Lao names (Lao: ຊື່ ) are given in Western order, where the family name goes after the first given name. On official documents, both first given name and surname are written, but it is customary to refer to people in formal situations by their first name, plus titles and honorifics, alone. In daily life, outside of formal, international, or academic spheres,

Lao people The Lao people are a Tai ethnic group native to Southeast Asia, who speak the eponymous language of the Kra–Dai languages. They are the majority ethnic group of Laos, making up 53.2% of the total population. The majority of Lao people adhere ...

generally refer to themselves and others by nicknames, or ''seu lin''—literally "playnames" (Lao: ຊື່ຫຼິ້ນ ). Much like the nicknames of Thai people (with whom the Lao share a great deal of cultural similarity), the names are often unflattering, although some are based on onomatopoeia, nonsense syllables, or peculiar characteristics. This is largely based on old superstitions from times when health care was not available and there was high infant mortality, as many of these names were supposed to ward off evil spirits from claiming the child. The French Colonial government mandated the introduction of surnames in Laos in 1943, beginning first with the royalty and the élite before becoming a common practice among the other classes. To this day, among isolated ethnic groups and remote rural villages, it is still possible to find individuals who do not possess a surname.LeBar, F., & Suddard, A. (1967). ''Laos: Its people, its society, its culture''. New Haven, CT: Human Relations Area Files Press. Both first and surname are a mixture of

Pali Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

and Lao words. The wording comes from variety of influences, such as nature, animals, and royal titles. Lao names are generally made up of two or three words, but when translated into

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

span nearly 10–15 letters, for which both Lao and Thai names are known.

Common name components

}) or "blossom". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Ngeun, Ngoen , ເງິນ , N/A , Lao, "money" or "silver." , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Racha, Rasa , ລາຊາ, ລາດ , ຣາຊາ, ຣາຊ , Sanskrit ''

raja ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...

'', "king". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Savane, Savan, Savanh , ສະຫວັນ , ສວັນ, ສວັນຄ໌ , Sanskrit ''

swarga Svarga (), also known as Indraloka and Svargaloka, is the celestial abode of the devas in Hinduism. Svarga is one of the seven higher lokas ( esoteric planes) in Hindu cosmology. Svarga is often translated as heaven, though it is regarded to b ...

'', or "heaven". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Seng, Saeng , ແສງ , N/A , Lao, "light". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Phou, Phu , ພູ , N/A , Lao, "mountain". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Sri, Si , ສີ , ສີ, ສຣີ , Sanskrit ''

sri Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanes ...

'', or "splendid". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Keo, Kaew, Kèw , ແກ້ວ , N/A , Lao, "glass", "precious", "gem". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Vora, Worra , ວໍລະ , ວໍຣະ , Sanskrit ''

varaha Varaha ( sa, वराह, , "boar") is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a boar. Varaha is generally listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. Varaha is most commonly associated with the leg ...

'', "excellent", "superb". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Chai, Sai, Xai, Xay , ໄຊ , ໄຊຍ໌, ຊັຍ , Sanskrit '' jaya'', "victory". , ----- bgcolor="#ffffff" , Tong, Thong , ທອງ , N/A , Lao, "golden" or "copper."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lao Name Laotian culture Names by culture

Common name components

See also

References