Yesterday I discovered the “Asian Name Pronunciation Guide,” which was created by California State Polytechnic University (Pomona) to help its students “more accurately pronounce some common Asian first and last names.” What a cool thing for the school to make available.
There are pages for names in Cambodian, Cantonese, Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Thai and Vietnamese. Best of all, most pages include audio files of native speakers correctly pronouncing selected names.
Here are all the first names listed:
Cambodian First Names & Pronunciations
- Bopha, bohpah
- Chanda, chahndah
- Chandarith, chahnrit
- Chhoun, choo-en
- Dara Khan, dahrah kahn
- Khan, kahn
- Kosal, kohsahl
- Kunthea, kunt-hee-ah
- Lai, lah-ee
- Lun Ang, loom-ang
- Maly, mahlee
- Map, mahp
- Moeuk, mew
- Pean, pee-in
- Phalla, pahlah
- Phireak, pee-re
- Poew, pohew
- Rith, rit
- Ry, ree
- Sarit, sahrit
- Srey, sray
- Soas, soo-uh
- Socheat, sohjee-et
- Soeun, sew-in
- Sok, sawk
- Somally, sawmahlee
- Sopea, sohpeeah
- Sophal, sohpahl
- Sophat, sohpaht
- Sophea, sohpeeah
- Sopheap, sohpee-up
- Suon, soo-in
- Theary, t-ih-ree
- Thy, tee
- Tren, trayng
- Vanna, wahnah
- Vannak, wahnak
- Vantha, wahntah
- Veng Kim, wayng kum
- Vuthy, wootee
Cantonese (Chinese) First Names & Pronunciations
- Chi-Kung, chee-kahng
- Chi-Man, chee-mahn
- Ka-Ling, gah-leeng
- Kok-Wing, kaw-wing
- Lai-Ying, ly-ying
- Mei-Yee, may-yee
- Pui-Pui, puhyee-pahyee
- Sau-Ha, sow-han
- Shuk-Yee, suh-yee
- Sin-Feng, sin-fuhng
- Siu-Kao, seeyoo-kayoo
- Tak-Wah, duh-wah
- Wai-Keung, wy-kuhung
- Wai-Ling, wy-ling
Filipino First Names & Pronunciations
- Adelaide, ahdelydah
- Angelita, ahngheleetah
- Annal, ahnah
- Antonio, ahntoneeyo
- Aunor, awnor
- Carlo, karlo
- Catalina, kahtahleena
- Dakila, dahkeelah
- Dalisay, dahleesy
- Diego, deeyaygo
- Floricel, florreesel
- Gemma, jemah
- Guillermo, geelyermo
- Honesto, ohnesto
- Irma, irmah
- Isabel, eesahbel
- Ligaya, leegahyah
- Liwayway, leewaiwai
- Luningning, looningning
- Lourdes, lordess
- Magdalena, mahgdahleena
- Manuel, mahnoowel
- Maria, mahreeyah
- Maricar, mahrikahr
- Miguel, meegel
- Norma, normah
Indonesian First Names & Pronunciations
Female Names
- Ade, ada
- Devi, day (silent y)-vee
- Dewi, day (silent y)-we
- Erlin, arleen
- Fanny, funny
- Farida, fareeda
- Glenna, glenna
- Harjanti, harjantee
- Hartanti, hartantee
- Ida, eda
- Inge, enge
- Lanny, lunny
- Leony, leony
- Liana, leeana
- Liani, leeanee
- Ratna, rutna
- Shinta, shinta
- Siska, sisca
- Sri, seri
- Sucianty, soocianty
- Susanti, soosantee
- Utami, utami
- Vera, vera
- Verawati, verawatee
- Veronika, veronica
- Widya, wedya
- Widyawati, wedyawati
- Yanti, yunti
- Yenny, yenny
- Yulia, yoolia
- Yuliana, yooleeana
- Yuliani, yooleeanee
Male Names
- Ade, ada
- Adi, adee
- Agus, agoos
- Ari (Ary), ari
- Bambang, bumbung
- Benny, banny
- Budi, boodee
- Deddy, deddy
- Djaja (Djaya, Jaya), jaya
- Doddy, doddy
- Hadi, hudee
- Hadian, hudeean
- Hamdani, hamdani
- Handoko, handoko
- Hartono, hartono
- Hendra, hendra
- Hendri, hendori
- Hengki (Hengky), hanki
- Herman, herman
- Indra, endra
- Irwan, erwan
- Ivan, evan
- Iwan, ewan
- Johan, johan
- Ridwan, ridwan
- Sonny, sonny
- Sudirman, soodirman
- Sudomo, soodoomo
- Sugiarto, soogiarto
