Indonesian names
Encyclopedia
Indonesian names and naming customs reflect the multicultural and the polyglot
nature of a nation which is an archipelago
of over 17,000 islands. It is the world's fourth most populous nation comprising about 365 tribal-ethnic groups, making it unrivaled in terms of ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity. There are over sixty ethnic groups officially recognized in the country, each with their own culture
, customs
, and language
, with the Javanese being the largest single group (40%).
Mbak for a woman or girl of equal rank, Mas for a man with equal rank, that in Sumatran Malay or Minangkabau cultural sphere is corresponds to Abang (lit: 'older brother'). Also 'Gus' (from bagus) as used to address former president 'Gus Dur'
.
ns do not have family name
s as the West would understand them but, such names as are given, are geographically and culturally specific. Hence, names such as Supomo, Soeprapto, etc. beginning with "Su, Soe" and ending with an "o" are usually Javanese. In general, Indonesian names fall into one of the following categories (in order of popularity):
These categories of names are described below.
Naming also differs around the country, with many Javanese having only one name; North Sumatrans have clan names instead of family names; and some Chinese Indonesians have Chinese-style names. It is interesting to note that Indonesian telephone directories names are listed under first/given names, not under family names.
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema child of Suparman and Wulandari
The birth certificate of an extramarital child would bear only the mother's name.
On a school diploma, the child's name would be written as:
Gema child of Wulandari
On all other official documents (ID card, driver's license, and passport), only the child's name would appear:
Gema
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Pertiwi child of Suparman Perkasa and Wening Wulandari
On all other official documents, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Pertiwi
This would be analogous to English-speakers using their first and middle names but not their last names.
Example:
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Alatas child of Suparman Alatas and Wening Wulandari Asegaff
On all other official documents, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Alatas
) or putri (for female, means "daughter" in Sanskrit) appended.
Example:
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Suparmanputra child of Suparman and Wulandari
On all other official documents, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Suparmanputra
This would be somewhat analogous to the practice in Iceland
, where only patronymics are used.
Occasionally, the father's name will be used as the surname, without appending putra/putri (e.g., Gema Suparman). This is considered unofficial, since it does not match what is on the birth certificate. Despite being different from the official name, this format sometimes appears on government documents.
In the Netherlands, for example, a person without an official family name would be given the surname Onbekend (which means Unknown). Individuals with multiple-word names will often be given this surname, particularly if the last name on the birth certificate differs from the father's family name. Individuals with a distinct family name may also be given this surname if it is recorded differently on the birth certificate.
Referring to the examples above, a Netherlands ID card would record the individual's name as:
In Germany, the one-word name is used as both given name and surname. This is often displayed on official documents as Gema Gema or G. Gema.
In the U.S., there are generally three ways to deal with person with only single-word name.
individuals to change their names. This was a difficult balance because while the names were changed, laws continued to identify them as 'different' from indigenous Indonesian groups. Indonesian businessman Liem Sioe Liong, for example, had his name changed to Sudono Salim
. With Suharto's downfall came new laws, one of which allowed the Chinese to revert to Chinese family names,
Many of the later generations have kept the Indonesian form of the name. Other Chinese Indonesians, however, maintain their Chinese name as well as their family names. As is customary with Chinese names, the family name (or surname) is traditionally written in front of the given (or first) name.
Some of these sanskrit derived names might be used by ningrat or menak (nobles) families in fashion similar to family name in western culture to indicate lineage and nobility; such as Adiningrat, Notonegoro, Suryasumantri, Dharmokusumo, Wongsoatmodjo, Kusumaatmadja, Kartadibrata, Kartapranata and Kartasasmita.
, the daughter of former President Sukarno
. However, it is common for the father's name alone to form the child's surname (for instance, 'Ali Ahmad' from the father 'Ahmad Sudharma').
, especially stories revolving around the centrality of Muhammad
's first employer and subsequent wife, Khadija.
In Sundanese culture
it is common that the nickname or calling name later would become integrated as the first name. For example someone was born with the name Komariah, Gunawan or Suryana written in their birth certificate. Later they acquired nicknames such as Kokom for Komariah, Gugun or Wawan for Gunawan, and Yaya or Nana for Suryana; as the result the nickname become the first name thus creating rhyming names such as Kokom Komariah, Wawan Gunawan, and Nana Suryana.
Polyglot
Polyglot may refer to:*Polyglot , someone who uses many languages*Polyglot , a book that contains the same text in more than one language*Polyglot , a computer program that is valid in more than one programming language...
nature of a nation which is an archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
of over 17,000 islands. It is the world's fourth most populous nation comprising about 365 tribal-ethnic groups, making it unrivaled in terms of ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity. There are over sixty ethnic groups officially recognized in the country, each with their own culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
, and language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
, with the Javanese being the largest single group (40%).
