The Mien People are from the mountains between Viet Nam and Cambodia. A bunch ended up in Oakland California and have been my students for years. Truly wonderful folks with exotic habits of child-naming.

name pronounced meaning
Kao. “cow” first born son
Kao Poo “cow-poo” second son
Mei “may” first daughter
Farm “farm” second daughter

(Note: This is a complete list of traditional Mien names, until you get to about your fifth kid.)

The Mien’s only have 12 last names. In Oakland, they only seem to have four, Saechao, Saelee, Saephong, Saepharn.

I have had classes with three boys named Kao Saechao. I have had classes where the calling the roll was something like singing “Old McDonald” Farm, Kao, Kao, Farm, Kao Poo, e-i-e-i-o.

Now throw in a few Dungs, the Laquieshas and D’Antes, and a Mongolia Algonkonkorn Buokongikon, and a Thai: Sirasak Tassanasuvanic.

Thank goodness Algonkonkorn Buokongikon interrupted me as I butchered his name and quickly said, “Call me Billy.”

-PWB