- Suharto, sooharto
- Suhendra, soohendra
- Sukarno, sookarno
- Suparman, sooparman
- Surya, soorya
- Suryadi, sooryadee
- Susanto, soosanto
- Teguh, taguh
- Yandi, yundee
- Yohanes, yohanes
Japanese First Names & Pronunciations
Female Names
- Akiko, a-ki-o
- Etsuko, eh-tsu-ko
- Hiroko, he-ro-ko
- Hiromi, he-ro-me
- Junko, june-ko
- Kaoru, ka-o-ru
- Kazuko, ka-zu-ko
- Keiko, keh-ko
- Kuniko, koo-ni-ko
- Kyoko, kyoh-ko
- Mariko, ma-ri-ko
- Masako, ma-sa-ko
- Michiko, me-chi-ko
- Miho, me-ho
- Miki, me-ki
- Miyuki, me-you-ki
- Naoko, na-o-ko
- Noriko, no-lee-ko
- Reiko, reh-ko
- Sachiko, sa-chi-ko
- Takako, ta-ka-ko
- Tomoko, to-mo-ko
- Yoko, yoh-ko
- Yoshiko, yo-shi-ko
- Yuki, you-ki
- Yumi, you-me
- Yumiko, you-me-ko
Male Names
- Akio, a-ki-o
- Akira, a-ki-ra
- Hideo, hi-de-o
- Hiroshi, hi-ro-sih
- Ichiro, e-chi-roh
- Junichi, june-e-chi
- Kazuo, ka-zu-o
- Kenji, ken-ji
- Kiyoshi, ki-yo-shi
- Koichi, ko-e-chi
- Koji, ko-ji
- Makoto, ma-ko-toh
- Osamu, o-sa-mu
- Shigeru, shi-ge-ru
- Shinichi, shin-e-chi
- Shiro, shi-ro
- Susumu, su-su-mu
- Tadashi, ta-da-shi
- Takao, ta-ka-o
- Takashi, ta-ka-shi
- Takeo, ta-ke-o
- Takeshi, ta-ke-shi
- Toru, toh-ru
- Tsutomu, tsu-to-mu
- Yoshio, yo-shi-o
- Yuji, you-ji
- Yutaka, you-ta-ka
Korean First Names & Pronunciations
Female Names
- Eun-A, euna
- Eun-Hee, eunhee
- Eun-Ju, eunju
- Eun-Jung, eunjung
- Eun-Kyoung, eunkyoung
- Eun-Mi, eunmi
- Eun-Su, eunsu
- Eun-Sun, eunsun
- Eun-Young, eunyoung
- Hye-Su, hiesu
- Hyun-Ja, hyunja
- Hyun-Ju, hyunju
- Hyun-Jung, hyunjung
- Hyun-Young, hiuniung
- Jin-Sook (Jing-Suk), jinsuk
- Kun-Sun, keunsun
- Kyoung-Mi, kyungmi
- Min-Hee, minhee
- Min-Hoe, minhoe
- Min-Jung, minjung
- Min-Young, miyoung
- Mi-Kyoung, mikyoung
- Mi-Sun, misun
- Mi-Young, miyoung
- Na-Young, nayoung
- Sang-Hee, sang/hee
- Sang-Mi, sangmi
- So-Young, soyoung
- Sun-Hee, sunhee
- Su-Jung, sujung
- Young-Hee (Yung-Hee), young-hee
- Young-Ja, youngja
- Young-Mi, youngmi
- Yun-Hee, iunhee
Male Names
- Chang-Ho, changho
- Chang-Su, changsu
- Chang-Uk, chang-uk
- Dong-Min, dongmin
- Dong-Uk, dong-uk
- Du-Ho, doho
- Hyun-Su, hyeonsu
- In-Ho, inho
- Jang-Ho, jangho
- Ja-Hoon, jahoon
- Jong-Cheol (Jong-Chul), jongchul
- Jong-Pil, jongpil
- Jong-Su, jongsu
- Jung-Hee, jeonghi
- Jung-Hun (Jung-Hoon), jeonghun
- Jung-Yeol, jung yeol
- Ki-Hoon (Ki-Hun), kihun
- Kwang-Ho, kuangho
- Man-Su, mansu
- Min-Ho, minho
- Min-Ki, minki
- Min-Kyu, minkiu
- Min-Su, minsu
- Sang-Ho, sangho
- Sang-Ki, sangki
- Sang-Kyu, sangkiu
- Sang-Min, sangmin
- Suk-Chul, sukchul
- Sung-Uk, sung-uk
- Yong-Su, youngsu
- Young-Ho, young-ho
- Young-Il, young-il
- Young-Min, youngmin
- Young-Su, youngsu
Mandarin (Chinese) First Names & Pronunciations
- Chien, chee-en
- Chiu, cheeoo
- Di, dee
- Du-Wah, doo wah
- Fah, fah
- Fong, fong
- Jinho, rinho
- Jong, rong
- Ki, kee
- Kwai, kwai
- Lai-Ching, ly ching
- Len, len
- Li-Li, lee lee
- Liang, lee ang
- Li-Kung, lee kung
- Lin, lin
- Ling, ling
- Li-Sheng, lee sheng
- Mei, may
- Riu, ree oo
- Soon, suhn
- Sung, sung
- Wah-Tai, wah tahee
- Wang, wang
- Yung-Ling, yung leeng
- Zhuo-Shing, choh sheeng
Thai First Names & Pronunciations
Female Names
- Amporn, um-porn
- Areya, ar-ree-ya
- Budsaba, bud-sa-ba
- Chompoo, chom-poo
- Chompunut, chom-ou-nut
- Duangrat, duang-rat
