Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

Pen Names

• Maung Ngwe Hlinne / Saya U Thet Lwin (Registrar)

• Tekaktho Moe War / Saya U Moe Aung (EE63)

• Kogyi Kaung / Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt (A67, GBNF)

• Hlaing Phyo / Lifelong Learner / U Hla Min (EC69)
• Yin Maung / Saya Dr. Taing Oke (ChE69)

• Chi Hte Nu Nu Kyaw / U Kyaw Htin (T69)
• Mon Yu / U Tin Htut (Harry, M69)
• Maung Hmut / U Khin Maung Aye (M69)
• Maung Aw / Saya U Aung (C70)
• Maubin Ma Shwe Than / Daw Than Yi (EP70)
• Ma Sandar / Daw Cho Cho Tin (A71)
• Zin Yaw / U Zaw Win (Min71)
• Okkpo Maung Yin Maung / Saya U Aung Myaing (ChE72)
• Ba Thein (Atlanta) / Dr. Myint Thein (M73)
• Maung Nyunt Htay (Ah Htet Min Hla) / Saya U Nyunt Htay (Met73)
• Ko Toe Hmit Che / U Toe Aung (C75)
• Maung Yit / Ko Maung Maung Win (EC93)

Nick Names

U Seit To and Myauk Nyo

• Cartoon characters
• According to Saya U Tin Myint (M80), the nicknames were given to two sayas by G-Hall Thu

Myauk Phyu

• White monkey

Ah Yan Kan

• Random kicking footballer

Bo Daw

• Could be sarcastic

Saya Maung

• Given by a girl to her teacher/boy friend

Tar Tay Gyi

• Reference to an actor for scary movies

Dauk Soe

• Dr. Soe Myint Win (GNBF) was called Dauk Soe by some students

Nyi Nyi & Pho Nyi

• Nyi Nyi may be used in a name
  e.g. Dr. Nyi Nyi
• Nyi Nyi and Pho Nyi are used as nicknames
  e.g. Than Htut (M67, RUBC Gold)

Sonny

• May be used in a name
  e.g. Sonny Yone Sein
• May also be used as a nickname
  e.g. “Sonny” Aung Myint, “Sonny” Soe Naing

Lake or Leit

Ko Win Maung (EE69er) represented RIT in Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo. He is a Back Stroke specialist. He swam the 2000 meters Cross-Lake with Back Stroke. He is known as “Lake” or “Leit” (Tortoise in reference to his Back Stroke swimming). Ko Htay Aung (M59, Burma Selected) and several others using Front Crawl finish quite ahead of Leit. Before graduation, he went to UK for license & training in air craft maintenance. He joined UBA/BAC. He is now an entrepreneur doing family business.

Khwet

Ko Sein Myint (K K Wong, EP69) represented RIT in Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo. Someone transformed his name “Kwet” into “Khwet”. He is a major donor of the 69er Health Care Fund and the EE69er HCF. After retirement, he spends time in Singapore, Yangon and California.

Htaw Kyin

Ko Htin Kyaw (Peter Wun, MEHS63) worked for the Institute of Economics and UCC before joining HIC and FERD. He was called “Htaw Kyin”. Some British could not pronounce his name. They called him “Ha Htin Coil”.

Kyein

Ko Kyaw Nyein (GBNF) taught Numerical Methods and Numerical Analysis at the UCC courses. He played soccer and volley ball. He was fondly called “Kyein”.

Bo Shoke

Ko Mya Thein (GBNF) taught at the Institute of Economics, UCC and IMBTU. He was originally called “Bogyoke” and later became known as “Bo Shoke”.

Ah Thay Lay

Ko Thein Oo taught at the Institute of Economics and UCC. His friends call me “Ah Thay Lay”. He was good at volleyball, table tennis and cards.

Ah Pho Gyi

• Ko Tin Maung Thant (son of UNSG U Thant) was fondly called Ah Pho Gyee by his PPBRS classmates
• Ko Han Sein (C69, GBNF)

Shwee

Ko Kyaw Zan Hein (C69, GBNF) was admitted to the 2nd BE in 1964 as Roll Number 14. There were no word processors in those days; only the use of cyclostyle (Gestener). So, when the person who was admitted as Roll Number 14, the Administrative Office typed in Shwee’s name instead. Some would call him Kyaw Zan Shwee.

