Lao name

Template:Short description Lao names (Lao: ຊື່ ), like 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.

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 ). 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.

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

Common name components

Name Component	Modern Spelling	Archaic Spelling	Origin and Meaning
Boun	ບຸນ	N/A	Pali , “happiness,” “prosperity,” "goodness,” “virtue”.
Vong(sa) , Phong(sa)	ວົງ, ພົງ	ວົງສ໌, ພົງສ໌	Sanskrit vamsha, "royal lineage" or "family", hence this component is a staple in many Lao surnames.
Singh or Syha	ສິງ , ສິຫະ	ສິງຫ໌, N/A	Sanskrit siṃha, "Leo" or "lion".
Chan, Chanh, Chantha	ຈັນ	ຈັນທ໌, ຈັນທຣ໌	Sanskrit chandra, "moon", not to be confused with the tiane in Vientiane which means "sandalwood".
Dao	ດາວ	N/A	Lao, "star."
Dara	ດາລາ	ດາຣາ	Sanskrit tara, "Evening Star".
Pha , Phra	ພະ	ພຣະ	Lao, usually imparts royal or religious significance to the following component.
Kham	ຄຳ	N/A	Lao, "golden" or "precious."
Mali	ມະລິ	ມາລີ	Lao/Thai, "Jasmine" (Template:Langx) or "blossom".
Ngeun, Ngoen	ເງິນ	N/A	Lao, "money" or "silver."
Racha, Rasa	ລາຊາ, ລາດ	ຣາຊາ, ຣາຊ	Sanskrit raja, "king".
Savane, Savan, Savanh	ສະຫວັນ	ສວັຣ, ສວັຣຄ໌	Sanskrit swarga, or "heaven".
Seng, Saeng	ແສງ	N/A	Lao, "light".
Phou, Phu	ພູ	N/A	Lao, "mountain".
Sri, Si	ສີ	ສີ, ສຣີ	Sanskrit sri, or "splendid".
Keo, Kaew, Kèw	ແກ້ວ	N/A	Lao, "glass", "precious", "gem".
Vora, Worra	ວໍລະ	ວໍຣະ	Sanskrit varaha, "excellent", "superb".
Chai, Sai, Xai, Xay	ໄຊ	ໄຊຍ໌, ຊັຍ	Sanskrit jaya, "victory".
Tong, Thong	ທອງ	N/A	Lao, "golden" or "copper."

List of Lao Surnames

Surname	Population	Components
Inthavong	ອິນທະວົງ	ອິນທະ,'Intha' - Indra ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
Chanthavong	ຈັນທະວົງ	ຈັນທະ, 'Chantha' - Moon ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
Thammavong	ທັມມະວົງ	ທັມມະ, 'Thamma' - Dharma ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
Noy
Manivong	ມະນີວົງ	ມະນີ, 'Mani' - Jewel, Gem ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
Phanthavong
Lao
Kham	ຄຳ	ຄຳ, 'Kham' - Gold
Keo	ແກ້ວ	ແກ້ວ, 'Keo' - Glass
Phommachanh
Sayavong	ໄຊຍະວົງ	ໄຊຍະ, 'Saya' - Victory ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
Vongphachanh		ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage ພະ, 'Pha' - Holy, Royal ຈັນ, 'Chanh' - Moon
Xayavong	ໄຊຍະວົງ	ໄຊຍະ, 'Xaya' - Victory ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage
Phommavong
Chanthalangsy
Keomany	ແກ້ວມະນີ	ແກ້ວ, 'Keo' - Glass ມະນີ, 'Mani' - Jewel, Gem
Phimmasone
Seng
Vongxay	ວົງໄຊ	ວົງ, 'Vong' - Family, Lineage ໄຊ, 'Xay' - Victory

See also

• Indian honorifics
• Indosphere
• Greater India