View source for Lao name

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'''[[Lao language|Lao]] names''' (Lao: ຊື່ {{IPA|lo|sɯː|}}), like [[Thai name|Thai ones]], 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.<ref>Siegall, A. L., & Connoly, W. G. (1999). The New York Times manual of style and usage. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.</ref> 

In daily life, outside of formal, international, or academic spheres, [[Lao people]] generally refer to themselves and others by nicknames, or ''seu lin''—literally "playnames" (Lao: ຊື່ຫຼິ້ນ {{IPA|lo|sɯː lin|}}).<ref>Rehbein, B. (2007). ''Globalization, culture and society in Laos''. New York: Routledge.</ref> 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.<ref>LeBar, F., & Suddard, A. (1967). ''Laos: Its people, its society, its culture''. New Haven, CT: Human Relations Area Files Press.</ref>

Both first and surname are a mixture of [[Pali]] or [[Sanskrit]] 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 language|English]] span nearly 10–15 letters, for which both Lao and [[Thai names|Thai]] names are known.

==Common name components==
{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
!Name Component!!Modern Spelling!!Archaic Spelling!!Origin and Meaning
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Boun
| ບຸນ {{IPA|[bun˩(˧)]}}
| N/A
| Pali {{IAST|puñña}}, “happiness,” “prosperity,” "goodness,” “virtue”.
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Vong(sa) {{IPA|lo|wóŋ|}}, Phong(sa) {{IPA|[pʰóŋ]}}
| ວົງ, ພົງ 
| ວົງສ໌, ພົງສ໌
| Sanskrit ''[[Vaṃsa|vamsha]]'', "royal lineage" or "family", hence this component is a staple in many Lao surnames.
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Singh or Syha
| ສິງ {{IPA|lo|sǐŋ|}}, ສິຫະ {{IPA|[sǐː háʔ]}} 
| ສິງຫ໌, N/A
| Sanskrit ''[[siṃha]]'', "[[Leo (constellation)|Leo]]" or "lion".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Chan, Chanh, Chantha {{IPA|[càn]}}
| ຈັນ
| ຈັນທ໌, ຈັນທຣ໌
| Sanskrit ''[[chandra]]'', "moon", not to be confused with the ''tiane'' in ''Vien'''tiane''''' which means "sandalwood".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Dao
| ດາວ
| N/A
| Lao, "star."
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Dara {{IPA|[daː ráː], [daː láː]}}
| ດາລາ 
| ດາຣາ
| Sanskrit ''tara'', "[[Venus|Evening Star]]".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Pha {{IPA|lo|pʰāʔ|}}, Phra {{IPA|[pʰrāʔ]}}
| ພະ
| ພຣະ
| Lao, usually imparts royal or religious significance to the following component.
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Kham
| ຄຳ {{IPA|[kʰám]}}
| N/A
| Lao, "golden" or "precious."
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Mali
| ມະລິ {{IPA|[ma-li]}}
| ມາລີ
| Lao/Thai, "Jasmine" ({{langx|th|มะลิ}}) or "blossom".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Ngeun, Ngoen
| ເງິນ {{IPA|[ŋɤn˧˥]}}
| N/A
| Lao, "money" or "silver."
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Racha, Rasa {{IPA|[ráː sáː], [láː sáː]}}
| ລາຊາ, ລາດ
| ຣາຊາ, ຣາຊ
| Sanskrit ''[[raja]]'', "king".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Savane, Savan, Savanh {{IPA|lo|sáʔ wǎn|}}
| ສະຫວັນ
| ສວັຣ, ສວັຣຄ໌
| Sanskrit ''[[Svarga|swarga]]'', or "heaven".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Seng, Saeng
| ແສງ {{IPA|[sǣng]}}
| N/A
| Lao, "light".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Phou, Phu {{IPA|[pʰúː]}}
| ພູ
| N/A
| Lao, "mountain".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Sri, Si {{IPA|[sǐː]}}  
| ສີ
| ສີ, ສຣີ  
| Sanskrit ''[[sri]]'', or "splendid".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Keo, Kaew, Kèw {{IPA|[kɛ̂ːw]}}
| ແກ້ວ
| N/A
| Lao, "glass", "precious", "gem".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Vora, Worra {{IPA|[vɔː rāʔ]}}
| ວໍລະ
| ວໍຣະ
| Sanskrit ''[[varaha]]'', "excellent", "superb".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Chai, Sai, Xai, Xay {{IPA|lo|sái|}}
| ໄຊ
| ໄຊຍ໌, ຊັຍ
| Sanskrit ''[[Jaya (disambiguation)|jaya]]'', "victory".
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Tong, Thong
| ທອງ {{IPA|[tʰɔːŋ˧˥]}}
| N/A
| Lao, "golden" or "copper."
|}

==List of Lao Surnames==
{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
!Surname!!Population!!Components
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Inthavong
| ອິນທະວົງ
| ອິນທະ,'Intha' - [[Indra]]
ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Chanthavong
| ຈັນທະວົງ 
| ຈັນທະ, 'Chantha' - Moon
ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Thammavong
| ທັມມະວົງ 
| ທັມມະ, 'Thamma' - [[Dharma]]
ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Noy
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Manivong
| ມະນີວົງ
| ມະນີ, 'Mani' - Jewel, Gem
ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Phanthavong
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Lao
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Kham
| ຄຳ
| ຄຳ, 'Kham' - Gold
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Keo
| ແກ້ວ
| ແກ້ວ, 'Keo' - Glass
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Phommachanh
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Sayavong
| ໄຊຍະວົງ
| ໄຊຍະ, 'Saya' - Victory
ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Vongphachanh
|
|ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
ພະ, 'Pha' - Holy, Royal
ຈັນ, 'Chanh' - Moon
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Xayavong
| ໄຊຍະວົງ
| ໄຊຍະ, 'Xaya' - Victory
ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Phommavong
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Chanthalangsy  
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Keomany
| ແກ້ວມະນີ
| ແກ້ວ, 'Keo' - Glass
ມະນີ, 'Mani' - Jewel, Gem
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Phimmasone
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Seng
|
|
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Vongxay
| ວົງໄຊ
| ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
ໄຊ, 'Xay' - Victory
|}

==See also==
* [[Indian honorifics]]
* [[Indosphere]]
* [[Greater India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Names in world cultures}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lao Name}}
[[Category:Culture of Laos]]
[[Category:Names by country]]