http://www.cabosanlucasmexico.mx/thai-names-can-be-a-real-challenge/
Would it be okay with you if someone called you a “pig” or a “buffalo? I imagine you would not like it. However in Thailand these are common names and there are many others that appear strange to our taste. The Thais use first and last names in the same way we do, but often they have so many syllables that it is extremely difficult for us to pronounce them and even more difficult to remember.
It was not always like that. In earlier times names in Thailand used to be shorter and easier. Only in the last few generations has it become all the rage to adopt such monstrous names. This went so far that the Thais felt compelled to p*** a law that limits how many syllables names can contain. Otherwise those enthusiastic name creators would have made any official business a syllable nightmare. Changing your name in Thailand is quite easy. Your name does not fit you – just select one you like better. It is a fairly simple process.
When someone gives me one of those complicated names, I just ask them for a shorter name. Fortunately most Thais use abbreviations of their real name or nicknames which are at the other end of the spectrum of the multi syllable confusion. In contrast they typically consist of just one syllable or letter. In some cases the Thais pick any one syllable of their legal name and use that as their nickname – it could be the first, last, or middle syllable, it doesn’t matter. Some nicknames appear quite strange to us. There could be Ms Pig, Mr. Buffalo, Mr. Dog, or Ms Bomb. How do they get names like that? Here are the actual stories of friends of mine here in Thailand.
There are quite a few nicknames that are descriptive in an odd sense. One girl I know is called “pig”. In the west such a name would be impossible, but in this instance her parents looked at her baby fat and decided that she resembled a cute baby pig, hence the name. Thais believe that this is a rather cute name. If at some point the girl does not find her nickname appealing anymore, she will be able to change it at any time. The nickname of another acquaintance of mine is “dog”. When he was a little boy, he was a real chatterbox to the point of getting on people’s nerves. His parents found that he resembled an excited puppy, so “dog” it was for him.
Thai nicknames may also be chosen for special powers. There is the story of a sickly boy who always had one health issue or another. So the people in his village decided to call him buffalo, which is a strong animal. There is even a saying ’strong as a buffalo’. Amazingly his chronic diseases went away and he became a strong, healthy person, true to his name. But before you start calling people “buffalo”, be aware that this is also used as an insulting word. They are considered quite ****** animals. “****** like a buffalo” is a derogatory way to talk about someone.
Some nicknames are descriptive in a colorful way. I have a friend whose name is “Green”. When she was born she had a slightly greenish skin tone and that is how she ended up with this nickname. 40 years down the line her skin looks perfectly normal, but she is still Miss Green.
Non-western cultures often place more significance on dreams than we do. Here is the story of a predictive dream of a Thai friend of mine. While visiting a temple, a monk offered her sister in law who was with her a big precious stone. She declined the gift and requested that the monk give it to her friend who was very happy to receive it. When she woke up, she soon found out that she was pregnant. In her mind the dream foretold the pregnancy and therefore she gave the baby the nickname of ‘precious stone’, Ploy. Her sister in law did not want to become pregnant, so the p***ing of the stone was very symbolic for my friend.
Some nicknames are very creative, to the point of being quite strange. The same woman has a son who was born during the Iran-Iraq war. The Thai media covered the war in depth with all its horrors and bombing. In the absence of a better idea she ended up calling her son “bomb”.
There are nicknames which are totally meaningless. At the other end of the creativity spectrum are super simple names which consist of just single letters like O, E, B, or D. More recently it has become fashionable to use western names like ‘cat’ or ‘joy’ as nicknames, provided they consist of just one syllable.
Not all Thais use nicknames. They use their legal names which in those cases tend to be reasonably pronounceable. When you meet Thais, they will usually introduce themselves with their nicknames. Although some of these nicknames appear strange to us, we should count our blessings, since we would have a serious challenge trying to understand or remember those mile-long legal names which are so typical in Thailand.