- Intira, in-ti-ra
- Jutharat, ju-ta-rat
- Korrakoj, kor-ra-kod
- Krittiga, krit-ti-ga
- Nattaporn, nat-ta-porn
- Nuntida, nun-ti-da
- Orapan, or-ra-pun
- Ornanong, on-a-nong
- Patsaporn, pud-sa-porn
- Pim, pim
- Porntip, porn-tip
- Pradtana, prad-ta-na
- Premwadee, prem-wa-dee
- Preyanutch, pre-ya-nut
- Promporn, prom-porn
- Sangrawee, sang-ra-wee
- Sinee, si-nee
- Sirirat, si-ri-rat
- Sunisa, su-ni-sa
- Suttida, soot-ti-da
- Suwattanee, su-wat-ta-nee
- Tidarat, to-da-rat
- Utumporn, au-tum-porn
- Vipada, wi-pa-da
- Yada, ya-da
Male Names
- Adirake, a-di-rake
- Akkarat, aek-ka-rat
- Chaowalit, chaow-wa-lit
- Chayond, cha-yond
- Chuan, chuan
- Jettrin, jet-trin
- Kiettisuk, kiet-ti-suk
- Kittikorn, kit-ti-korn
- Krit, krit
- Ned, nade
- Niwat, ni-wat
- Nontawat, non-ta-wat
- Pairote, pai-rote
- Paradorn, pa-ra-dorn
- Petch, petch
- Pongrit, pong-rit
- Pracha, pra-cha
- Prakorb, pra-korb
- Pramod, pra-mote
- Prasopchai, pra-soap-chai
- Sakchai, suk-chai
- Sarawut, sa-ra-wut
- Songpole, song-pole
- Sunya, sun-ya
- Surat, su-rat
- Suttipong, sut-ti-pong
- Thongchai, tong-chai
- Tuksin, tuk-sin
- Udom, au-dom
- Vit, wit
- Winai, wi-nai
- Worrawut, wore-ra-wut
Vietnamese First Names & Pronunciations
- Chi, chee
- Cuc, kuk
- Diem, yeeyim
- Duc, duk
- Dung, yuhng
- Duong, yoong
- Hanh, hahn
- Ho, hoh
- Hoa, hwa
- Hong, howng
- Hung, huhng
- Lan, lahn
- Liem, leeyim
- Lien, leeyin
- Loc, lowk
- Mai, mah-ee
- Minh, min
- Nam, nahm
- Nga, nga
- Nguyet, nwyit
- Pham, fam
- Phu, foo
- Thi, tee
- Thien, teeyen
- Tho, toy or tahoo
- Thuy, twee
- Tuan, twahn or twuhn
- Tuyet, tweeyit
- Viet, wee-et
- Xuan, swuhn
I need to know how to pronounce these names…Chyou, Taka, Miki and Su Fang. also, could you tell me their meanings too? I would REALLY appreciate it. Thanks.
Japanese names are usually easy. Miki and Taka should be something like “mee-kee” and “tah-kah.”
Chinese names can be trickier to get right, I find. Su Fang and Chyou are probably pronounced a lot like the way they’re written (or else they wouldn’t have been transcribed that way), but if you want to say them perfectly, you may just want to ask their owners. :)
P.S. It may help to hear some Chinese…
I need to know how to pronounce the name kanon in japanese
This might be helpful, Alex: A (relatively) easy guide to Japanese pronunciation
So, Kanon would probably be pronounced something like “kah-nōn.”
How do you pronounce Vanyu Xion?
Hi Nicolette – If that’s a Chinese name, the X would be pronounced something like an S/Sh. Here’s more on how to pronounce the X in Mandarin.
Nancy –
I just found that site earlier this week! Loved it!
Here’s an embarrassing admission – I work in a situation where I work with many Asian customers over email. I am unsure what the appropriate way to address a letter is given an individuals full name. I also cannot distinguish their gender. The web site helped me with making a phone call and being able to ask for the customer’s name, but the web site did not help out any with the problems I have in correspondences.
Any other references that might be helpful here?
Thanks!
Hi Jenny,
I have been searching, but haven’t found any good resources so far. A site like Writing for a Chinese Business Audience might be helpful, though.