Ngu Yin Kong Kee

• It is a Burmanized name of a Vietnamese General.
• Saya U Win Kyaing (GBNF) is the paternal uncle of Ko Maurice Chee (M75). Saya is often called Ngu Yin Kong Kee. He was also known as U Wah Kyaing, younger brother of U Wah Kyu.

Hna Khan Hmwe

• There are some who have notable mustache.
• One such person was Ko Khin Nyo, “Kyaung Tha Thadin Htauk (Student Reporter at RIT)”. According to Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70), he met — several decades later — Ko Khin Nyi without mustache in New York, USA

Pauk Si

Ko Hla Min (L T Gwan, SPHS64, EP70, GBNF) joined UCC as Chief Operator. He was called CO by his colleagues and “Pauk Si” by his close friends. His father loaned money to a Pauk Si vendor, who did not pay back the loan. At break time at SPHS, Ko Hla Min would get Pauk Si from the vendor.

Pauk Pauk

Ma Aye Aye Than (ChE72) is the sister of Sayama Dr. Hla Hla Sein (Maths) and Ma Myint Myint Sein (Diana, M70). Her friends called her Pauk Pauk.

Bu

Ko Myint Maung (EP69) is one of the youngest 69ers and one of the few remaining Eligible Bachelors. He represented RIT EE Department in Volleyball along with Saw Edison, Ko Aye Thein and Sa Maung Maung. He was fondly called “Bu” in reference to “Minbu” (his home town).

Shastri

Ko Khin Maung Myint (C69, GBNF) is called Shastri (former Prime Minister of India).

Ohn Thee

Ko Ohn Thwin (PPFC, GBNF) attended classes at UCC and BARB. He is called “Ohn Thee” (Coconut) by his friends.

May Pa Le

• “May Pa Le” is a two-handed compliment given to selected female RIT students.
  e.g. Daw Yee Yee Aung (EP67, EC member of RIT EE Association)
• It means Miss Pearl (a belle who is Pearly White).
• It’s concoction “Mae Pa Le” means “Wow. So dark [complexion]”.

Rocket

Saya U Ko Gyi was a Lecturing Tutor in Mathematics. He is known for reciting the first 100 digits of PI (a constant which is 3.14159265 …). He used Rocket as an example in his classes. For some reason, he named Ma Tin Tin Myint (Emma, ChE70) as “Rocket”. The classmates who witnessed the naming can provide details.

Emma Tin Tin Myint is co-founder of Triple Gems Publication. She is also co-founder of Dana Sri Lanka (DSL). She is called Mae Daw Gyi by the young monks studying in Sri Lanka.

La La

La La is a form of “Kala” or “Kular” (Person of dark color).

Some young dark skinned kids (e.g. Aye Win Hlaing (Abel, EE72)) are given the nickname “La La”.

Ajala

Ajala was a Nigerian student who led demonstrations in front of the US Embassy in Rangoon (in our younger days).

Moe Hein (ChE69) represented RIT in swimming and water polo. He has a loud voice (which is very helpful in supporting RIT athletes in the Inter-Institute Tournaments). He is fondly called Ajala by his close friends.

Maung Kabar

• Maung Kabar was an adorable Cartoon character.
• Those who have slightly round faces are called “Maung Kabar” or “Kabar”.
• According to Saya U Myat Htoo (C68), his classmate and fellow Saya U Myint Soe (SPHS64, C68) was named “Maung Kabar”.
• U Myint Thein (M69) is known as “Maung Kabar”, which shows up in his Obituary.

Bagyi Aung

• Bagyi Aung is a fictional character from Min Thu Wun’s short story.
• U Hla Aung (EP68) wrote : May I share our time nick names. May Pa Le is Yee Yee Aung (EP67). Her friend is Nancy Hla Aung. My nick name is Ba Gyi Aung.

