💡 I’d like to add a little context about changing one’s name in Thailand.
Many Thai people believe in auspicious names, names that are considered lucky or compatible with a person’s date of birth according to traditional astrology.
Because of this, some people consult a Buddhist monk who specializes in astrology and name interpretation, or a respected fortune teller who is experienced in selecting auspicious names. They may recommend a new name that is believed to be more suitable for the individual.
In some cases, people simply don’t like the name they were given at birth and want to choose one that better reflects who they are.
This is why some Thais decide to change their names later in life. Their original name may have been lovingly chosen by their parents or grandparents, but it may not have taken these traditional beliefs into account.
Once a person decides to change their name, they must officially register the change at the local district office (or district administration office outside Bangkok). Only after the registration does the new name become legally recognized.
After the name change is registered, an official Name Change Certificate is issued. Many Thai people keep this document because it may be required whenever they need to verify that documents bearing their previous name, such as school certificates, diplomas, or older records, belong to the same person.
Translation:
Host: Let’s go back a little. It’s been five years since you changed your name to Peraya, and since then, your life and career have really flourished.
Host: Is there a story behind it?
Faye: Actually, I never intended to change my name. I was taking one of my younger friends to have her name changed because she wanted to. There were four or five of us who went together. Ironically, she was the only person whose name the monk didn’t change.
Host: That’s how it always goes. The person who plans for it doesn’t end up getting it. (laughs)
Faye: Exactly. But everyone else who hadn’t planned on changing their names… The monk told us, “You should change yours.”
Host: The monk brought it up himself?
Faye: Yes. He did. He looked at us and said we should change our names. The funny thing is, the person who actually wanted a new name was the one whose name the monk said was already good. Host: So how did you feel when the monk told you that you should change your name?
Faye: I didn’t change it because I believed it would bring me luck or anything like that. I changed it because I thought “Peraya” was a beautiful name. My old name, Supaporn, had a very “hot” energy. I was hot-tempered, and everything about it felt intense. Not that it caused me any problems… But I liked the name Peraya because it feels much softer and gentler.
Host: So, going from Supaporn to Peraya was quite a transformation.
