List of Khmer names
This list of Khmer names gives common given names and family names, with their Khmer spelling, meaning and origin. It covers names in common use and is not complete. Given names come mostly from Pali and Sanskrit words brought by Buddhism and Brahmanism, and from Khmer words for flowers, gems, light and good qualities. Many names are shared by girls and boys. The meanings below follow Headley's Modern Cambodian-English Dictionary and the Khmer dictionary of the Venerable Chuon Nath unless a note says otherwise.[1] Names are written family name first, then given name.[2]
Given names
| Name | Khmer | Meaning | From | Given to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achariya (Achhariya) | អច្ឆរិយា | marvelous, wonderful | Pali | girls |
| Amara | អមរា | immortal; deity, angel (from អមរ) | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Arun (Akrun, Arunn) | អរុណ | dawn, the rising sun | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often boys |
| Bopha (Bupha) | បុប្ផា | flower; also an endearment, "darling" | Pali | girls |
| Bora | បូរ៉ា | not recorded | boys | |
| Boramey (Bormei) | បូណ៌មី | day of the full moon; a different word from Bormey | Sanskrit | girls |
| Boran | បុរាណ | ancient, classical | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Borey (Borei, Bori) | បុរី, បូរី | city, province, country | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Borith | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Bormey (Barmey) | បារមី | perfection, virtue; charisma; a guardian spirit | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Botum (Batum) | បទុម | lotus | Pali | girls |
| Bun | ប៊ុន | not recorded | boys | |
| Bunna | ប៊ុនណា | not recorded | boys | |
| Bunthoeun | ប៊ុនធឿន | not recorded | boys | |
| Chakra | ចក្រ | wheel, circle; realm | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Chamnan | ចំណាន | skilful, capable, able | Khmer | boys |
| Champa (Champar) | ចំប៉ា | champak tree, whose fragrant flowers are worn in the hair | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Champei (Chompei) | ចំប៉ី | frangipani | Pali | girls |
| Chamroeun | ចម្រើន, ចំរើន | progress, prosperity, increase | Khmer | both, more often boys |
| Chan (Chann) | ចន្ទ | moon | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Chanda | ចន្ទា | moon; moonlight | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Chanmony (Chanmoni) | ច័ន្ទមុនី, ចន្ទ្រមុនី | moon and sage, or moon and gem (see Mony) | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Channary (Chanary) | not found | moon girl, from "moon" and "girl" | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Chantha | ចន្ថា | moon | not recorded | girls |
| Chanthou (Chantou, Chanthu) | ច័ន្ធូ | tuberose, a fragrant white flower | not recorded | girls |
| Chanthy | ចន្ធី | not recorded | both, more often girls | |
| Chantrea (Chantria) | ចន្ទ្រា | moon, moonlight | Sanskrit | both, more often girls |
| Charanai (Chornai) | ចរណៃ | polished gem; beautiful (of a woman) | not recorded | girls |
| Chea | ជា | well, healthy, good; free | Khmer | both |
| Cheata | ជាតា | moment of birth | Pali | girls |
| Chenda (Chinda) | ចិន្ដា, ចិន្តា | thought, idea, care | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Chey (Chhey) | ជ័យ | victory | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Chhaom | ឆោម | a beautiful figure; beauty | Khmer | girls |
| Chhaomchay | ឆោមឆាយ | a girl's beautiful figure; charming | Khmer | girls |
| Chhorvy (Chhorvi, Chhavy) | ឆវី | complexion; a beautiful complexion; a ray of light | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Chouk (Chhouk) | ឈូក | lotus | Khmer | girls |
| Dalin | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Dara (Tara) | តារា | star | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often boys |
| Daro | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Davy | ដាវី | not recorded | girls | |
| Devi | ដេវី | girls | ||
| Heng | ហេង | lucky, prosperous, successful | Chinese | both |
