Burmese names


Burmese names lack the serial structure of most modern names. The Bamars have no customary patronymic or matronymic system and thus there is no surname at all. In the culture of Myanmar, people can change their name at will, often with no government oversight, to reflect a change in the course of their lives. Also, many Burmese names use an honorific, given at some point in life, as an integral part of the name.

Traditional and Western-style names

Burmese names were originally one syllable, as in the cases of U Nu and U Thant. In the mid-20th century, many Burmese started using two syllables, albeit without any formal structure. In the late 1890s, British scholars observed that Rakhines commonly adopted three-syllable names whereas Bamars were still using one or two at most. As they become more familiar with Western culture, Burmese people are gradually increasing the number of syllables in their children's names, by use of various structures. Today, names with up to four syllables are common for males and up to five for females.
Scholars such as Thant Myint-U have argued that the rise of complex Burmese personal names resulted from the collapse of the Burmese monarchy, which ended the sophisticated system of Pali-Burmese styles, crown service and gentry titles, leaving the majority of Burmese with single-syllable names. Former titles, such as min were re-appropriated as part of personal names.
For example, Burmese nationalist Aung San's parents were named Pha and Suu, both of which are single-syllable names. His birth name was Htain Lin, but he changed his name to Aung San later in life. His child is named Aung San Suu Kyi. The first part of her name, "Aung San", is from her father's name at the time of her birth. "Suu" comes from her grandmother. "Kyi" comes from her mother, Khin Kyi. The addition of the father or mother's name in a person's name is now quite frequent, although it does not denote the development of a family name. Other nomenclature systems are used as well.
The use of the names of one's parents and relatives in personal names has been criticized as an un-Burmese adoption of seriality, although it differs from historical Western practices.
Bamar names commonly include Pali-derived words combined with native Burmese words, including:
Burmese people who marry foreigners or move to countries that use surnames may use their name as if part of it represented a family name. For example, Tun Myint's wife changed her last name to Myint, but Myint is part of his personal name.

Honorifics

As above, honorifics supplement a given name, and can be the normal form of address used both in writing and in speech, especially with a name of one or two syllables. Widespread use of honorifics is found within all cultures in the Burmese region. Although some ethnic groups have special honorifics, these words are recognized and applied by other groups.
For example, Aung San's parents are more generally known as U Pha and Daw Suu. These can be translated as "Mr. Pha" and "Ms. Suu" but are often used more informally.
Below are some common honorifics used in Burmese names:
HonorificBurmeseTranslationUsage
Ashin or LordMonks, nobles, and rarely, for women
Binnya, Banya or To indicate royalty and nobility, from Mon )
Bo, BogyokeCommander/General/LeaderMilitary officers
DawAunt/MsMature women or women in a senior position
DuwaChiefKachin chiefs
GyiGreatAs a suffix to show respect
KhunMrShan men and Pa'O men
KoBrother Men of similar age
MaSister/MsYoung women or women of similar age
MahnMrKayin men
Mai, MeSome young women in lieu of, but exceedingly rare
Maung Brother for boysSometimes used as part of given name
MiMsSome young women, usually as a nickname
MiMsMon women
MinKingAs a suffix
MinhMon boys; equivalent to Maung, from Mon
NaiMrMon men; equivalent to U, from Mon
NangMsShan women of nobility, from Shan
NawMsKaren women
NantMsKaren women
NanMsKaren women
NanMsShan women
NgaAs a prefix for men, now derogatory
SaiMrShan men, from Shan , from Shan
SawLordShan royalty
SawMrKaren men
SaMrKaren men
SawbwaLordBurmese approximation of Shan saopha, used as a suffix for Shan chiefs
SayaTeacherMales of senior rank or age
SayadawRoyal TeacherSenior monks
SayamaTeacherFemales of senior rank or age
Shin or LordMonks and noble men and women
ThameinLordBurmanized form of Mon ; used by Mon royalty
TekkathoUniversityWriters
ThakinMasterMembers of Dobama Asiayone, "the Thakins"
TheippanScienceWriters
UUncle/MrMature men or men in a senior position and monks

Indexing

According to The Chicago Manual of Style, Burmese names are indexed by the first element unless this element is an honorific. Honorifics are mentioned after the other elements of the name, separated by a comma, or are not stated at all.

Astrology-based naming system

Many Burmese Buddhists also use astrology to name their children. For instance, a Monday-born child may have a name beginning with the letter "k". The following is a traditional chart that corresponds the day of birth with the first letter used in a child's name, although this naming scheme is not universally used today:
DayLetters
Monday , , , ,
Tuesday , , , ,
Wednesday morning ,
Wednesday afternoon ,
Thursday , , , ,
Friday ,
Saturday , , , ,
Sunday