Published on 09/24/2020 10:52 By Temitope Adebowale;Isobel Murphy
Edited by Isobel Murphy | Fact-checked by
Cambodian names and meanings offer great inspiration for those seeking a baby name.
Cambodia is a country in South-East Asia, West of Vietnam and South of Thailand. Home to the world’s largest religious monument, Angkor Wat, Cambodia is rich with history, influence and culture.
Contrary to Western culture, Cambodian first names follow the last names. Cambodian ‘last’ names (or patronymics) are the family names and are written first.
The given names (what we know as the first names) follow this, and are still how people are addressed. So your surname would be written first, and your first name would come after. Also, the Cambodian family name is usually the father’s given name.
In some cases, the family name is the grandfather’s given name. Another interesting thing to know about Cambodian baby names is that the given name (though it isn’t written first) is also used as the title – ‘Miss’, ‘Mr’ and others aren’t used.
Many Cambodian baby names are unisex, so many Cambodian girl names also work nicely as Cambodian boy names – it’s not at all unusual for a male and female to have the same name.
In our top picks for Cambodian baby names, the genders which appear beside the names refer to the genders that the names are most commonly used for.
Whether you have Cambodian roots or are seeking a beautiful name with a meaning to match, these Cambodian baby names will not disappoint. From meanings like ‘great city’ to ‘precious stones’ to ‘morning sun’, many Cambodian baby names are a wonderful complement to your newborn.
Popular Cambodian Baby Names
Take a look at some of the most well-loved and used Cambodian baby names for girls and boys. And just so you know, Cambodian baby names, when pronounced, put emphasis on the last syllable.
Also, did you know that when turning Cambodian baby names into nicknames, the last syllable is often used? The name ‘Chhanny’ for example would be shortened to ‘Ny’ instead of ‘Chhan’.
1. Achariya: This Cambodian baby name means ‘marvellous’ or ‘wonderful’.
2. Bopha (Girl): Meaning ‘beautiful flowers’.
3. Borey (Boy): Means ‘great city’ or ‘country’ and is also spelt Bourey.
4. Kiri: Means ‘mountain peak’.
5. Kosal (Boy): Meaning ‘magical’, ‘clever’ or ‘merit gained from what has been given’.
6. Leap (Boy): This Cambodian baby name means ‘good fortune’.
7. Many: Means ‘gem’ or ‘precious stone’ and can also be spelt Mony.
8. Nimol (Boy): Meaning ‘flawless’.
9. Pich: This adorable Cambodian baby name means‘diamond’.
10. Pisey (Boy): Means ‘beloved’.
11. Rathana (Boy): Meaning ‘precious stones’ and this Cambodian name can also be spelt Rathanak.
12. Rachany (Girl): Means ‘night’.
13. Rath: Named after a type of flower. Also spelt Roth.
Cambodian Baby Names Inspired By Nature
Take a look at these gorgeous Cambodian baby names inspired by nature. If you find yourself spoilt for choice, why not join two Cambodian baby names together?
Many common Cambodian names are the result of such. For example, if you like the names Chhan (meaning ‘moon’) and Ny (meaning ‘light’) you could combine them to give Chhanny, which means ‘moonlight’.
14. Arunny (Girl): A beautiful nature-inspired name meaning ‘morning sun’.
15. Boupha: Means ‘like a flower’.
16. Champei (Girl): Named after a type of fragrant flower with either red or white petals.
17. Chankrisna: Meaning ‘a sweet-smelling tree’.
18. Chann (Boy): The Cambodian word for ‘moon’.
19. Chanmony: Meaning ‘shines like the moon’.
20. Chantou: Meaning ‘flower’ and is also spelt Chanthou.
21. Chhaya: Means ‘shade’ or ‘shadow’ and is also spelt Chaya.
22. Kolab (Girl): Means ‘rose’.
23. Kong-Kea: Meaning ‘the big water’.
24. Kravann: Meaning ‘a tiny golden-brown flower’.
25. Kunthea (Girl): Meaning ‘sweet-smelling’.
26. Nearidei (Girl): Named after a white flower with four leaves, that is fragrant in the evening.
27. Phirun: Meaning ‘drizzle’.
28. Rainsey: Means ‘rays of the Sun’.
29. Raksmei: Meaning ‘ray of light’.
30. Reasmey: Means ‘sunshine’.
31. Roumduol (Girl): Named after a type of flower, which usually grows around Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
32. Sinuon: Named after a type of flower.
33. Soriya (Girl): Meaning ‘Sun’.
34. Sotear (Girl): Means ‘generous’, ‘sweet flower’ or ‘compassionate’. Also spelt Sothea, Sotheara, and Sotearith.
Traditional Cambodian Baby Names
Many Cambodian baby names come from Buddist or Hindu words, hence they are rich in meaning. The names are chosen to speak positive things into the life of the baby, such as good fortune and success.
