Just like in the other countries in Southeast Asia, all Thai names are derived from Sanskrit.
The name of Siam (Thailand) comes from the Sanskrit Syama, meaning “dark”.
The capital of Siam, Ayutthaya, was named after Ayodhaya, the capital mentioned in the Ramayana.
This list shows 42 of Thailand’s ancient 76 provinces, and their Sanskrit meanings:
- Chaiyaphum – Land (bhumi) of victory (jaya)
- Phitsnulok – Country (loka) of Visnu
- Uttaradit – Northern (uttara) city
- Lobpuri – Originally Lavapuri the city of Lava the son of Rama
- Ayuthaya – Ayodhaya the city of Rama
- Saraburi – City (puri) of wealth (sara)
- Nakhon Ratchasima – City (nagara) of the lion (sima) king (raja)
- Chonburi – City (puri) of water (jala)
- Chantaburi – Moon (chandra) city (puri)
- Phetchaburi – City (buri) of food (bhojya).
- Ratchaburi – City (puri) of kings (raja)
- Kanchanaburi – City (puri) of gold (kanchana)
- Prachinburi – Ancient (pracin) city (puri)
- Nakon Sawan – Heavenly (svarga) city (nagara)
- Phetchabun – City (puri) of food (bhojya)
- Kalasin – Black (kala) waters
- Ubon Ratchathani – Royal (raja) lotus city (sthan)
- Buriram – City (puri) of pleasure (ram)
- Suphanaburi – City (puri) of gold (suvarna)
- Surin – City of the God (sura) in (Indra)
- Maha Sarakhan – Great (maha) wealth (sara) of gold (kanaka)
- Sukhothai – City (sthana) of happiness (sukha)
- Singburi – City (puri) of lions (simha)
- Sakhon Nakhon – means the “city of cities” – the Sanskrit Sakala meaning “whole” “total” and Nagara meaning “city”
- Nakhon Phanom – City (nagara) of the Mountain
- Nong Bua Lamphu – It seems that “Lamphu” is the same as the Lamphun mentioned above as the 23rd city, and the “Bua” seems to be a shortened version of “Buana” which is Malay for “world” and this is from the Sanskrit “Bhuvana” meaning “world”.
- Nakhon Pathom – First (prathama) city (nagara)
- Pathum thani – Lotus (padma) flower town (sthana)
- Sisaket – was originally “Sri Nakhon Lamduan”, with “Sri” meaning “wealth”, “lord” the “Nakhon”, Sanskrit “nagara” meaning “city” the original “Sri” forms the “Si” in “Sisaket”.
- Samut Songkhram – War (sangrama) ocean (samudra)
- Samut Sakhon – Oceans (samudra) lake (sagara)
- Samut Prakan – Ocean (samudra) fortress (prakara)
- Bangkok – Known to the natives as Krung thep as explained above
- Nonthaburi – City (puri)
- Prachuap Khiri Khan – City of gold (khan) mountains (giri)
- Uthaithani – Northern (uttara) city (sthana)
- Yala – Net (jala)
- Nakhon Si Thammarat – City (nagara) of the auspicious (sri) Dharma King (dharmaraj)
- Narathiwat – Residence (vat) of wise (dhi) people (nara)
- Surat thani – City (sthana) of the Sun (Surya) its actually named after the Indian city of Surat
Out of 76 Thailand’s provinces, 42 names are clearly understandable in Sanskrit.
The others are new names which have gained their independence such as the province of Sa Kaew which was originally part of Prachin Buri, a Sanskrit name meaning “ancient city”.
The Mekong river is known as the “mother of waters”. The Chinese name for this river is “Meigong” – the river has most probably derived its name from “Ma Ganga”.
