130+ funny Asian names that'll make you laugh until your ribs hurt

Laughter is no doubt the best medicine and is a language transcending borders while fostering connections. Funny Asian names, often seen on social media platforms or in games, contribute to this universal language of joy. These names, a playful mix of cultural references, famous phrases, or puns, reflect the individual's sense of humour and identity. TUKO.co.ke spoke to Dr. Fiona Swee-Lin Price, an Australian-based expert on multicultural names and author, who explained the naming culture among Asian communities and why some Asian names may sound funny to English speakers.

Funny Asian names serve as ice-breakers, sparking conversations and shared laughter, strengthening bonds across cultures. Politely laughing at someone's name is an excellent way of fostering connections and a good conversation starter, as you can share the funny aspect with the other person.

Funny Asian names

Asian names are notorious for being complex to read and write for people outside the region. But thanks to the internet, coming across such terms is expected. In the digital age, many individuals from Asia have embraced this by creating funny and creative usernames for their online profiles.

Funny Asian names for males

These names often incorporate cultural references, famous phrases, or puns that reflect their sense of humour and identity. They serve not only as a unique identifier but also as a conversation starter, breaking the ice in online interactions.

• Wei Tu Dum
• Wong Lo Kat
• Wong Kong
• TORa Guu
• Sum Yung Guy
• Poop Sha
• Pochi
• Phuc Dat Bich
• Ōkina ha
• Nakkuruheddo
• Mushi
• Monowasure
• Mijikai ashi
• Liu Wonton
• Koshinuke
• Kimchi Chow
• Kimchi
• Kaori
• Ho Lee Fóók
• Goshippu
• Gary Chu
• Fumeiyo
• Damasa re Yasui
• Damaku
• Chewbacca
• Booger
• Boke
• Basaiku
• Baka
• Apurikotto
• Ah Wong
• Hoi Nam

Funny Asian names for girls

Funny Asian names for females often incorporate elements of comedy, creativity, and artistic references. These names can be a playful mix of words from their aboriginal language, puns, or popular phrases that reflect their sense of humour and identity.

• Sum Ting Wong
• Wai Yu Mun Ching
• Ai Bang Mai Ni
• Wai So Dim
• Sze Yu Sum Dei
• Cau Cin Cau
• Wai Yu Mun Ching
• Y Go Noa
• Yu Stin Ki Pu
• No Pah King
• Fu Xi
• Lei YingLu
• Wai Yu Kum Nao
• Na Pah King
• Sum Ting Wong
• Hu Yu Hai Ding
• Long Wáng
• Huang Kum Hia
• Hung Lo
• Ou Yang
• Dum Gai
• Si Tu
• Wu Mei
• Hoo Flung Dung
• Xia Hou
• Bei Ling Hai
• Li Ying Fuc
• Dóng Guo
• Hu Flung Dung
• Hu Yu Hai Ding
• Wai Yu Kum Nóa
• Ho Lee Fock
• Wai Hang Mi
• Tai Ni Po Ni
• Ai Bang Mai Ni
• Hung Whéll
• Chin Tu Fat
• Chu Mi Goo
• Wai So Dim
• Yung Thin Ho
• How Long Wei Ting

Interview with a multicultural names expert

In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Dr. Fiona Swee-Lin Price, an Australian-based expert on multicultural names and author of Success with Asian Names, opened up about the Asian naming culture and why some Asian names may sound funny to English speakers.

Q: As a multicultural names expert, how do cultural influences or regional differences in Asia affect the creation of names in Asian communities that may be funny to foreigners?

Why do some Asian names sound funny to (English-speaking) foreigners? The short answer is because the same sound often means something different in different languages. And when languages are as different as English is from the languages of Asia, it’s not unusual for a beautiful name in one language to sound comical or even obscene in another.

Take the word ‘ho’, for example. For many centuries, it was a cheery sort of interjection used to make an announcement. For example, the man on lookout in a ship might cry “Land ho!” when the shore came into sight. For most of the 20th century, the word ‘ho’ was most often heard on the lips of Santa Claus, known for his trademark Yuletide laugh “Ho ho ho!” Since the 1990s, however, the African American use of ‘ho’ to mean ‘a promiscuous woman’ (from ‘wh0re’) has started to displace these jolly older meanings of the word, a development which can’t have good news for Cantonese people, for whom ‘Ho’ is a common surname.

Q: Are there any linguistic tricks or puns in Asian naming traditions that contribute to names sounding funny to outsiders?

When people are choosing names for their children, most aren’t thinking about how the name will sound to outsiders. They’re thinking about insiders: people who share their language and culture. It’s only when they encounter people from another society that they discover that outsiders might find their choice amusing.