35. Anchaly: The Cambodian word for ‘hand’.
36. Atith (Boy): Means either ‘Sunday’ or ‘sunny day’.
37. Chanvatey: Means ‘a scholar’ or ‘an educated person’.
38. Chariya: Means ‘good character’ and is also spelt Charya and Chakriya.
39. Chea: Meaning ‘healthy, to be well’.
40. Chenda: Means ‘intelligence’ or ‘thought’.
41. Chhay: Meaning ‘charming’ or ‘attractive’.
42. Chhaya: Means ‘beautiful light’ or ‘image’.
43. Chivy: Meaning ‘life’.
44. Choum: Means ‘refreshingly beautiful’.
45. Dara: Means ‘precious’ or ‘star’.
46. Davi: Meaning ‘angel’ and is also spelt Davy, Daevy or Devi.
47. Jorani (Girl): Means ‘radiant jewel’.
48. Kanleakhana (Girl): Meaning ‘possessing character’.
49. Kannitha: Means ‘angels’.
50. Kanya (Girl): Means ‘girl’.
51. Khean: Named after a traditional type of musical instrument.
52. Khemera (Boy): Means ‘from Cambodia’.
53. Leakena (Girl): This Cambodian baby name means ‘quality’, ‘attribute’ or ‘characteristic’.
54. Makara: Meaning ‘January’.
55. Mean: Meaning ‘wealthy’.
56. Montha (Boy): Means ‘charming’.
57. Narin: Meaning ‘superior’.
58. Nimith (Boy): Meaning ‘transformation’.
59. Noreaksey (Boy): Means ‘truthful’ or ‘great power’.
60. Phala (Boy): Meaning ‘prosperous’.
61. Pheakdei: This Cambodian baby name means ‘honesty’ or ‘loyalty’.
62. Phirum (Boy): Meaning ‘peacefulness’ and ‘comfort’.
63. Piseth (Boy): Means ‘supreme’, ‘greatest’, ‘magnificent’ and ‘rare in, quality’.
64. Ponleak (Boy): Meaning ‘endurance, strength’.
65. Ponlok: Meaning ‘dear’ or ‘darling’.
66. Prak (Boy): A glittering name meaning ‘silver’.
67. Puthyrith (Boy): Meaning ‘merciful power’.
68. Reach (Girl): Means ‘beautiful’.
69. Rathana (Boy): Meaning ‘jewels’ or ‘precious stones’.
70. Rithisak (Boy): An empowering name meaning ‘powerful’.
71. Rithy (Boy): Means ‘powerful strength’.
72. Sakngea: Meaning ‘greatness’.
73. Samlain (Boy): This Cambodian baby name means ‘friend, buddy’.
74. Samnang: Means ‘good fortune’.
75. Samphy: Meaning ‘busy’ or ‘hardworking’.
76. Sangha (Boy): Means ‘handsome’.
77. Sathea: Means ‘compassion’ and is also spelt Sotear.
78. Serey: Meaning ‘freedom, born free’.
79. Sok: Means ‘peacefull’, ‘well’ or ‘happy’.
80. Sokha: This Cambodian name means ‘one who is content with his or her life’.
81. Sokhem (Boy): Meaning ‘hope’.
82. SokMean: Means ‘wealthy’ and ‘happy’.
83. Sonisay (Girl): Meaning ‘good at first impression’.
84. Sophal (Girl): Means ‘cultivation’.
85. Sopheap: Meaning ‘one who is gentle and proper’.
86. Sopheara (Boy): Meaning ‘attractive’ or ‘handsome’.
87. Sophon (Girl): Means ‘beauty’.
88. Sothear (Boy): Meaning ‘clean’, ‘pure’, ‘bright’ or ‘generous’.
89. Sourkea: Means ‘heaven’.
90. Sovandary (Girl): A fabulous flattering name meaning ‘gold star’.
91. Sovann: Means ‘one who is golden’.
92. Sovannary (Girl): Means ‘golden girl’ and is also spelt Sovaneary.
93. Srey (Girl): Meaning ‘feminine’ or ‘girl’.
94. SreyMom (Girl): Means ‘beloved girl’.
95. SreyPich (Girl): Meaning ‘diamond girl’. Variations include SreyPek and Sreypich.
96. Tevy (Girl): Means ‘angelic’ and is also spelt Taevy.
97. Thom: Meaning ‘large’ or ‘oldest one’.
98. Toch: Means ‘small’ or ‘young one’ and is also spelt Touch.
99. Veasna: Meaning ‘fate, destiny’ and is also spelt Visna.
100. Vibol (Boy): Means ‘abundant’ or ‘large’.
101. Vimean (Girl): Meaning ‘grandeur’ or ‘royalty’.
102. Visal: Means ‘vast’ or ‘excellent’.
103. Visothirith (Boy): Meaning ‘pure’ and ‘heavenly’.
104. Vithu (Boy): Means ‘intelligent’ or ‘wise’.
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