Thai first names beginning letter - weekday?

The Watercooler
1

Is it true that thais name their babys with names in which the beginning letter has a connection to the weekday the baby is born?
I hope its ok to ask that in the watercooler I dont find the answer in google.

2

It appears so - please see https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Thai-naming-system-returns-the-letters-for-the-day-of-birth-which-is-Sunday-screenshot_fig2_228976802

Also in Thailand, it is common that the first letter of the Pali name given to a monk at time of ordination accords to the day of the week, e.g. Monday k, kh, g, gh; Tuesday c, ch, j, jh, ñ; and so on

4 Likes
3

This is one of the reasons we see so many monks names start with Ṭ relative to the number of Pali words that start with this letter.

Using astrology for naming, I believe, is not exclusive to Thai culture by any means. But there are different systems.

5 Likes
4

Thanks, does anyone know which letter is wich weekday?

5

Do you know the letters for thursday? And if the letters are the same for first names as for pali names?

6

I contacted a monk friend in Thailand today, but he didn’t know about days of week & first names. Apparently, this system is in place in Myanamar though:

Monk names in some temples in Thailand are given according to which day of the week one is born - first consonant from five consonant groups (vagga)

Monday: k-vagga k kh g gh
Tuesday: c-vagga c ch j jh ñ
Wednesday: ṭ-vagga ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh
Thursday: t-vagga t th d dh n
Friday: p-vagga p ph b bh m

Perhaps names for monks born on Saturday & Sunday accord with first letters from these groups?
Ungrouped consonants: y r l ḷ v s h
Vowels: a ā i ī u ū e o

I don’t know if this system is also used for first names

2 Likes