David - a Khmer Name

Otis · Post by **Otis** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 11:47 pm

My gf's sister-in-law is about to have a bambino. My gf told me that they were going to name it after me as I had just bought a lake of beer to throw a party out at the family rice ranch. She was kidding, it turns out. They are going to name him David.

She says that this barang name is popular in KOW and began being so about 10 years ago. Anyone know aught about this?

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 12:00 am

I've met a whole lot of Khmers called David, nearly all below 25 years old. It is a popular name.

Otis · Post by **Otis** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 12:04 am

How and why did this particular barang name cross the language divide? Are there others?

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 12:42 am

There are loads. The "David" I'm talking about here is always the French pronunciation, as in "Da-vid", so I'd imagine it comes from old influences. It might just be an old Khmer name that has been transliterated that way. For example, I know a surgeon that everyone calls "John", but his actual name is more like "Cho-ann"".
Names are weird here anyway, they don't seem fixed the way we are used to in the west. Nick-names are used in the west, but are far more prevalent here, and can be changed at will seemingly.
The "David" I'm talking about is not a nick-name though, it's an official name I see on documents a lot.

willyhilly · Post by **willyhilly** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 4:25 am

Girls called Da Vee are common, I am not sure David is anglicised at all. In Australia everyone has a nick name.

taabarang · Post by **taabarang** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 5:08 am

My daughter's name is Donna, spelled Dana in Khmer. There are at least three other young Cambodian girls in our small village who have that name.

Bitte_Kein_Lexus · Post by **Bitte_Kein_Lexus** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 6:36 am

Yeah, it's not exactly French. I usually hear it pronounced "Deh-vid" which is a Khmerized version of the French "Dah-vid". I think other French words like the days of the week (Lundy, Marady, Samedy etc) and Diamond have been popular for a long time. Then again, naming one's child with the day of the week they were born is popular in Khmer as well, so I think it's always been a thing.

Post by **Username Taken** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 6:44 am

I have a Khmer nephew called David. Naturally his name is shortened to Vid.

lostjeremy · Post by **lostjeremy** » Tue Apr 04, 2017 11:41 am

My in-laws call our son David because they can't pronounce his real name. Does that count?

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Post by **Jamie_Lambo** » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:33 pm

in Khmer theres 2 ways to spell it
theres the more Khmer version of the name - ដេវីត - Davith/Devith (Pronounced Da-Vit - D/T sound similar)
theres also the more Barang version - ដាវីឌ - David (pronounced Da-Vid)

seems to be a popular name now, not sure of the history of the name though
im sure it will be an even popular name now with the likes of the popular singer ជី ដេវីត (G-Davith/Devith/David)

here you can see all 3 romanizations of "David" in the titles of the songs lol

David - a Khmer Name

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