| Kakada (Kakkada) | កក្កដា | July; Cancer | Pali | both |
| Kalyan (Kalliyan, Kaliyan) | កល្យាណ | virtuous; beautiful, splendid | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Kalyani (Kaliyanei, Kalyaney) | កល្យាណី | beautiful woman | Sanskrit | girls |
| Kanha (Kagna, Kanya) | កញ្ញា | young woman, miss; September; Virgo | Pali | both, more often girls |
| Kanika | កណិការ | a plant with white jasmine-like flowers | Pali | girls |
| Kenorei | កិន្នរី | not recorded | girls | |
| Keo (Kaev, Kev) | កែវ | glass, crystal; jewel | Khmer | both |
| Keriya | កិរិយា | manner, conduct, behavior | Pali | girls |
| Kesor (Kesar) | កេសរ | pollen; also hair, mane | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Kimhong | គឹមហុង | not recorded | both, more often girls | |
| Kimly | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Kiri | គិរី | mountain | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Kolab (Kolap, Kulab) | កុលាប | rose; also "a beautiful girl" | not recorded | girls |
| Kolthida | កុលធីតា | daughter of a good or noble family | Pali | girls |
| Kompheak (Kumpheak) | កុម្ភៈ | February; water jar, Aquarius | Pali | both |
| Kosal (Kusal) | កុសល | merit, good deed, virtue | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often boys |
| Kravann (Kravan, Krovanh) | ក្រវាន់ | a climbing plant with fragrant flowers | Khmer | girls |
| Kunthea (Kunthear, Kunthia) | គន្ធា, គុន្ធា | fragrance | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Lay | ឡាយ | not recorded | girls | |
| Leakhena (Lakhena, Leakena, Lokkhana) | លក្ខិណា, លក្ខណា | good qualities, distinctive marks | Pali | girls |
| Leaksmey (Leaksmy, Laksmey) | លក្ស្មី | Lakshmi, goddess of beauty and fortune; beauty, luck | Sanskrit | girls |
| Leap | លាភ | gain, good fortune | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Lida | លីដា | not recorded | girls | |
| Lina | លីណា | not recorded | girls | |
| Lom Ang (Lom-Ang, Lumang) | លំអង | fine powder; pollen | Khmer | girls |
| Makara (Meakara, Mokara) | មករា | January; the makara sea creature, Capricorn | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Maletey (Malatey) | មាលតី | a plant with large, fragrant, jasmine-like flowers | Pali | girls |
| Mali (Maly) | ម៉ាលី | not recorded | girls | |
| Malis (M'lis, Mlis) | ម្លិះ | jasmine | Sanskrit | girls |
| Meakha | មាគ៌ា | way, road, path | Sanskrit | girls |
| Mealea (Mealia) | មាលា | garland, wreath of flowers | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Meas | មាស | gold; dear one | Khmer | both |
| Mesa | មេសា | April; Aries | not recorded | both |
| Mey | ម៉ី | not recorded | girls | |
| Minea | មីនា | March | not recorded | girls |
| Mongkol (Mungkol) | មង្គល | blessing, good fortune | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Monirath | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Mony (Moni, Monny; the gem spelling) | មណី | gem, precious stone; a different word from មុនី, sage | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Mony (Munny, Monny; the sage spelling) | មុនី, មុន្នី | sage, wise man | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often boys |
| Narith | ណារិទ្ធ | not recorded | boys | |
| Narong | ណារ៉ុង | not recorded | both | |
| Navy | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Neary (Nary, Nari) | នារី, ណារី | girl, young woman | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Nimol | និមល | flawless, pure | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Nisay | និស្ស័យ | disposition, aptitude; support | Pali | boys |
| Nita | នីតា | not recorded | girls | |
| Oudom (Odom, Udom, Uddom) | ឧត្តម | supreme, highest, excellent | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Panha (Pagna) | បញ្ញា | wisdom, knowledge | Pali | both |
| Phalla (Phala) | ផល្លា | fruit; result | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often girls |
| Phanit | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Pheakdey (Pheakdei, Phakdey) | ភក្តី | loyalty, devotion | Sanskrit | both, more often boys |
