Meanings of Myanmar Names

Almost every syllable has its meaning in Myanmar language. Names of towns, names of people, all have meanings. And they are interesting.


Names of Myanmar Towns

• Yangon : Formerly called Rangoon in English. Means “end of strife”
• Dagon : Derived from Tain-goat-tra

 • Mandalay : Named after the Mandalay Hill. Derived from Pali word “Mandalar”, meaning “the center”
• Yadanapone : meaning “pile of gems”

• Amarapura : “the land of no death”

• Bagan : Derived from Pagan which again is derived from pyugama, meaning “village of pyu”. The word “pyugama” to “pyugam” then pugan and then pagan.

 Tainpa Deepa : land of copper

 Innwa : mouth of the lake

• Innlay : small lake

 Bago : Derived from Paeko, meaning “stealing peas”

 Hantharwaddy : meaning “land of hinthar (a kind of mythical duck)”

 Beikthano : Derived from Hindu God’s name: Vishnu

• Shwebo :  Mouke Tsoe Bo: meaning “auspicious place for hunters”
• Yan Gyee Aung:
• Kone Baung:
• Ratna Theinga:
• Shwebo:

• Yaynanchaung : meaning “stream of petroleum”

• Chauk : meaning “dry”, being in the heart of the dry zone.

• Sagaing : meaning “branch of a tree called ‘sis'”


Names of Myanmar Rivers

• Ayeyarwaddy : Formerly spelled Irrawaddy. Meaning “elephant river”. Derived from Sanskrit term “airavati”

• Than Lwin : Formerly called Salween. Meaning “olive”


Old Names and New Names

Old Name New Name
  Myanmar
Rangoon Yangon
Pagan Bagan
Akyab Sittwe
Amherst Kyaikkami
Arakan Rakhine
Bassein Pathein
Maymyo Pyin U Lwin aka. Pyin Oo Lwin
Moulmein Mawlamyine
Myohaung Mrauk U
Pegu Bago
Prome Pyay(Pyi)
Sandoway Thandwe
Syriam Thanlyin
Yaunghwe Nyaung Shwe
Irrawaddy River Ayeyarwady River
Salween River Thanlwin River
Sittang River Sittoung River
Tennasserim Tanintharyi

Names of Myanmar People

• In the West, you may find a person with the last name “Edison” (Edi+son) like Thomas Edison. That means son of Edi or Edward. Jefferson will mean “son of Jeffery”, and so on. Mr. Black. Mr. Brown. Or even Mr. Bridget his/her name means:

 

Myanmar Names Meaning
aung
aye
chit
cho
hla
hlaing
htay
htet
htin
htun
htut
htway, htwe
khin
khine
kyaw
kyi
kyine
kywe
lwin
maung
moe
mya
myaing, myine
myat
myint
myo
naing
nanda
nyein
nyunt
ohnmar
phyu
sanda, sandi
sein
shein
shway, thiri, shwe, theingi
soe
than
thant
thaung
thein
thet
thida
thura, thurein, thuya
thuza
tun
win
ye
zaw
zeya, zeyar
succeed
cool
love
sweet
beautiful
plenty
rich
sharp
appear
succeed
apex
youngest
friendly
firm
famous, fry
clear
smell sweet
rich
outstanding
brother, mister
rain
emerald
forest
better
high
relative
win
river
quiet
blossom
mad
white
moon
diamond
reflection
gold
dominate
million
clean
10 thousand
100 thousand
calm
water
sun
angel
succeed
bright
brave
outstanding
success