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

• Ayarwady: Formerly spelled Irrawaddy. Meaning "elephant river". Derived from Sanskrit term "airavati"
• Than Lwin: Formerly called Salween. Meaning "olive"

Old Names and New Names

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.Bridgt his/her name means: