The name “ Nene Royal ” (Nene Royal) has become increasingly familiar to fans both in Thailand and abroad after the young rock singer from Phuket made her mark on the stage of America’s Got Talent 2026 and ultimately won the championship. However, many may not know that “ Nene ” was not her original nickname, and the stage name “Nene Royal” has an interesting backstory.
Before becoming known as “ Nene Royal ,” her real name is Rattikan Amlai and her original nickname was “ Praew .” She once shared the origin of her name on the B BLOOM PODCAST EP.27 which revealed that the name people recognize today came about during her musical journey.
“ Nene ” whose real name is Rattikan Amlai and original nickname is Praew. She performed street music at Naka Market in Phuket. As she gained more international fans, many foreigners found it difficult to pronounce “ Praew ,” leading to the creation of a new name that is short, easy to remember, and easy to pronounce for people of many nationalities.
“Foreigners couldn’t pronounce my name properly. They said it like 'Praw!' or 'Preaw!' So I thought I needed an English name. That's why I chose Nene because it’s cute—I picked it myself.”
Many also wonder about the surname “ Royal ,” which Nene explained comes from the night market where she performed—Jaofa Variety Market (also known as Naka Market), one of the largest markets in Phuket. This inspired the surname in her current stage name.
“The name Royal comes from the market. Naka Market was originally called Jaofa Variety Market. So early on, my nickname was Praew Jaofa, but later I changed it to Nene Royal.”
Thus, her music industry nickname changed from Praew Jaofa to Nene Royal in the end. She chose the name “ Nene ” herself because she thought it was cute. It then became her stage name, replacing her original nickname, mainly to make it easier for international audiences to pronounce.
From the girl nicknamed “Praew” who started her music journey playing guitar and singing at markets in Phuket, today the name “Nene Royal” is known to audiences worldwide after she deliveredpowerful rock performances with five hit songs on America’s Got Talent 2026.She impressed with both her vocals and musical skill, ultimately winning the championship.
The story behind her name reflects Nene’s journey well, as the name was created to be easily pronounced and remembered by international viewers. Today, “ Nene Royal ” ( Nene Royal) has become an artist name that traveled from small stages in Phuket to one of the world’s biggest stages, and it is expected to remain a name fans will continue to follow in her future music career.
Source:B BLOOM PODCAST EP.27
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