Three Sizes

• In Mechanical Drawing, we learned about scales.
• One student gave the nicknames “Half size, Full size and Double size” to three female students.
• Two of them were Sayama Daw Mya Mya Than (EP68, “Full size”) and Daw Nyunt Nyunt Zaw (T68, “Double Size”, spouse of Victor Ohn Maung and brother of Ricky Zaw).

Sargalay and Lada

• Sargalay is a sparrow.
• Lada is a vulture
• Khin Maung Win (Sargalay, EP69) was the training partner for Sai Kham Pan (EP69, Burma Selected in Badminton). Kham Pan would give 10 – 12 points bonus to play a 15-point game.
• At a reunion, Daw Saw Yu Tint fondly addressed Khin Maung Win as Sargalay. He replied, “I am now a Lada”. He gained a lot of height from 2nd BE to Final Year.
• The nickname allows 69ers to differentiate KMW (Sargalay), KMW (Roland Thein), KMW (Donald Ba Pe) and KMW (ChE).
• Most 69ers might remember the cartoon by Kyant Ba Hone Aung Myint (Pet69).
  “Ah Ba. Kar Ku La Thin Char (Calculus) is very fascinating.
  If we differentiate a Lada, we get a Sargalay.
  If we integrate a Sargalay, we get a Lada.”

Kywei Gyi

• Kywei Gyi is a big, strong Buffalo.
• Ko Khin Maung Lay (Henry, T68) served as Secretary of the RIT Track and Field Association. He competed in 100 m, 200m, 4 x 100m relay and Long Jump (emulating Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics). He represented RIT in Track and Field, Soccer and Rowing. He is fondly called “Kywei Gyi” for his physical prowess. His elder brother Ko Khin Maung Latt (M63) represented the Faculty of Engineering in Rowing. His brothers-in-law include Saya Dr. Ba Lwin (EE59) and U Tin Myint (son of Arzani U Razak).

Mu Tu

Ko Khin Maung Lay (M70) represented RIT in soccer. He served as emcee (Master of Ceremonies) at the Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65. He is currently a member of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission. He is the younger son of U Khin Maung Latt (AFPFL Minister) and the brother of Saya U Khin Maung Gyi (English, GBNF).

Phone Gyi

Several alumni are called “Phone Gyi” (Monk) by their friends.

• Ko Tin Tun (SPHS63, M69) was my classmate since Std. IV(D) at SPHS. His mother Daw Tin Tin would come and feed him at lunch break.
  He studied and taught Marine Engineering.
• Ko Tin Shein (M69) reminded me that we were class mates at the 2nd BE English class of Saya Des and that he gave a talk on Chinlon. He represented RIT in Chinlon.
• Ko Soe Myint (M72, GBNF) volunteered as a Kappiya at the Kaba Aye Sun Lun Gu Kyaung. He also helped with the maintenance. He retired as Pro-Rector of ICST.

Chauk Pay

• Some tall students are called Chauk Pay (Six Footer).
• Ko Htein Win (Richard, M70) represented RIT in Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo, where he tended the goal at the Shallow End. He moved to Canada. He bought the tickets for SPZP-2000, but could not attend it due to a strike.

Ja Bu and Shorty

• Some short students are called Ja Bu (Midget) or Shorty.
• Ko Myint Sein (M70, GBNF) represented in Soccer.
• There were two Bohmus named “Shorty” Tin Myint.

Japan Gyi

• Some who were born during the Japanese Occupation were given Japan Gyi as their nick name.
• Ko Hla Tun (T69, GBNF) would end most sentences with an expletive. He told me that he was married to Dolly Gale (my primary school classmate and sister of Robert Gale (Khin Maung Oo, EC66)).

Cowboy

• Ko Tin Nwe (C69, GBNF) was a jovial person and was called Cowboy by his friends.
• Three Old Paulians — Ko Tin Nwe, Ko Min Thaw (Gilbert) and Ko Maung Maung Aye were involved in a car accident after an OPA dinner gathering, but they were not hurt seriously. Sadly, they are now all GBNF.

Duwa

• Duwa is a title for a Kachin Leader.
• Ko Zau Lai (EP69) spends time in Myitkyina and Yangon. He is an entrepreneur and a Kachin Leader. He often drove a long way from Myitkyina to attend the 69er gatherings.

Bei Oo

• Bei Oo is a “Duck Egg”. It may also stand for “Zero”.
• Ma Kyi Kyi Sein (T70) represented RIT in Badminton and Hiking.
  She is an organizer for the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.

Kyet Taw

I know some people named Kyet Taw. They may have “Taw” in their names.

• Ko Harry Taw (MEHS57) was a friend of my older brother.
• Dr. Nyan Taw (Dicky, SPHS63) was my neighbor for some time. We jogged, biked and rowed. He worked at RASU, Pearl and Fishery before moving overseas for assignments (e.g. in Indonesia). He invited me to the wedding receptions of his younger son and daughter.
• Ko Khin Maung Lwin is an organizer for the Class of 87 and 91. RIT was closed for three years. He also organized the Golf Tournament for the alumni. He served as Secretary of the Swel Daw Yeik Foundation.

Saya San

• Saya San is a revolutionary figure in the history of Burma.
• Saya [Ko] Maung San studied his Masters in the UK. He often shopped in the “Junior” section. He taught Geology at RIT and ABAC.
• I met Ko Aung Than (Saya San) at a meeting for the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65. He told me that he had to study for the last ever 7th Standard Government examination.

Gaing Gyi

• The Burmese sometimes pronounce “Kyaw” as “Gyaw”; “Kyee” as “Gyee” and “Khine” as “Gaing”.
• Ko Ohn Khine (M70) was named Ohn Gaing at St. Peter’s High School in Mandalay. He was called “Gaing Gyi” by some friends. He is the founder and moderator of the Google Group for the intake of 64 and 65. He volunteered for SPZP-2012, Shwe YaDu, SPZP-2016, SDYF, HMEE-2012 and HMEE-2016. He translated Section 1 and summarized Section 2 of the HMEE-2012 book. He and I compiled the CD supplement for the HMEE-2012 book.

Byte and R

• Byte may mean stomach or belly.
• R may mean “talkative”.
• Saya Dr. Tin Hlaing (M63) was called “Byte Tin Hlaing” and “R Tin Hlaing” by his friends to differentiate from the senior Saya U Tin Hlaing (M59, GBNF).
• Ko Kyaw Zin (EP69) was called “R Zin” by some of his friends.
• Ko Myint Soe (UCC) worked as Maintenance Technician in the Systems Division. He was called “Byte”.

Shwe Gaung Byaung

It is the name of a cartoon character. It literally means “Golden, Bald Head”. Toe Nyunt (Ted Mya Maung) starred in a movie of that name.

Ko Wynn Htain Oo (M72) is a super fund raiser is fondly known as “Shwe Gaung Byaung”. He is known as

• WHO (not World Health Organization)
• Shwe Gaung Byaung
• Hmaw Sayagyi
• Mg Mar Ga

Sa Yay

• Sa Yay may mean a Clerk.
• Sa Yay Gyi is a Senior Clerk.
• Saya Lay is a Junior Clerk.
• Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) was called “Sa Yay Lay” by his teacher Perrera (V Standard in St. Paul’s High School).
• In primary school, my spouse was told by her teacher that her hand writing looked like that of a “Sa Yay”. It motivated her to become a medical doctor.

Hanuman

• It is an Indian Diety.
• Ko Han Tun Maung (GBNF) was a star athlete at SPHS. He excelled in Track and Field, and Soccer. He was fondly called “Hanuman”. He served as President of Old Paulians Association, Kokkine Swimming Club, Equestrian and Archery Associations. His family owned a Stable with “Sein Hlyan” as a Champion horse. The family opened Sein Hlyan Cafe. The Intake of 65 meets monthly as the Cafe.

Mote Seit

• It may mean “Beard”.
• Myo Hein (69er) is fondly called Mote Seit by his friends.
• Reverend Frederich Ludwig (Buddhist Arch Bishop of Latvia and Lithuania) was fondly called “Moke Seit Phone Gyi”. He later shaved his beard and ordained as a Theravada monk with the title Ashin Ananda. He is a Laureate Poet.

Papu

• According to Dr. Tint Lwin (Goalkeeper of the Rangoon University Soccer Team), Collegian Nay Win was fondly called Papu by his coach and team mates.

Po Htaung and Po Maung

• Sons of Ko Khin Maung San (Tommy San, PBRS, GBNF)
• Nyunt Win (classmate of Tommy’s wife Lily at Darjeeling) liked the nicknames and used them in a movie.

Gyi

• Japan Gyi / Hla Tun (T69)
• Kyaw Gyi / Ko Kyi Win (EP69)
• Maw Gyi / Saya U Myat Htoo (C68)

EE69ers

• Ko Thein Swe (EP69) described nicknames of the EE69ers in his post.
• Example : So Si
  

RIT English Sayas and Sayamas

• Saya Des described some nicknames in his article.
• Examples : Byaing Ma, Ya Khine Gyi

• There are rules and restrictions for registering and using trade marks.
• There have been law suits to settle trademark violations.

Apple

• Apple Computers (in USA) was sued by Apple Music (in UK) for trademark violations.
• The judge decided that the name “Apple” was being used in two different industries.
  Little did he know that several decades later iTunes (owned by Apple Computers) would be playing the Beatles music (owned by Apple Music).

Google

• Google is an accidental misspelling of Googol.
• Googol is one followed by 100 zeroes.
  It signifies a very large number.

iPhone

• iPhone is a trade mark owned by Cisco.
• Apple has an agreement with Cisco to use it for its smart phones.

iPad

• iPad is a trade mark owned by Fujitsu.
• Apple has an agreement with Fujitsu to use it for its product.

Name change of products (to avoid Trademark violation)

• NPL (New Programming Language) was renamed by IBM as PL/1 (Programming Language One) due to protest by NPL (National Physical Laboratory)
• FOURTH was renamed as FORTH
• PEARL was renamed as PERL

Rules for Names

• When we were young, we were taught that a name should have a Christian name and a Surname.
• Later, we were told that a name should have a First Name, a Last Name and an optional Middle Name or Initial.
• Those rules do not apply to Burmese names.

Names with one word

Several well-known Burmese names have a single word. They include

• Thant (3rd Secretary General of the United Nations)
• Nu (1st Prime Minister of the Union of Burma)
• Thein (Journalist)
• Thaung (Journalist)
• Mya (Politicians and Entrepreneurs)

The names are prefixed with

• Maung
• Ko
• U
• Thakin
• Name of publication (e.g. Kyee Pwa Yay, Kyemon)
• Place (e.g. Hinthada, Pway Bwe).    

Names with two words

Most early Burmese names have two words. The names are chosen by parents and/or grand parents.

The names might comply with one of the common naming conventions.  For example, a Sunday born will have “Ah” (Sunday group) as the first word and “Ka, Kha, Ga Nge, Ga Gyi, Nga” (Monday group) as the second word.

The pattern is  DOW (Day of week) group followed by DOW + 1 (following Day of week) group.    

Examples :

• Aung Khin (for Sunday born)
• Kyaw Zaw (for Monday born)
• Soe Lwin (for Tuesday born)
• Hla Myint (for Wednesday born)
• Myint Thein (for Thursday born)
• Than Naing (for Friday born)
• Htay Aung (for Saturday born)

Naming Patterns

Another pattern is to have the same first and second words.    
Examples : Aung Aung, Khin Khin, Zaw Zaw, Hla Hla, Myint Myint, Than Than, Htay Htay    

Some siblings will have a common first name. For example, Ba Thein, Ba Tu, Ba Phyu    

Some siblings will have a common last name. For example, Myo Paing, Soe Paing, Win Paing, Kyaw Paing    

Names with three words

Some Myanmar/Burmese names have three words. The names may or may not comply with a naming convention :

For example, a Sunday born will have “Ta, Hta, Da Dwe, Da Oke Chike, Na Nge” (Saturday group) as the first word, “Ah” (Sunday group) as the second word and “Ka, Kha, Ga Nge, Ga Gyi, Nga” (Monday group) as the third word.

The pattern is DOW – 1 Group as first word, DOW as second word, and DOW + 1 as third word.   

Examples :

• Tun Aung Gyaw (for Sunday born)
• Aung Kyaw Zaw (for Monday born)
• Kyaw San Win (for Tuesday born)

Names with four or more words

• Thane Oke Kyaw Myint
• Khin Maung Thet Cho Oo (Cartoon character)

Names of siblings

Some siblings have the first two words in common.

Examples : 
Khin Maung U, Khin Maung Than and Khin Maung Win are named after their father U Khin Maung.

Khin Maung Gyi and Khin Maung Lay (Mutu) are named after their father H.E. U Khin Maung Latt (AFPFL).

Nicknames

There are some who are better known by their nicknames. They include

• A Pho Gyi (Han Sein)

• Ajala (Moe Hein)
• Bei Oo (Kyi Kyi Sein)
• Chauk Pay (Htein Win)
• Cowboy (Tin Nwe)
• Kabar (Myint Thein)
• La La (Aye Win Hlaing)
• Lake (Win Maung)
• Moke Saik (Myo Hein)
• Mutu (Khin Maung Lay)
• Sargalay (Khin Maung Win)
• Shwee (Kyaw Zan Hein)

• Ant and Aunt
• Aung and Oung
• Aunt and Ant
• Aye and E
  
• Bo and Boh
• Boh and Bo
  
• Din and Dyn
• Dyn and Din
  
• E and Aye
  
• Gyaw and Kyaw
• Gyi and Jee
  
• Hpyu, Phyu and Pyu
• Htain and Htein
• Htaik and Htike
• Htein and Htain
• Htike and Htaik
• Htoon, Htun and Tun
• Htut and Tut
• Htun, Htoon and Tun
  
• Jee and Gyi
  
• Kai and Khine
• Khin and Kin
• Khine and Kai
• Kin and Khin
• Kyaw and Gyaw
• Kyawe and Kywe
• Kywe and Kyawe
  
• Lin, Linn, Lyn and Lynn
• Linn, Lin, Lyn and Lynn
• Lyn, Lin, Linn and Lynn
• Lynn, Lin, Linn and Lyn
  
• Maung, Mg and Moung
• Mehm and Min
• Mg, Maung and Moung
• Min and Mehm
• Min and Minn
• Minn and Min
• Mo, Moe and Moh
• Moung, Maung and Mg
• Mra and Mya
• Mya and Mra
  
• Nay and Ne
• Ne and Nay
• Nyane and Nyein
• Nyein and Nyane
• Nyun and Nyunt
• Nyunt and Nyun
  
• Oo and U
• Oung and Aung
  
• Pay, Pe and Hpay
• Pe. Pay and Hpay
• Pike and Pyke
• Pyke and Pike
  
• Sain and Sein
• Sein and Sain
• So and Soe
• Soe and So
  
• Tha and Thar
• Than and Thann
• Thane and Thein
• Thar and Tha
• Thaung, and Thoung
• Thein and Thane
• Thoung and Thaung
• Tin and Tyn
• Tun, Htun and Htoon
• Tyn and Tin
  
• U and Oo
  
• Wai, Way and We
• Way, Wai and We
• We, Wai and Way
• Win, Winn and Wynn
• Winn, Win and Wynn
• Wint and Wynt
• Wynn, Win and Winn
• Wynt and Wint
  

• The Beatles founded Apple Music.
• Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers.
• Apple Music sued Apple Computers for trademark violation.
• The judge ruled that the two companies belonging to different domains could use the same name.
• Due to convergence of technologies (a few decades later), the Beatles’ music would be played on iTunes.

• Googol signifies a very large number.
  It stands for 1E100 (one followed by 100 zeroes.
• Google is an accidental misspelling of Googol.
  
• iPhone is a trade mark owned by Cisco.
• Apple made an agreement with Cisco to use iPhone for its smart phones.

• iPad is a trade mark owned by Fujitsu.
• Apple made an agreement with Fujitsu to use iPad for its product.