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The land which is known as "Arakan" by the foreigners is called by its own people "Rakhaing". The word "Rakhaing" is derived from Pali word "Rakkha Pura", the village of "Rakkhas". The Arakanese chronicles mentioned the settlement of a savage people called "Beeloo" that stands for Pali word "Rakkha" or "Rakhasas". In the Arakanese Princess Yaingcrong or Egin (cradle song) composed by royal poet Fadu Mong Nyo during the reign of Ba Saw Phru (1459-1482 A.D.), it was mentioned that "Rakhaing" was being called as the beeloos (Rakhasas) were defeated.

The name "Rakhaing" is of much antiquity. Rakhaing are aboriginals of Arakan. Thus the home of Rakhaing was known to be "Rakkha Pura" or "Rakhaing Pray". The term "Arakan" is a derivation of "Rakhaing". Some Chittagongnian Bengali Muslims claim that the terms "Arakan" derives from Arabic word "Al-Rukun" and try to designate "Arakan" as "Arikistan". It means just to put the Arabic dress on the Buddhist monks.

In the Anandachhandra inscription on line 40 of northern face, the word "Arakhadesa" appears meaning the land of Arakha. In fact the word "Rakhaing" (Rakhine) was derivation of "Rakkhas" and so was "Arakan" of "Rakhaing". Thus the word "Arakan" or "Arakanese" stands for only "Rakhaing".

Bengali Muslims called "Rakhaing" as "Roang or Roshang" which are a corruption of Rakhaing, the indigenous name of Arakan. In colloquial Chittagong dialect "Arakan" is called as "Rohang" "sh" being placed by "h". Philologists believe that the term "Rohang" derived from "Rakhaing". "Rohang" is a Tibeto-Burmese term which according to philologists means "Rakhaing". In the medieval Bengali literature a number of words like "Rohang, Rosang and Rakhan" are found. All these words denote "Rakhaing (Rakhine)" which is the national identity of Arakanese. To the Portuguese, other European travelers and chroniclers, it is Racom, Rakan, Arracam, Aracao, Orrakan, Arrakan and Arakan.

Magh (Bengali name) for Arakanese is commonly applied to the inhabitants of Arakan particularly those living near the Bengal district of Chittagong. There seems to some truth in the word being derived from "Maghad" of India. The word "Magh" is allied to Sanskrit "Magh" meaning "Superior". "Mang" meaning husband in Chittagong dialect may have connection with Arakanese "Maung". The name "Magh" is invariably applied to both Arakanese and Bengali Buddhists. Every Magh is not Arakanese. Magh belongs to these main groups, Barua Magh, Jumia Magh, Firingi Magh and Roang or Rakhaing Magh. It is wrong to call the Mongoloid Arakanese as Magh who by association have been Known as Magh.

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