Khmer names
34 names from the Khmer naming tradition, each with its meaning, origin, pronunciation and how it is seen around the world.
- BophaGirlKhmer for "flower", taken from the Pali puppha, itself rooted in the Sanskrit puṣpa.
- BotumUnisexKhmer for "lotus", from the Pali paduma, related to the Sanskrit padma.
- ChamroeunUnisexKhmer for "progress" or "prosperity", a wish for advancement in life.
- ChanUnisexKhmer for "moon", shortened from the Sanskrit चन्द्र (candra).
- ChannaryGirlKhmer for "moon-faced girl", joining ចន្ទ (chan), "moon", with នារី (neari), "woman".
- ChanthaUnisexKhmer for "moon", from the Pali canda, which traces back to the Sanskrit चन्द्र (candra).
- ChantreaUnisexKhmer for "moonlight", likely from a feminine form of the Sanskrit चन्द्र (candra).
- CheaUnisexKhmer for "healthy" or "well".
- ChendaGirlBuilt on the Pali word cintā, "thought" or "reflection", which itself goes back to Sanskrit चिन्ता (cintā).
- Dara (Khmer)UnisexFrom Khmer and Sanskrit, meaning "star".
- Heng (Khmer)UnisexFrom Khmer ហេង (heng): "lucky, fortunate".
- KolabGirl"Rose" in Khmer, a word that travelled into Southeast Asia from Persian.
- KuntheaGirlFrom Sanskrit गन्ध (gandha), "fragrance" or "scent"; sometimes explained instead as a native Khmer compound for…
- MakaraUnisexFrom Sanskrit मकर (makara), the sea-creature figure that marks the zodiac sign equivalent to Capricorn; also the Khmer…
- PhallaUnisexFrom Sanskrit फल (phala), "fruit".
- PhirunBoyThe Khmer form of Varuna, the Vedic god of the ocean and rain.
- PhuongUnisex"Garland" or "flower bouquet" in Khmer.
- PichUnisexFrom Sanskrit वज्र (vajra), "thunderbolt"; now the everyday Khmer word for "diamond".
- SamnangUnisexKhmer for good luck or fortune.
- SocheataUnisexKhmer rendering of the Sanskrit and Pali Sujata: born into good circumstances.
- SokUnisexKhmer for good health and ease, from the Sanskrit sukha.
- SokhaUnisexKhmer for health, from the same Sanskrit root as Sok.
- SophalUnisexKhmer for good fruit or good result, from Sanskrit su and phala.
- SopheaUnisexKhmer word for a judge or a lawyer, used as a given name.
- SopheapUnisexKhmer for good nature: gentle, well-mannered and proper.
- SophonUnisexFrom Pali sobhaṇa, "beautiful" or "auspicious", a name shared with Thai.
- SothBoyKhmer word for a person or thing that is pure or clean, taken from a Sanskrit adjective with the same sense.
- SothyUnisexKhmer for a clever, quick-witted person, most likely built on a Sanskrit compound for good understanding.
- SovannUnisexKhmer word for gold, from a Sanskrit term for the metal.
- Tola (Khmer)UnisexThe Khmer name for October, from a Sanskrit word for the scales and the zodiac sign Libra.
- Vanna (Khmer)UnisexFrom Khmer វណ្ណា (von-nea): "colour" or "hue", derived from Sanskrit varṇa.
- VeasnaUnisexKhmer for fate or destiny, from a Sanskrit word originally meaning a lingering mental impression.
- VibolBoyKhmer for abundant or vast, from a Sanskrit adjective with the same sense.
- VuthyBoyKhmer for progress or prosperity, from a Sanskrit word for growth and increase.