Phuket Gazette, Queer Clips

"In some places a person who frequently changes his or her name might fall under suspicion of illegal activity. But in Ubon Ratchathani ProvinceтАЩs Phibun Mungsaharn District it is the pillars of society тАУ school teachers and other career bureaucrats тАУ who change their names most often.

Teachers in the district have been heading for the local registrarтАЩs office in droves to change their names, hoping the personal re-branding will bring them improved fortune тАУ such as through promotions or pay rises at work. Aram Somsuay, an accountant with the Ubon Ratchathani Educational Area District 3 Office, said teachers in Phibun Mungsaharn District were among the most prolific name changers. тАЬSome teachers had already changed both their given names and family names four times, persuading their family members to do the same,тАЭ he said.

One entire family that had recently undergone a complete name change , with better reason than most, were the surviving relatives of deceased Tessabaan 1 School English teacher Dissanee Thongnarkthae, who was murdered and dismembered earlier this month in Bangkok by a Pakistani man she met in an on-line chat room, he noted.
Niyom Saisena, Director of Tessabaan 1 School in Ban Potiklang, Phibun Mungsaharn District, said that more than 20 of the schoolтАЩs 55 teachers had changed both their first and last names at least once at the advice of a colleague who is also a fortune teller.

тАЬAs a result, I find it hard to remember their names, so now I just call them by their nicknames,тАЭ the Director confessed. тАЬIt isnтАЩt just in schools, though; itтАЩs common in all civil service departments,тАЭ he said.

One man who reported positive results from such a name change was teacher Jakkrapan Chaiyingkijsiri, who began life as Somchai Chaiying before going through three name changes. тАЬBefore I changed my name I was quick-tempered and moody. After changing names I have calmed down somewhat,тАЭ he said.

A source in the district registrarтАЩs office revealed that in the first half of May alone, more than 100 people had come to the office to change their names.

He noted, however, that among this number were quite a few people who had already changed their names as many as four times and were now changing back to the names their parents had given them at birth."

Source: Kom Chad Luek

I have not noticed any difference

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