| Pheareak (Phearak, Phireak) | ភារៈ | duty, responsibility | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Phearom | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Phirun | ភិរុណ, ពិរុណ | rain; Varuna, the god of rain | Sanskrit | boys |
| Phuong | ភួង | garland, bouquet of flowers | not recorded | girls |
| Pich (Pech) | ពេជ្រ | diamond | Sanskrit | both |
| Pidor | ពិដោរ | aromatic, fragrant | not recorded | girls |
| Pisal | ពិសាល | wide, large; excellent | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Piseth (Pisith) | ពិសិដ្ឋ | sacred, supreme, excellent | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Pisey (Pisei) | ពិសី | excellent; beloved, dearest | Khmer | both, more often girls |
| Pisoth | ពិសុទ្ធ | very pure, spotless | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Ponhearith | បុញ្ញឫទ្ធិ | power of merit | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Ponlok (Ponloke) | ពន្លក | sprout, bud; darling | Khmer | boys |
| Pov (Peou, Poeuv) | ពៅ | youngest child; darling | Khmer | both |
| Prasith (Prasidh) | ប្រសិទ្ធ | accomplished, successful; to bless | Sanskrit | boys |
| Puthea | ពុទ្ធា | of the Buddha | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Rachana (Rochana) | រចនា | art, design | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Rachany | រជនី | night | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Raksmey (Reaksmey, Rasmey, Reasmey) | រស្មី | ray of light | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Ratana (Rathana, Rattana, Rotana) | រតនា | jewels | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Ratha | រដ្ឋា | state, nation, country | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Rathanak (Ratanak, Rattanak) | រតនៈ | gem, jewel, treasure | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Reasey | រាសី | sign of the zodiac; fortune; charm | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Reathrey | រាត្រី | night; a plant that blooms at night | Sanskrit | girls |
| Rith (Rit) | ឫទ្ធិ, រិទ្ធិ | power, might, achievement | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Rithy (Ritthy, Reththy) | ឫទ្ធី | power, success, glory | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Romduol (Rumduol, Romdoul) | រំដួល | a tree with fragrant flowers that bloom at night | Khmer | girls |
| Rotha | not found | not recorded | both | |
| Sambath | សម្បត្តិ | wealth, fortune, prosperity | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often boys |
| Sambo | សំបូរ | not recorded | both, more often boys | |
| Samnang (Somnang) | សំណាង | luck, good fortune | Khmer | both, more often boys |
| Samphors (Samphoas, Somphors) | សម្ផស្ស | touch, contact, perception | Pali | girls |
| Sarika | សារិកា | mynah bird | Sanskrit | girls |
| Sarin | សារិន | not recorded | both | |
| Sarith | សារិទ្ធ | not recorded | boys | |
| Saroeun | សារឿន | not recorded | both | |
| Savoeun | សាវឿន | not recorded | both | |
| Savuth | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Serey | សិរី | beauty, charm, glory; good fortune | Pali | girls |
| Sereyvuth (Sirivudh) | សិរីវុឌ្ឍ | glory and prosperity | Pali | boys |
| Seyha (Seiha, Siha) | សីហា | August; lion | Pali | both, more often boys |
| Sinat | ស៊ីណាត | not recorded | both, more often girls | |
| Sita (Seta) | សីតា | plowed earth; Sita, Rama's wife in the Ramayana | Pali | girls |
| Soben | សុបិន | dream | Pali | girls |
| Socheat | សុជាត | well-born | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Socheata (Sujata) | សុជាតា | well-born; one of Indra's wives | Sanskrit | girls |
| Sok | សុខ | happiness, peace, health | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Sokha | សុខា | health, well-being, happiness | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Sokun | សុគន្ធ | fragrance; fragrant | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Sokunthea (Sokunthear) | not found | fragrance, sweet smell | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Somaly | សុម៉ាលី | not recorded | girls | |
