How did Bangkok Thailand get its name?

Bangkok was originally named Krung Thep (บางกอก) which means "City of Angels" in Thai. The city was founded by King Rama I in 1782 as the new capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. The full name of the city is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร) which translates to "Great City of Angels."

According to legend, when King Rama I was looking for a suitable place for his new capital, he came across a beautiful piece of land on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. There, he saw an angel with a staff standing on the river bank. The king took this as a sign that the place was blessed and decided to build his capital there.

Bangkok was also known as "Venice of the East" because of its many canals. However, many of these canals have been filled in over time to make way for roads and buildings. Today, Bangkok is a modern metropolis with a population of over 10 million people.