Cambodian name

Cambodian names usually consist of two elements including a patronymic, which serves as a common family name for siblings, followed by a given name. (In Western sources the two are sometimes reversed). Traditionally, the Khmer do not have Western-style family names shared by multiple generations or entire families. Instead, Khmer children use their father's given name as their family name. Other Austroasiatic indigenous people groups within Cambodia have similar naming customs while the Sino-Khmer and Viet-Khmer may follow Chinese and Vietnamese naming patterns, respectively. Chams in Cambodia may have either Khmer or Cham names or a combination of both. Cham name order is the reverse of the Khmer; the given name is followed by the father's given name.

Generally, women are given names relating to beauty, while men are given names of virtues. Some Cambodian given names are unisex names.

Surnames are usually taken from the surname or the given name of the father and are generally monosyllabic. Cambodian surnames are sometimes identical to Chinese or Vietnamese surnames. Women keep their maiden names after marriage.

The meaning of Cambodian names are generally very simple and reference positive attributes. Cambodian people are called by their given names without a title (informal) or by their given names with a title (formal); the full name, including both family name and given name is often used. (Surnames are used as a form of address, however, in the case of names that originated as revolutionary aliases.)

Different naming traditions exist among ethnic groups other than the Khmer majority. The Cambodian population is 90% Buddhist and names are often taken from Buddhism. Among the Muslim minority, Arabic names are often used as family names.

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