| Somethea | សុមេធា | wisdom | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Sophal | សុផល | good fruit, good result | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Sophanith | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Sophat | សុផាត | not recorded | both, more often boys | |
| Sophea (Sophear, Sopheara; the beauty spelling) | សោភា | beautiful; beauty, radiance | Pali | both |
| Sophea (Sophear; the judge spelling) | សុភា | judge, magistrate; sage; a different word from សោភា, beauty | Pali | both |
| Sopheak | សុភ័ក្ត្រ | good face, handsome | Sanskrit | both |
| Sopheap (Sopeap) | សុភាព | modest, polite, gentle | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often girls |
| Sophiny (Sopheny) | សោភិនី | beautiful woman | Pali | girls |
| Sophon (Sophorn) | សោភ័ណ | beautiful, handsome; beauty | Pali | both |
| Sophy | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Soth | សុទ្ធ | pure, clean | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Sothea (Sothear) | សុធា | nectar, food of the gods; pure, bright | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Sotheary | សុធារី | not recorded | girls | |
| Sothy | សុធី, សុទ្ធី | intelligence, wisdom; sage | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Sovann (Sovan) | សុវណ្ណ | gold | Pali | both, more often boys |
| Sovanna | សុវណ្ណា | gold | Pali | both |
| Sovannara | សុវណ្ណារ៉ា | gold (from សុវណ្ណ) | Pali | girls |
| Sovannarith (Sovannareth) | សុវណ្ណរឹទ្ធិ | gold and power | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Sovannary | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Sovath | សុវត្ថិ | well-being, prosperity | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Sreng | ស្រេង | not recorded | both, more often boys | |
| Srey (Srei, Sri) | ស្រី | woman, girl | Sanskrit | girls |
| Sreyleak | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Sreymom | ស្រីមុំ | not recorded | girls | |
| Sreyna | ស្រីណា | not recorded | girls | |
| Sreyneang (Srey Neang) | ស្រីនាង | Srey and "young woman" | Khmer | girls |
| Sreyneath (Srey Neath) | ស្រីនាថ | Srey and "protector" | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Sreynich | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Sreynuon (Srey Nuon) | ស្រីនួន | Srey and "sweet, tender" | Khmer | girls |
| Sreypich (Srey Pich) | ស្រីពេជ្រ | Srey and "diamond" | Sanskrit | girls |
| Sreypov (Srey Pov) | ស្រីពៅ | Srey and "youngest child" | Khmer | girls |
| Sreyroth | not found | not recorded | girls | |
| Suon (Suorn) | សួន | garden, park | Thai | girls |
| Suorkea | សួគ៌ា | heaven | Sanskrit | girls |
| Tevy (Tevi, Devi) | ទេវី, ទេពី | goddess; queen or princess | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Thavrak | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Thearith | ធារិទ្ធ | not recorded | boys | |
| Theary (Thiary) | ធារី | aide, assistant | not recorded | girls |
| Thida (Thyda) | ធីតា | daughter; girl | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Thy | not found | not recorded | both, more often boys | |
| Tola (Tula) | តុលា | October; scales, Libra | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Vanna (Vann, Vana, Vonna) | វណ្ណា, វណ្ណ | color, complexion; beauty | Sanskrit and Pali | both |
| Vannak | វណ្ណៈ | class, rank; color; beauty | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Vathana (Vatthana) | វឌ្ឍនា | progress, growth, prosperity | Pali | girls |
| Vathanak | វឌ្ឍនៈ | progress, growth, development | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Veasna | វាសនា | destiny, fortune | Sanskrit and Pali | both, more often boys |
| Vibol | វិបុល | abundant, vast | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Vichea (Vichear) | វិជ្ជា | knowledge, learning | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Vicheka (Vichheka) | វិច្ឆិកា | November; Scorpio | Pali | both |
| Vichet | វិចិត្រ | colorful, ornate; refined | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Viphearvy | វិភាវី | scholar; wise | Sanskrit and Pali | girls |
