Bangkok’s original name has 168 characters

Did you know that the city with the world’s longest official name is also one of the most famous cities on Earth?

Interestingly, the name by which most people know this city is not its official name. The city is Bangkok, the capital of Thailand whose full ceremonial name consists of 168 characters.

If you ever visit Thailand, you are unlikely to hear local residents recite the full name as even many of them cannot remember it.

The city’s full ceremonial name is Krungthepmahanakhonamonrattanakosinmahintharaayuthayamahadilokphopnoppharatratchathaniburiromudomratchaniwetmahasathanamonpimanawatansathitsakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit.

Bangkok’s official ceremonial name is recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest place name in the world.

If you find it impossible to remember, you’re certainly not alone. The city also has a shorter official name in Thai: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon which is commonly shortened further by locals to simply Krung Thep.

In 2022, the Thai government announced that both Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and Bangkok would be accepted as official Romanized names for the capital.

The 168-character ceremonial name is derived from Sanskrit and Pali and its shorter form roughly translates to “The Great City of Angels.” However, historians are still uncertain why such an extraordinarily long ceremonial name was originally adopted.

How did name “Bangkok” come about?

According to popular accounts, the name Bangkok predates the establishment of the city as Thailand’s capital. It is believed to have originated from the area’s former village or district name possibly derived from the Thai words “Bang” (a village or riverside settlement) and “Makok” referring to a type of wild plum or olive tree that once grew abundantly in the area.

Over time, the name Bang Makok is thought to have evolved into Bangkok, the name by which the city became known internationally.