Trần (Vietnamese version of Chinese "Chen")
ទីtiːThyThị (Chinese "弟" for "youngest" son or "little" brother)
Thuy(toy-ee): Thủy (Vietnamese version of Chinese ), meaning water
វណ្ណាVanna(van-nah): gold, golden, from Sanskrit varṇa (वर्ण)
វាសនាVeasna(vea-snah): Means opportunity, good fortune, or fate.
វិបុលVibol(vee-bol): Means abundant, large, vast
វុឌ្ឍិvuttʰiVuthy(voo-tee): meaning prosperity. Derived from the Pali word vuddhi (वुद्धि) of the same meaning.[12]

Compound names

At times, many families combine shorter names to create a longer name. This happens often among the wealthier class of Cambodians.

  • Sovanna (Combined "So" and "Vanna") means gold in Sanskrit
  • Somally (Combined "So" and "Maly")
  • Chandarith (Combined "Chanda" and "Rith")

See also

References

  1. "Naming systems of the world" Archived 2008-04-23 at the Wayback Machine (self-published). Citing Huffman, Franklin Eugene. Cambodian names and titles. Institute of Far Eastern Languages, Yale University (1968). OCLC 20035170.
  2. Short, Philip. Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare. Macmillan (2006), p xv. ISBN 0-8050-8006-6.
  3. Kershaw, Roger. Monarchy in South-East Asia: The Faces of Tradition in Transition. Routledge (2001), p xiv. ISBN 0-415-18531-9.
  4. Huy, Vannak (2003). THE KHMER ROUGE DIVISION 703: From Victory to Self-destruction. Phnom Penh: Documentation Center of Cambodia. pp. 6 (note 1). CiteSeerX 10.1.1.139.6706.
  5. Ueki, Kaori (2011). "PROSODY AND INTONATION OF WESTERN CHAM" (PDF). University of Hawaii. Retrieved 20 November 2017. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Valerie Ooka Pang & Li-Rong Lilly Cheng. Struggling to Be Heard: The Unmet Needs of Asian Pacific American Children. SUNY Press (1998), p51. ISBN 0-7914-3839-2.
  7. Asian American Community Mental Health Training Center. Bridging Cultures: Southeast Asian Refugees in America. University of Michigan (1983), p98. OCLC 10431338.
  8. Mary Fong & Rueyling Chuang. Communicating Ethnic and Cultural Identity. Rowman & Littlefield (2003), p40. ISBN 0-7425-1739-X.
  9. Khmer Institute
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2011-06-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "What Language Does He Speak? Asian Last Name Guide" (PDF).
  12. Headley, Robert K. "SEAlang Library Khmer", SEAlang Library, 05/14/2018
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