Cambodian Naming Conventions — Cambodia Facts
Cambodians put the family name first — so Hun Sen is Mr. Hun, not Mr. Sen. Cambodian names follow the East Asian convention of family name first, given name second. So in the
📛
Cambodian Naming Conventions
Cambodians put the family name first — so Hun Sen is Mr. Hun, not Mr. Sen
Cambodian names follow the East Asian convention of family name first, given name second. So in the name "Hun Sen," Hun is the surname and Sen is the given name. Cambodians are typically addressed by their given name with an honorific (Lok for Mr., Lok Srey for Mrs.). Many Cambodians have two-syllable given names. Nicknames are extremely common and often unrelated to the formal name. Women do not typically change their surname upon marriage.
Key Data Points
Order
Family name + Given name
Honorific (Mr.)
Lok
Honorific (Mrs.)
Lok Srey
Marriage
Women keep surname
Nicknames
Very common
Related Guides
Share this page
Get Cambodia Travel Updates
Visa changes, travel tips, and destination guides delivered to your inbox.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. We respect your privacy.