Chue len, the Thai “play name”
ชื่อเล่น
Find your Thai nickname
Almost every Thai person has a chue len: a short, fun nickname their parents gave them at birth. It's what friends, family and even coworkers actually call them. Answer seven quick questions and our Chue-Len-O-Matic will pick a real Thai nickname that fits you, spelled in Thai script.
Say it: chʉ̂ʉ lên, literally “name for playing”.
Your Thai nickname is
How it's spelled in Thai
Use it
Your shortlist
These are the dozen real nicknames that best matched your answers. Spin again to draw another, or tap any name to see it.
Why do Thai people have nicknames?
Ask a Thai friend their full name and you may get a long, formal answer. Ask what to call them and you'll get one short, friendly word.
Official names are long. Thai given names are usually built from Pali and Sanskrit and chosen for an auspicious meaning, so they often run to three or four syllables: Pimchanok, Thanapob, Suppasit. Surnames are longer still. Thailand only adopted family names under King Vajiravudh's Surname Act of 1913, and each new surname had to be unique, so many are proper mouthfuls. A one-syllable nickname is simply easier to shout across a room.
They were meant to fool the spirits. An old belief held that jealous spirits (ผี, phǐi) might carry off a baby with a beautiful name. So parents gave babies humble or silly nicknames, like Moo (pig), Kai (chicken) or Ouan (chubby), to make them seem not worth taking. Few people believe it today, but the habit stuck.
Everyone uses them, everywhere. The nickname is given by parents, usually at or soon after birth, and it lasts a lifetime. Classmates, coworkers and even bosses use it. Politicians are known by their nicknames in the news, and Thailand's best-loved singer, Thongchai McIntyre, is simply “P'Bird” to the whole country.
English words are the modern fashion. Older nicknames were Thai words for animals, fruit, colours or size. Today many parents pick English words, brands and sports instead. A widely cited survey of the most common Thai nicknames put these ten at the top:
Foreigners get them too. If you live or work in Thailand, don't be surprised when colleagues give you one. It's a sign you've been welcomed in.
Animals
แมว Maew (cat), นก Nok (bird), ปู Pu (crab), กบ Kob (frog).
Food and fruit
ส้ม Som (orange), แตงโม Tangmo (watermelon), ขนม Khanom (dessert).
Size and looks
เล็ก Lek (small), น้อย Noi (little), ใหญ่ Yai (big), บิ๊ก Big.
English words
กอล์ฟ Golf, แบงค์ Bank, มิ้นท์ Mint, เบนซ์ Benz.
How to use a Thai nickname
Thais rarely use a nickname on its own. They put a word in front that shows who is older.
พี่ Phi + name
For someone older than you, even by a year. “Phi Golf” is friendly and respectful at once.
น้อง Nong + name
For someone younger: a junior coworker, a waiter, a younger cousin. “Nong May, the bill please.”
คุณ Khun + name
The polite, neutral option for someone you don't know well, or in business.
How the Chue-Len-O-Matic works
Are these real Thai nicknames?
Yes. Every name in the machine is a nickname Thai people really use, with its correct Thai spelling. There are about 230 of them: girls' names, guys' names and a few that work for both. We tagged each one with the things it suggests, such as sweet, sporty, calm or funny, and some carry a famous Thai namesake.
How does it pick my name?
Each answer adds points to the names that match it. A love of video games boosts Game and Net; picking a cat as your spirit animal boosts Maew. A name that starts with the same letter as your real name gets a small bonus too. The top dozen become your shortlist, and the machine draws one at random, favouring the best matches. Spin again for another draw.
Is this how Thais really get their nicknames?
No, and that's the fun of it. Real nicknames come from parents, often reflecting something about the baby, a wish for the future or simply a word they liked. This quiz is a playful way to find one that suits you and to learn how it's written in Thai.
Can I spell my own name in Thai?
Yes. Our Write Your Name tool turns an English name into Thai script.