One of the reasons for this is that the logic behind their name choice may not apply outside their own culture. For example, parents in Asian countries often choose names that imply wealth and success to bring their children good luck. When Asian people travel to the West and adopt Western names, this mindset doesn’t always translate.

For example, one Thai girl called herself ‘Seven’ when studying in Australia, because she heard that seven was the Western lucky number. Other international students gave themselves the names of Disney princesses and prestige international brands, not realising that calling yourself ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Gucci’ in Australia sounds more comical than classy. My personal favourite was a student I met when studying in China, who told me her English name was ‘Aries’, because that was her Western star sign. All I can say is it’s lucky she wasn’t a Cancer.

Q: Being of Asian origin, how do Asian communities react to the fact that their names may sound funny to some global audiences?

How Asian communities respond to outsiders finding their names funny will depend on the context. A shy young Asian who’s just arrived in an English-speaking country might be alarmed and upset if everyone starts laughing at the sound of their name. They probably have no idea their name sounds ‘funny’ in English, and might think they were being mocked for doing something wrong. I once had to take a distressed young man called ‘Bamsak’ (pronounced ‘bum s*ck’) aside and explain what was behind the sniggers, and he decided to adopt a Western name to dodge the problem.

Someone more confident who’s figured out that their name sounds comical to Westerners might turn it into an asset. Having a funny name can be used as an ice-breaker when meeting new people, or even as the basis for jokes: I’ve seen quite a few Asian stand-up comedians who milk their ‘funny’ names for laughs on stage.

In general, though, I would recommend treading carefully if you find an Asian name funny. Keep in mind that Asian parents choose children’s names with great care, and that what sounds funny to you is a perfectly appropriate name with a positive meaning in the language it comes from. Laughing at that name—especially in front of the person concerned--may come across as rude, disrespectful or even racist.

Q: Has modernisation changed the way Asian communities generally choose names, i.e. have there been instances of names being altered to avoid misunderstanding or humour?

The internet has reinforced English as the world’s international language. Most Asian people these days have learnt English at school and been exposed to Anglo-Western media. This means that they are likely to learn a lot faster and younger if their name sounds ‘funny’ in English.

As a result, many common Asian names that have less-than-ideal connotations in English have had recent changes in spelling. For example, a lot of female given names in Thai include the word ‘porn’, which means ‘blessing’ in Thai. As more and more Thais become aware of the less desirable meaning of this word in English, people have started changing the spelling to ‘pon’. For example, a woman called ‘Chiraporn’ might now write her name ‘Chirapon’.

Generally speaking, though, what most Asians with a ‘funny’ or hard-to-say name do when they head overseas is either adopt a Western name or use an adapted version of their own name, which is easier and less amusing for the people around them.

Funny Chinese names

Chinese names are some of the most notorious for their complexity and depth of meaning. However, in the realm of humour, the funniest Chinese names often incorporate a playful mix of words from the Chinese language, English puns, or popular phrases.

• Egg Foo Young
• Chow Mein Chen
• Chop Suey Chow
• Wonton Wáng
• Kwan-Yin
• Xiao Long
• Kimchi Kwong
• A-Ping
• Peking Pete
• Hot Pot Harry
• Hoisin Hui
• Sushi Sue
• Lo Mein Ling
• Sweet and Sour Sue
• Shanghai Shue
• Bao Bao
• Dim Sum Ding
• Pu Pu Platter
• Tofu Tan
• Chow Fun Chu
• Lucky Li
• Won Ton Wong
• Kung Pao Kevin
• General Tso
• Wok N'Roll
• Fortune Fong
• Szechuan Sam
• Dimsum Dang
• Ding Ding
• Wai So Dim
• Dum Gai
• Chin Tu Fat
• Soh Hai Ahh

Funny Vietnamese names

Funny Vietnamese names often incorporate elements of humour, creativity, and cultural references. These names can be a playful mix of words from the Vietnamese language and can be meaningful and unique to some or funny to others.

• Cưng/cục cưng
• Tình yêu
• Bùi như Khoai
• Trần như Nhộng
• Lê hai Chân
• Mèo
• Tít
• Heo
• Tí
• Bô Bô
• Anh
• Dung
• Hanh
• Hoa
• Hong
• Khanh
• Lan
• Liem
• Nhung
• Duy
• Vũ Như Cẩn
• Thai Tanic
• Pho Sho
• Nguyễn Y Vân
• Gia Hạnh Phuc

Final word of funny Asian names

Funny Asian names comprise unique and creative usernames that individuals from Asia might use on social media platforms or in games. These names can often be a playful mix of cultural references, famous phrases, or puns that reflect the individual's sense of humour and identity.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke