The Name Game: How English Nicknames Could Help Cambodia go Global
A name tag displays two names. In this case, Samnang and Samuel. Generated
#opinion
In Cambodia today, it is common to meet a young professional who introduces themselves as “David”, “William” or “Jessica”, even though their ID card carries a beautiful, traditional Khmer name. To some, this feels like a loss of our national soul. To others, it is a survival skill. The truth lies somewhere in the middle: adopting a global nickname is not about forgetting who we are, it is about making sure the world can hear us.
We live in an era of “Digital Transformation”. As a researcher, I see how Cambodia is becoming a key player in the Mekong Nexus. In international business, tourism and tech, names act as a first impression. Khmer names are poetic and deep, but for a partner in London, Beijing or New York, they can be difficult to pronounce. By using a simple English nickname, a Cambodian professional removes a “barrier”. It makes them more approachable and more “searchable” on global platforms like LinkedIn or YouTube.
Cambodia is not alone in this. Two of our neighbours, who have become global economic centres, have used naming as a strategic tool for decades: Singapore and the Philippines. These nations have positioned themselves as “Bilingual Hubs”. In these countries, English names are often used alongside native identifiers from birth.
This has allowed them to attract massive international investment and dominate the global outsourcing (BPO) and tech industries. By being comfortable with English naming conventions, their citizens navigate global markets with zero “friction”.
Even in China, a global superpower, citizens often choose an English name specifically for international trade and education. It allows them to keep their family heritage private and sacred while being “global” in the boardroom.
However, balance is key. If we only use foreign names and forget the meaning of our Khmer names, we suffer from “Cultural Thinning”. Our traditional names are gifts from our parents, often reflecting Buddhist values like “Wisdom”, “Peace”, or “Victory”.
We must not view these as old-fashioned.” Instead, we should view our Khmer name as our Root and our English name as our Branch. The branch reaches out to the world, but the root keeps us standing.
The best way for Cambodia to survive globalization is to be dual identified.
The Professional Alias: View the English name as a “Professional Uniform” — something you wear to interact with the global market, much like many experts in the Philippines or Singapore; and The Cultural Anchor: Continue to use our full native names for all official, legal and family honours. This ensures our history remains on record forever.
Globalisation doesn’t require us to choose between being “Khmer” or being “Modern”. We can be both. By adopting the naming strategies of our successful neighbours, Cambodia can lower the walls between us and the rest of the world. Let us use every tool available — including our names — to ensure Cambodia’s voice is heard in the global conversation.
Sar ‘Victory’ Vichana is a Phnom Penh-based researcher into digital governance and geopolitical trends. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
-Phnom Penh Post-
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