- The first name is followed by a surname (e.g. Somchai THEERAVIT). Thai surnames are often long (e.g. SONJOHNKOKSOONG).
- As Thai surnames are often lengthy, it is common to refer to people by their first names, preceded by ‘khun’, which is a non-gender-specific title equivalent to ‘Mister’ or ‘Miss’.
- A woman typically adopts her husband’s family name upon marrying.
- In addition to formal given names, almost all Thai people have a nickname. These nicknames are given to children when they are very young. Sometimes, they are based on the appearance of the baby, which occasionally results in unflattering nicknames. The creation of a nickname is personal in Thailand, and nicknames should only be used when invited to do so by the person.
- Thai people may choose to use their nickname or a Western name in place of their Thai first name to deal with the fact that those unfamiliar with the Thai language may have a difficult time pronouncing the name.
Thai Culture
Naming

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Where do we get our statistics?
The figure of the total population of each country is drawn from the global estimates listed in the CIA World Factbook , unless otherwise stated. Statistics describing the country’s linguistic, religious and ethnic demographics are based on its most recent national census. However, if these statistics are out-dated, unavailable, unreliable, or the country’s statistical department does not formally gather information on the categories listed, the Cultural Atlas substitutes the most recent global estimates cited in the CIA World Factbook.
All other statistical information on the demographics of the migrant population in Australia is based on the 2016 Australian Housing and Population Census. This was retrieved from the Department of Home Affairs’ Community Information Summaries.
You can find a direct link to all these sources under the ‘References’ tab at the bottom of the page, as well as the date this profile was published (indicating when these statistics were last updated).