Khmer Language Dog Names

If people are going to ask questions about your dog’s name due to the uniqueness of the language, then put a plan B in place. Plan B can be a dog in pop culture that shares the same name as your Khmer language dog name, giving you a talking point with people who ask. You still get to have that vital connection with Khmer, but without explaining it to someone who may not understand. Two dogs might fit that bill – Kanomjeen and Sam.

Kanomjeen is from the northeastern province of Thailand, Surin. That province is full of Khmer language-speaking people, thus cementing that connection. Kanomjeen hit the world stage in September 2017, after becoming a mother – or adopted mother – to kittens in Isaan. Chanyuth Srikeaw said a cat gave birth to three kittens at her home then abandoned them shortly after. Her dog, Kanomjeen, immediately took them into her care. While Kanomjeen keeps the kittens warm, safe, and mothered, Chanyuth feeds them milk from a spoon three times a day.

Another Khmer language dog name is Sam. Sam Rainsy, who speaks the Khmer language, is one of the most influential Cambodian politicians and is currently a minority leader of a political party. He also shares a name with a dog in pop culture who starred in the 2007 science fiction horror film called I Am Legend.

Sam is a German Shepherd that US Army virologist Robert Neville takes from his daughter shortly before she dies in a helicopter crash. Sam and Robert are now on a mission to find a cure for a deadly disease that has New York City in its grips. Sam is Robert’s only companion in a city where they are the only survivors. However, Sam ends up bitten by a mutant and Robert has to strangle her to avoid her turning into one. Sam, or Samantha, was played by a German Shepherd called Abbey.

Back in 2018, Abbey was still alive and well at 13, living her best life with her trainer, Steve Berens. Abbey is almost deaf but enjoys the simple things in life like a good bone and a fun ball. Steve trained her for the film, but always insisted she was as much a family pet as a trained dog actor. She formed a close connection with both Steve and Will Smith who played Robert Neville, and Will even made noises about adopting Sam (Abbey). However, he never approached Steve directly with this request.