What's In A Name?

Post by **Wanderlust** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:33 pm

I was really struggling to know what forum to put this in, but I think it fits here!
Last May my wife gave birth to our first child, a daughter. We had thought long and hard about a name for her, and eventually came up with Emily. However we also wanted 2 middle names, one English (my mother's name) and one Thai. When we were at the hospital after the birth, my wife wrote the name down in Thai, specifying the order the names were to go in. This was given to the hospital who assured us that they would take care of everything, and the birth certificate would be sent to us later.
When it eventually arrived at our home, my wife immediately spotted that they had run all 3 names together on the certificate. We had no time to deal with the relevant office then as we were busy getting everything together for our trip to the UK, and part of that was to get a Thai passport (and a UK one) for Emily. We got the passports no problem, but while getting the Thai one, they mentioned the strange first name, and we explained the beaurocratic mistake; they said no problem, got the name right in the passport and advised us to visit the amphur to correct it on the birth certificate.
Today, several months later, we went to do just that, as we had just received our new house registration book (terbian ban) for the house we moved into a couple of months ago, and had to insert the names of my wife and child in there (previously registered at my mother-in-laws with the incorrect name). To cut a long story short, the tessaban registered the names in the book, but told us that we would have to go to the amphur (district office) to try and change the name, but didn't think we could, and they were correct!

The first thing I discovered today is that Thai people don't have middle names at all, so all the forms and software they use cannot handle them, which is why the error was made on the birth certificate. Further to that though, Thai law apparently stipulates that although any name can be chosen and registered at birth, any subsequent desire to change the name has to be a Thai name that 'means something' and has to be on a designated list of names! They would not let us rename her as Emily, the name she now knows, and there was no facility to allow my mother's name as a middle name. We either had to choose the Thai name or leave it as it was, and we decided on the latter because otherwise we would have to change all the other paperwork (passports and UK birth certificate) too.

I am posting this to make sure people know about this, and be very careful how you name a child from a Thai/farang couple that is going to be registered in Thailand. Our poor daughter is now going to be lumbered throughout her Thai life with a weird 3 names in one whenever she deals with officialdom here, or at school, university etc etc. My wife did not know about this before today either so be warned!

Post by **Jockey** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:43 pm

Great story WL. I think your daughter will have a nickname "3names"

Please tell us the 3 names. Sorry I don't sound sympathetic. I don't think it'll matter too much to her and (sorry, no offense intended) but I think its a funny story! There again, filling out forms is going to be a pain.

Post by **Wanderlust** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:47 pm

As you can imagine, initially both my wife and I were annoyed, mainly because it was the fault of either the hospital or the amphur in the first place - they should have checked with us! However it's not the end of the world (except that our daughter will probably hate us in later life!) and we could see the funny side of it shortly after. It is a bizarre rule though, that at birth any name is acceptable, but after that not.

Anyway her name is Emilysylvianaraporn now...

Post by **Jockey** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:04 pm

Look on the bright side - at least she can have a unique hotmail account Emilysylvianaraporn@hotmail.com

Post by **DawnHRD** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:55 pm

Jockey wrote: Great story WL. I think your daughter will have a nickname "3names"

Please tell us the 3 names. Sorry I don't sound sympathetic. I don't think it'll matter too much to her and (sorry, no offense intended) but I think its a funny story! There again, filling out forms is going to be a pain.

Were you ever a kid, Jockey? Kids get teased for all sorts of things. My sister hates her name. She has told my Mum repeatedly she wishes she'd never been given it. She had kids breaking out into song whenever she came near. My mum's reasoning was she wanted both her daughters to have names that couldn't be shortened. I repeatedly get mine lengthened to Dawny (aaaarrrggh!) & get the old jokes about the crack of Dawn (yawn!). My sister's hated name? Joy.

If names that commonplace (in UK) get teased, then I'm afraid Emily may do, too.

Just another example of 'bureaucracy rules' here in Thailand. Must be very frustrating for you & Mrs WL, Wanderlust. At least you know in time for Miss/Master WL II

Post by **Sabai Jai** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:04 pm

My wife's Dad was a bit of a drinker apparently and used to forget to register the births (Five Kids) at the appropriate time, it used to get done eventually but they would give a date that was within the required registration period so they all have both an actual and an 'official' birthday

Various siblings used various certificates when registering for school etc.

Apparently this was common place, but is probably changing now many things are computerised

SJ

Post by **buksida** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:37 pm

Wait till our little one finds out why his name is Luke.

"Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have controlled your fear. Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me."

Post by **kendo** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:32 pm

WL you could nickname her khun Trio, thats rather sweet.

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:34 am

What a nice topic for a change! Whats in a name? Nowt really, once the schoolyard taunts are way behind you. There was a girl at my school called Ivy Wood. We have a client at work called Bob Marley. Buksis' little 'un Luke sounds like No 35 on a Chinese takeaway menu (Loo Kyung)
When my lawyer Ton in HH became a Dad the first time, he collapsed in the Ship in a fuddled euphoria. After 2 or 3 stiff drinks we asked him what his little girl was to be called. This small fact had clearly been overlooked, and he sat bolt upright and exclaimed 'Whoops!'
It was May 1st. I told him that this was an important day in England, and that May is also a girls name. The baby was duly named 'May' but with the optional addition of the 'whoops' Hence his car sticker 'Whoops May'

Post by **Guess** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:20 am

Sorry to drag this one up from the past but it caught my eye. I was aware of the naming situation but not the detail. However I think most forms (if not on the registry document itself) cater for a nickname which the vast majority of Thais use. My wife always uses her full name in business on first meetings but it changes to the nickname very shortly afterwards.

I have also been told that it should really be a Thai sounding name even if only partly as your (Wanderlust) daughter's is.

With regards to Maggie's comments a remember going through many name with my first daughter many years ago and checking first if they could be misused before choosing. I remember a girl at school called Nicola who would either be called Nicholas of Knickers.

My daughter ended up being called Jaime which sounds like a Scottish boy's name, is spelt like a Spanish boy's name but is also a French Canadian girl's name according to the Guinness book of Names.

elem · Post by **elem** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:46 am

Quote:
"However it's not the end of the world (except that our daughter will probably hate us in later life!)"

Hey, if they don't hate you for their name, they will hate you for something else - but, it's not the end of the world

(ze teenage parent)

Post by **sandman67** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:12 pm

man what a mess.....

but it could be worse.

In my professional life I have worked with

Ed Chicken

Jean Onions

and one I still wonder about the sanity of the parents about

Wendy House

see what I mean?

Post by **turok** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:50 pm

kendo wrote:WL you could nickname her khun Trio, thats rather sweet.

Are you sure you thought that one through Kendo?

My favourite still concerns a Mrs and Mrs Salmon who decided to call their daughter 'Courtney'.

Post by **happyblueyes** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:18 pm

in my working life as a carpenter the name i always remember belonged to a painter called Matt Black, that really was his name as we got him to bring in his passport to prove it

Post by **Guess** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:34 pm

turok wrote:
kendo wrote:WL you could nickname her khun Trio, thats rather sweet.

A popular South American beach lady perhaps.

I have heard the Courtenay one with the Beaver family.

I used to know a Girls called Susan White. She always maintained that her first daughter would be calle Snow.

There are plenty of John Thomas's about and I have heard of Richard Head. If there is such a name as McAvitee I am sure someone with that name would call their son Phil.