What was Thailand before it called Thailand?

The area that is now known as Thailand has had various names throughout history. Before it was officially named Thailand in 1939, the country was commonly referred to by its exonym Siam. The name Siam was first used by Westerners in the 16th century to refer to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which was the dominant kingdom in the region at that time. The name Siam is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "shyāma," meaning "dark" or "brown," likely referring to the dark skin color of the region's inhabitants.

The endogenous name for the country was Mueang Thai (เมืองไทย). The word "Thai" is derived from the ethnonym Tai, which refers to the Tai peoples who migrated to the region from southern China. The term "mueang" means "city" or "country," so Mueang Thai literally translates to "Thai country."

In 1939, the government of King Rama VII officially changed the country's name from Siam to Thailand. The change was made as part of a nationalistic movement to promote Thai identity and to reflect the country's cultural heritage. The name Thailand was chosen because it was derived from the endogenous Mueang Thai and was considered more appropriate and representative of the country.