How do Lao names work?
The family name (or surname) is inherited from one’s parents and shared with other members of the individual’s immediate family . Lao baby girl names are traditionally patrilineal, whereby children inherit their father’s family name at birth. Most women will take their husband’s surname upon marriage.
There is a clear difference between Lao names and nicknames. Lao people have both a serious and casual side, and it comes out in the naming practice. Your first name and surname, the one that appears on your birth certificate, is often evocative of some great person of the past (Sengphet), an adjective the culture holds in high esteem (Deesabun- Lucky), or a beautiful scene from nature (Mali- Blossom).
Note: Lao names are often made up of 2+ adjectives, so one complete first name might have multiple meanings.
A Lao Nickname (sue lin) is something Lao parents find funny or cute when you’re a child.
History Of Lao Names
Laos was once a part of Thailand, and many of its conventions are the same. Historically, only the royal family had names, and regular people would have short names that stood in for proper names. It was only when the French colonized Laos that the use of surnames became standardized.
To ward off evil spirits, people used nicknames, much the same way a spirit house does. If a wandering ghost comes along and sees a lovely house with some lovely children, it might be inclined to hang about. If you leave an offering outside your spirit house and give your child the nickname ‘pig,’ then maybes that ghost will keep going.
List of Most Popular Lao Baby Girl Names:
- Annalise. A combination of the name Anna and Lise, this name is simple, pretty, and unique.
- Allegra. This pretty name means “cheerful” or “lively” in Italian and makes a beautiful option for a little girl.
- Avalon. This is the name of the island that King Arthur was brought to upon his death, according to legend. If you’re a fan of myths and legends, you might consider this option.
- Aviva. As the feminine form of the Hebrew name Aviv, which means “spring,” Aviva is also part of the name of the city of Tel Aviv. In this feminine form, it sounds very lively and fresh.
- Aaliyah. This is the feminine form of the Arabic male name Aali, which means “high,” “lofty,” or “sublime”—the ideal meaning for your strong little girl.
- Arabella. This medieval Scottish name is most likely a variant of Annabel, and stems from the Latin word orabilis, which means “invocable.”
- Ashanti. This is the name of a people residing in southern Ghana. It most likely means “warlike” in the Twi language, invoking images of strength and power for your daughter.
- Athena. Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, as well as the patron goddess of the capital of Greece. It’s a name that’s brimming with courage and strength, so it’s a great choice if you’d like your little one to develop these qualities.
- Brigitta. This name is the German, Dutch, and Hungarian form of Bridget, but here, it seems to have a more feminine ring to it.
- Berenice. The Latinization of a Greek name that means “bringing victory,” Berenice also appears in the New Testament as Bernice. The name is powerful as well as feminine.
- Charmaine. Although the name’s exact meaning is unknown, it’s highly likely that Charmaine is a combination of the word “charm” with the suffix “aine” from the girls’ name Lorraine.
- Constance. As the medieval form of Constantia, which derives from the name of Roman emperor Constans, Constance means “constant” or “steadfast.”
- Calista. This name is the feminine form of Callistus, which means “most beautiful” in Greek. What could be a better name for your lovley daughter?
- Candace. .A biblical name from the New Testament, Candace means “queen mother.” Of course, you don’t have to be religious to choose this unique option.
- Caitríona. The Irish and Scottish form of Katherine is a unique choice and has a very pretty ring to it.
- Christabel. This rare girls’ name combines Christina with the suffix “bel.” If you’re having twins, you might consider naming your daughters Chr istabel and Isabel, as these make a lovely pair.
- Chantal. Derived from a French surname and a place name that means “stony,” Chantal was also a saint’s name. When pronounced with the “sh” sound, the name sounds very pretty.
- Danica. This Slavic name means “morning star” or “Venus,” which is a pretty image to have when thinking about your daughter.
- Devika. In Hindi, this name means “little goddess”—the perfect moniker for your little one!
- Enya. This is the English form of Eithne, which means “kernel” or “grain” in Irish. It’s also the name of a saint and offers a unique and serene sound.
- Euphrasia. Meaning “good cheer” in Greek, this might be the perfect name for a new baby who has already brought so much happiness into your life.
- Fay. In Middle English, this short name means “fairy.” To make the name a little fancier, you could add an e to the end. Either way, it’s an adorable moniker with a cute meaning.
- Fern. From the word for the plant, the name originally comes from the Old English word fearn.
- Filippa. This regal-sounding name is the feminine form of Philip, which means “lover of horses.”
- Fionnuala. An Irish name that means “white” or “fair shoulder,” Fionnuala comes from the Irish legend of a girl being transformed into a swan.
- Greta. This is a short form of the name Margareta, which is derived from a Greek word meaning “pearl.” Just imagine calling your little one by this elegant name!
- Geneviève. This unique name is medieval, but its origin is uncertain, possibly having German, Gaulish, and Celtic elements. It’s the name of the patron saint of Paris and sounds very sweet.
- Gemma. As a medieval Italian nickname, Gemma means “gem” or “precious stone.” This could be the perfect name meaning for your precious little one!
- Gillian. This feminine form of Julian is based on Julius, the name of a Roman emperor and a saint. You could pronounce this either with a soft G or a hard G.
- Harlow. Originally a place name, Harlow comes from Old English and means “rock hill” or “army hill.” It’s an ideal choice if you want your daughter’s name to exemplify strength.
