Thai royal and noble titles

The Thai royal and noble titles signify distance of the bearers to the King. The system is somewhat complicated and usually not well understood even by most Thai people. A particular title may not be confined to just the beginning or the end of the name, but may be split across the name as will be demonstrated. Another point of note about the titles is that the King has the power to bestow any title on anybody, regardless of the rule. However, such promotion is personal and the children of the person will not normally benefit from it (see, for example, Phra Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao).

Title of a wife to a prince

Wives of the princes also have titles. Again, this depends on the titles of both sides.

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Phra Chaya

Phra Chaya (พระชายา) is a princess who married to either Chao Fa or Phra Ong Chao. She would retain her own title. When referring to her as a wife of the prince, she may be called "Phra Chaya Nai ".

Related Topics:
Princess - Chao Fa - Phra Ong Chao

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Chaya

Chaya (ชายา) is a princess who married to a Mom Chao. Again, she would retain her own title. When referring to her as a wife of the prince, she may be called "Chaya Nai ".

Related Topics:
Princess - Mom Chao

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Mom (wife)

Mom (หม่อม) in this context is a commoner who married to a prince. She will use this title to prefix her name and add the word Na Ayudhya to her new surname, for example: Mom Sriras Mahidol Na Ayudhya (a wife of Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn, whose surname is Mahidol). When referring to her as a wife of the prince, she may be called "Mom Nai ".

Related Topics:
Na Ayudhya - Chao Fa - Maha Vajiralongkorn

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