The history of names and first names in Myanmar

Why are surnames not passed on?

You may be surprised to learn that in Myanmar, the concept of surnames being passed on from parents to children does not exist! A proper name always refers to one and the same person.

In Myanmar, the concept of surnames being passed down from parents to children does not exist. The name forms a whole that is unique to each individual. It is composed of one or more words or syllables, some of which have a meaning, while others are chosen for the harmony they bring to the name (e.g. Caroline Lin Lin). When the name also includes a Western name, this is usually a baptismal name.

It is very common for names to include qualities that parents wish for their children, for example: Aung = success, Aye = serene, Chit = love and Khin = affectionate. Names may also refer to astrology, as Buddhism attaches great importance to the day of birth and the associated star.

What this looks like in practice

Unless you are familiar with the person you are addressing, it is customary to add an honorific title before the name, reflecting the hierarchy and any family ties between the people. For example, the title Daw (aunt) is added for a woman and U (uncle) for a man if they are older than you. Or the title Ma for a girl and Maung (Mg) for a boy when they are younger than you. Karen children in particular always include the title boy or girl in their first name, Naw for a girl and Saw for a boy.

Thus, a man named Soe Win can be called U Soe Win, Mg Soe Win or simply Soe Win. In everyday life, it is not very common to use a person’s name. Instead, they are referred to as little brother/sister or big brother/sister. It is possible to change your name during your lifetime, as General Ne Win did when he ruled Myanmar under a dictatorship. Born Shu Maung, he decided to call himself Ne Win, meaning ‘shining sun’, to mark his rise to power!

All you need to know!

In summary:

-Surnames are less important in Myanmar (and in Southeast Asia in general) than in Western countries; they can be changed easily.

– There are no surnames in Myanmar

Naw = ‘title’ for a Karen girl

Saw = ‘title’ for a Karen boy

U = sir

Mg = “title” for a young man

Daw = madam / miss

Ma = ‘title’ for a young girl (often the eldest in the family)