If you meet a Thai person, chances are you’ll learn two names within the first minute.

The first one is their real name—often long, lyrical, and full of meaning.

The second one is their nickname—short, casual, and sometimes… completely baffling.

Someone might introduce herself as Siriporn, then immediately add:

“Just call me Ploy.”

Another might be Thanawat, but goes by Bank.

Or Ice.

Or Film.

Or Boss.

To someone unfamiliar with Thai culture, this can feel confusing, or funny.

Foreigners sometimes joke about Thai nicknames sounding like random English words, objects, or job titles.

But within Thai culture, nicknames aren’t unusual at all. In fact, they’re the names people actually use most of the time. We carry meaningful names anywhere, but we also accommodate to others with a short, easy to remember

The Beautiful Formal Name

Thai given names are often carefully chosen and deeply meaningful.

Many names come from Sanskrit or Pali roots, and parents sometimes consult monks or fortune tellers when choosing them. Names can carry ideas like prosperity, beauty, wisdom, or good fortune.

My father went to a monk, and got a name for me, a 3-syllable name, with the meaning of ‘a magic of wind’, but my mother thought it was too masculine, and decide to go on an easy route, Pimchanok, a copy of my father, because I resemble him.

Unlike my simple name, some names could be poetic. Sometimes elaborate. Often long.

Which is lovely on paper, but not always practical in everyday conversation.

Imagine calling your coworker by a four-syllable name every time you ask them to pass the soy sauce.

So Thai culture solved this a long time ago.

The nickname

Almost every Thai person has one.

Nicknames are short, eas