Names have been given to Cambodia so many times over the last few decades thus there are logical justification for confusion. For the Cambodian people, Kampuchea is their country. The name derived from the word Kambu-ja, meaning “those born of Kambu”, the mythical founder of the country.  It dates back as far as the 10^th century.  The Portuguese “Camboxa” and the French “Cambodge”, from which the English name Cambodia is derived, are adaptations of “Kambu-ja”. Since gaining independence in 1953, the country has been given so many names before coming back to its original.

Kingdom of Cambodia

• - Le Royaume du Cambodge in French

Khmer Republic

• - 1970 to 1975

• - Lon Nol

Democratic Kampuchea

• - 1975 to 1979

• - Khmer Rough

People’s Republic of Kampuchea

• - 1979 to 1989

• - Heng Samrin, Chea Sim and Hun Sen

State of Cambodia

• - L’Etat du Cambodge in French

• - 1989 to May 1993

• - Heng Samrin, Chea Sim and Hun Sen

Kingdom of Cambodia

• - Le Royaume du Cambodge in French

• - May 1993 to Present, General Election