In Thailand, it is not uncommon for individuals to consider changing their names in order to improve their future prospects. This practice, although it may appear drastic, is actually quite common in the country. Some Thais even choose to change both their first and last names at the same time.
There are kinds of reasons that drive Thais to make this decision, which can range from chronic health issues to financial difficulties or a stagnant career. There are a host of reasons people may choose to change their names during childhood or later in life as adults. While certain countries, like Iceland and Denmark, have predetermined lists of approved names, most Thais typically seek guidance from fortune tellers or local monks to receive an auspicious and personalized name.
In Thailand, the use of astrological methods for naming is prevalent. Unlike in other cultures where constant name changes may cause confusion, Thais commonly address each other by nicknames given at birth. In addition, these nicknames remain consistent and are unrelated to their official first names, which are only used in formal or official situations.
Like many others, Somchart adheres to the teachings of the ancient scripture known as Tamra Taksa. This scripture provides guidelines for selecting names based on the auspiciousness of certain letters according to the day of the week of birth. For example, individuals born on a Monday are advised to have a name without vowels in order to avoid potential misfortune.
Thai astrology categorizes letters into eight groups, including relations, health, power, honor, wealth, diligence, patronage, and misfortune.
There is no denying that in traditional Chinese culture, the significance of names has always been highly regarded. Chinese communities in East Asia firmly believe that a person's name can influence their luck in various aspects of life, such as health, relationships, finances, and academic performance. As the ongoing pandemic continues to negatively impact the economy, individuals like Pang, who have found themselves unemployed, are not only updating their resumes but also seeking guidance from fortune tellers to determine if a name change could potentially alter their future.
According to ancient beliefs in energy flow and balance, a baby's name is chosen after a meticulous analysis of their precise time of birth and the alignment of the fundamental elements of Chinese characters (fire, wood, water, metal, and earth) on the astrological calendar. In addition, the name should not only sound pleasant but also possess an auspicious number of character strokes and "balance out" the elements to enhance one's luck.
Therefore, the theory suggests that if things start going awry later in life, introducing a new element through a name change can help restore balance and improve one's fortune.
There is no doubt that different fortune tellers may have their own interpretations of astrology and feng shui. In Pang's case, for instance, her fortune teller advised her to replace one of the Chinese characters in her first name with another character that signifies "addition" in order to enhance her good luck.