Khmer male names come from the Khmer language, with many elements borrowed from Pali and Sanskrit through Theravada Buddhist influence. A common structural feature is final consonant endings such as -th, -n, and -y, and short two-syllable forms. Male names often include elements like Rith or Vuth (as in Rithy, Pravuth, Monirath) and compounds such as Sovann- and Ratanak, which are widely used for boys.

Modern usage in Cambodia typically places the family name first, followed by a single given name. Romanized spellings vary. Many Khmer given names are unisex, and male and female patterns are similar, aside from the more frequent -th and -y endings in male names.