Chantha is a Khmer feminine given name derived from Pali canda, meaning "moon", which ultimately originates from Sanskrit चन्द्र (candra). The name is closely related to the unisex Chan, a common Khmer short form, as well as to names in other South and Southeast Asian languages, such as Telugu Chandra, Hindi Chander, and Burmese San, Sanda, and Sandar, all of which derive from the same lunar root. As a lunar name, Chantha evokes qualities commonly associated with the moon across Asian cultures: beauty, calmness, and radiance. In Cambodia, names with celestial meanings are traditional, and Chantha (sometimes modernized as Chan) remains in common use, found among all ages and social levels. The name also appears outside Cambodia. In Thailand, the similar Chanthra or Chan (from Sanskrit candra) is used for both genders. Additionally, a 1995 Malayalam-language Indian film titled Chantha (meaning “marketplace”) exists, though it is unrelated to the personal name and represents a different lexical root in Malayalam. For the Khmer name, the asterisk body redirects to explicit use in given-name contexts. Etymology The Semitic element canda came into Khmer via Pali as a borrowing of Sanskrit candra, linking the name to the lunar vocabulary circle shared across many Indo-Aryan and Southeast Asian cultures. In modern Cambodian naming conventions, the form Chan is more frequently given than Chantha outright, though the longer variant persists in birth records particularly in rural areas and among older generations. Meaning: Moon Origin: Sanskrit (via Pali) Type: Feminine given name Usage regions: Cambodia Related names in other languages: Chandra, Chander, San, Sanda, Sandar