| Virak (Vireak) | វីរៈ | brave, heroic | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Visal | វិសាល | wide, vast; excellent | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Viseth | វិសិដ្ឋ | excellent, superior | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Visna | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Visoth | វិសុទ្ធ | pure, spotless | Pali | boys |
| Vithu | វិទូ | wise, learned; scholar | Pali | boys |
| Vuth | not found | not recorded | boys | |
| Vuthy (Vuthi, Wutty) | វុឌ្ឍី, វុទ្ធី | prosperity, growth | Sanskrit and Pali | boys |
| Vuttha | not found | not recorded | boys |
Family names
Many family names began as a father's or grandfather's given name, so the same word is often both.[3]
| Name | Khmer | Meaning | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bun | ប៊ុន | not recorded | |
| Chan (Chann) | ចាន់ | the different spelling ចន្ទ means "moon" | not recorded |
| Chea | ជា | not recorded | |
| Cheng | ចេង, ឆេង | not recorded | |
| Chey | ជ័យ | victory | Sanskrit and Pali |
| Chhim (Chhem) | ឈឹម | not recorded | |
| Chhun | ឈុន | not recorded | |
| Chhuon | ឈួន | not recorded | |
| Duong | ដួង | not recorded | |
| Eng | អេង | not recorded | |
| Hem | ហែម | not recorded | |
| Heng | ហេង | lucky, prosperous, successful | Chinese |
| Hong | ហុង | not recorded | |
| Hun | ហ៊ុន | not recorded | |
| Huot | ហួត | not recorded | |
| Keo (Kaev) | កែវ | glass, crystal, jewel | Khmer |
| Khiev | ខៀវ | not recorded | |
| Khim | ឃឹម, ឃីម | not recorded | |
| Khun | ឃុន | not recorded | |
| Kim | គិម, គីម, គឹម | not recorded | |
| Kong | គង់ | not recorded | |
| Leng | ឡេង | not recorded | |
| Lim | លិម, លីម | from a Chinese family name | Chinese[4][5] |
| Long | ឡុង | not recorded | |
| Ly (Lee) | លី | not recorded | |
| Mam (Mom) | ម៉ម | not recorded | |
| Mao (Mau) | ម៉ៅ | not recorded | |
| Meas (Mias) | មាស | gold; dearest one | Khmer |
| Men | ម៉ែន | not recorded | |
| Ngin | ងិន | not recorded | |
| Nuon | នួន | not recorded | |
| Ouch (Uch) | អ៊ុច | not recorded | |
| Ouk (Uk) | អ៊ុក | not recorded | |
| Pen | ប៉ែន | not recorded | |
| Phan | ផាន | not recorded | |
| Pich (Pech) | ពេជ្រ | diamond | Sanskrit |
| Prak | ប្រាក់ | silver; money | Old Khmer |
| Ros (Ruos) | រស់ | to live, be alive | not recorded |
| Sam | សម, សំ | not recorded | |
| San | សាន | not recorded | |
| Say | សាយ | not recorded | |
| Seang (Sieng) | សៀង | not recorded | |
| Sen | សេន | not recorded | |
| Seng | សេង | from a Chinese family name | Chinese[5] |
| Sin | សិន | not recorded | |
| Sok (Sokh) | សុខ | happiness, health, peace | Sanskrit and Pali |
| Som | សោម | moon; drink of the gods | Sanskrit and Pali |
| Sun | ស៊ុន | not recorded | |
| Suon (Soun) | សួន | garden, park | Thai |
| Taing | តាំង | not recorded | |
| Tan | not found | not recorded | |
| Tep | ទេព | deity, god, angel | Sanskrit and Pali |
| Touch (Toch) | ទូច, តូច | small, little | not recorded |
| Um | អ៊ុំ | not recorded | |
| Ung (Oeng) | អ៊ឹង, អ៊ុង | not recorded | |
| Uy | អ៊ុយ | not recorded | |
| Vong | វង្ស | family, lineage | Pali |
| Yim | យឹម | not recorded | |
| You (Yu) | យូ | not recorded | |
| Yun | យុន | not recorded |
Names with an empty meaning cell have no confirmed meaning yet. A meaning can be added through Suggest a change, with a source such as a dictionary entry, a book or a published article.
References
- ↑ SEAlang Library, Khmer dictionary search, which gives Robert K. Headley and others, Cambodian-English Dictionary (Catholic University of America Press, 1977), Robert K. Headley and others, Modern Cambodian-English Dictionary (Dunwoody Press, 1997) and Chuon Nath, Khmer Dictionary (Buddhist Institute, 1967)
- ↑ EthnoMed, Cambodian naming conventions (1999, reviewed 2000)
- ↑ Sabay News, When did Khmer people start using family names? (April 10, 2019; in Khmer)
- ↑ Wiktionary, Khmer entry Lim (2026)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cultural Atlas, Cambodian culture: naming (2021)