- Iris. Meaning “rainbow” in Greek, this short name was also the moniker of the Greek goddess of rainbows and is the name of a flower.
- Isolde. The roots of this name are uncertain, but in Arthurian legend, Isolde is an Irish princess who falls in love with her king’s knight.
- Ivy. This short and sweet name originates from the climbing plant and is originally derived from the Old English word ifig. Winding ivy brings up images of regal English homes, so for a classic name that’s filled with lots of heritage, consider Ivy for your baby girl.
- Joelle. The feminine form of Joel, which in Hebrew means “Yahweh is God,” Joelle could be a lovely name for your daughter. You can pronounce the J wit h a hard G sound, or with a “zh” sound.
- Jolene. This name was created in the twentieth century by combining “Jo” with “lene.” It’s a great modern choice for your daughter, while still bei ng a relatively rare girls’ name.
- Katya. This is a cute diminutive of Yekaterina, which is Russian for Katherine.
- Kiera. This is the English version of the Irish name Ciara, which is based on the masculine name Ciar, meaning “black.” The name is both unique and strong.
- Kirsten. This name is the Danish and Norwegian version of Christina. The I is often pronounced as “ee,” which makes this name sound unique.
- Kylie. Kylie is popular in Australia and believed to mean “boomerang” in one of the Australian Aboriginal languages.
- Larisa. This pretty name is most likely derived from the ancient city of Larisa in Greece and is also the name of a Greek saint. You could pair Larisa with Melissa if you’re having twin girls.
- Layla. In Arabic, this beautiful name means “night.” It also plays a significant role in a set of romantic poems popular in medieval Arabia and Persia.
- Lorelei. German in origin, the name Lorelei most likely comes from a rocky area along the Rhine River. It’s also the name of a rock song from the 1970s. Whichever story you prefer, the name has a pretty ring to it either way.
- Lucinda. Based on the name Lucia, the name Lucinda appears in literature. It’s a more unusual form of the name Lucille.
- Maia. This name comes from Greek mythology and means “good mother.” There are several spellings, but Maia is one of the more unique variants.
- Micaela. This is a feminine form of Michael, a Hebrew name that means “Who is like God?”
- Nikita. This name is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “house” or “habitation.” Its meaning may seem plain, but there’s nothing boring about thi s unique name!
- Ophelia. In Greek, this pretty name means “help.” It’s also been featured in literature.
- Philomena. This name stems from the Greek words philos (“friend” or “lover”) and menos (“mind, strength, or force”). It was also the name of a saint. While the meaning is powerful, the name itself has a gentle ring to it.
- Phoebe. This is the Latinized form of the Greek name Phoibe, which means “bright” or “pure.” Phoebe was a titan in Greek mythology. Not only does the name have a great meaning, but it also has a powerful ring to it.
- Raquel. This name is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the Hebrew name Rachel, which means “ewe.” With such a sweet meaning of a baby sheep, Raquel also sounds rather unique.
- Sarai. In Hebrew, this name means “my princess” and was Sarah’s original name in the Old Testament. It’s another terrific option for your little princess.
- Sibyl. From the Greek word meaning “prophetess,” Sibyl sounds both edgy and intelligent. According to Greek and Roman legends, there were a number of sibyls in the ancient world.
- Sinéad. This unique name is the Irish version of Jeannette.
- Solange. This name is the French form of Sollemnia, which comes from the Latin word sollemnis, which means “religious.” Of course, you don’t have to be religious to choose this beautiful name.
- Tabitha. This Aramaic name means “gazelle” and appears in the New Testament.
- Thalia. In Greek, this unique name means “to blossom.” It’s also the moniker of one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology.
- Thaïs. This unique-sounding name most likely means “bandage” in Greek. It’s also a name of a saint and has been featured in literature and art, including a famous French opera.
- Thekla. From ancient Greek, this unusual name means “glory to God.” It was also the name of a saint.
- Tatiana. As the feminine form of the Roman name Tatianus, the name Tatiana was given to a saint who was martyred in Rome. The name has an edgy ring to it.
- Valencia. The name of cities in Spain and Venezuela, Valencia comes from the Latin word valentia and means “strength” or “vigor.” The moniker sounds powerful while still offering feminine and romantic vibes.
- Willow. The name of the willow tree comes from the Old English word welig. This name could evoke the tranquility of willow tree branches swaying gently in the breeze.
- Yesenia. This name comes from Jessenia, a type of tree in South America. The moniker has also been featured in Mexican telenovelas. Consider this sassy name for your baby girl.
- Zenaida. This is a name derived from the Greek god Zeus and was also the name of a saint. Your daughter probably won’t meet anyone else in school with this name.
- Zaynab. In Arabic, this unusual girls’ name means “beauty,” and it’s also the name of a fragrant flowering tree. The name would be a pretty way to honor your daughter.
- Zelda. This is the short form of Griselda, which comes from the German words gris and hild, which mean “gray” and “battle,” respectively. Although the meaning sounds a bit gloomy, the name belonged to the writer and artist Zelda Fitzgerald, who was anything but dull. Besides, there is nothing dreary about a name that starts with a z.
Have you found the perfect, unique name for your baby girl on our list? She’ll definitely stand out from the crowd with any one of these names, and she’ll be unforgettable to everyone she meets.
Kidspappy has lots of great names articles to inspire you. If you liked our suggestions for Aztec baby girl names then why not take a look at these Swedish baby girl names, or for something different take a look at these European baby girl names.