Honorifics
In addition to the usual ranks and professional titles, it is customary to add Pak or Bapak and Saudara for addressing men, and Bu or Ibu for addressing women. Pak and Bapak are literally translated as "father", with Bapak being the more formal. Saudara is a term of greater respect and formality, literally translated as "kinsman". Ibu is literally translated as "mother" and is used in speech much like the English words "ma'am" and "lady". If a person's name is unknown, it is possible to call an Indonesian man Bapak or an Indonesian woman Ibu. Another informal way in addressing older people is to call them Om and Tante, which mean "uncle" and "aunt". The terms are Dutch-influenced and quite commonly used in big cities. However, local honorifics continue to be employed throughout Indonesia, such as the JavaneseJavanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
Mbak for a woman or girl of equal rank, Mas for a man with equal rank, that in Sumatran Malay or Minangkabau cultural sphere is corresponds to Abang (lit: 'older brother'). Also 'Gus' (from bagus) as used to address former president 'Gus Dur'
Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
.
Naming forms
Indonesians do not generally use the Western naming practice of a given first name and a family last name. The majority of IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
ns do not have family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
s as the West would understand them but, such names as are given, are geographically and culturally specific. Hence, names such as Supomo, Soeprapto, etc. beginning with "Su, Soe" and ending with an "o" are usually Javanese. In general, Indonesian names fall into one of the following categories (in order of popularity):
- A single name, such as SukarnoSukarnoSukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
and Suharto - Two (or more) names without a family nameFamily nameA family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
, such as Susilo Bambang YudhoyonoSusilo Bambang YudhoyonoSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004.... - Two (or more) names with a family nameFamily nameA family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
such as Abdul Haris NasutionAbdul Haris NasutionIn this Indonesian name, the name "Nasution" is a family name, and the person should be referred to by the family name "Nasution".Abdul Haris Nasution was an Indonesian general who was twice appointed Army Chief of Staff and who escaped an assassination attempt during the...
or Mahyadi PanggabeanMahyadi PanggabeanMahyadi Panggabean is an Indonesian footballer. He normally plays as a left wing back, but he can also be a real midfielder and his height is 178 cm. He plays for the Indonesia national football team and he was injured in their first game in group D in the AFC Asian Cup 2007 for Indonesia... - Two (or more) names with a patronymicPatronymicA patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
, such as Megawati SukarnoputriMegawati SukarnoputriIn this Indonesian name, the name "Sukarnoputri" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name "Megawati"....
or Abdurrahman WahidAbdurrahman WahidAbdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
These categories of names are described below.
Indonesian naming system
Until recently, most Indonesians did not have family names. Their 'surname' was merely another personal name. Usually, men and women have a given name and take the name of their father. Some married Indonesian women take the last/family name of their husband, but not all, and this name is usually added after their own 'last' name. Therefore, it is not uncommon for married couples to have different last/family names.Naming also differs around the country, with many Javanese having only one name; North Sumatrans have clan names instead of family names; and some Chinese Indonesians have Chinese-style names. It is interesting to note that Indonesian telephone directories names are listed under first/given names, not under family names.
Example 1: Single word name
Example:- Child's name: Gema
- Father's name: Suparman
- Mother's name: Wulandari
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema child of Suparman and Wulandari
The birth certificate of an extramarital child would bear only the mother's name.
On a school diploma, the child's name would be written as:
Gema child of Wulandari
On all other official documents (ID card, driver's license, and passport), only the child's name would appear:
Gema
Example 2: Multiple word name without family name
Example:- Child's name: Gema Pertiwi
- Father's name: Suparman Perkasa
- Mother's name: Wening Wulandari
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Pertiwi child of Suparman Perkasa and Wening Wulandari
On all other official documents, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Pertiwi
This would be analogous to English-speakers using their first and middle names but not their last names.
Example 3: Multiple word name with family name
As was demonstrated in Example 1 above, only the child's name will appear on official documents. If the parents want a family name (or surname) to appear on these documents, the family name should be included in the child's official name.Example:
- Child's name: Gema Alatas
- Father's name: Suparman Alatas
- Mother's name: Wening Wulandari Asegaff
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Alatas child of Suparman Alatas and Wening Wulandari Asegaff
On all other official documents, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Alatas
Example 4: Multiple word name with patronymic family name
The family name is usually constructed from the father's name, with the word putra (for male, means "son" in SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
) or putri (for female, means "daughter" in Sanskrit) appended.
Example:
- Child's name: Gema Suparmanputra
- Father's name: Suparman
- Mother's name: Wulandari
On the birth certificate, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Suparmanputra child of Suparman and Wulandari
On all other official documents, the child's name would be written as:
Gema Suparmanputra
This would be somewhat analogous to the practice in Iceland
Icelandic name
Icelandic names differ from most current Western family name systems by being patronymic in that they reflect the immediate father of the child and not the historic family lineage....
, where only patronymics are used.
Occasionally, the father's name will be used as the surname, without appending putra/putri (e.g., Gema Suparman). This is considered unofficial, since it does not match what is on the birth certificate. Despite being different from the official name, this format sometimes appears on government documents.
Modifications to the name outside of Indonesia
Countries often modify the official Indonesian name to conform to their typical naming standards. This is most apparent where individuals normally have a family name.In the Netherlands, for example, a person without an official family name would be given the surname Onbekend (which means Unknown). Individuals with multiple-word names will often be given this surname, particularly if the last name on the birth certificate differs from the father's family name. Individuals with a distinct family name may also be given this surname if it is recorded differently on the birth certificate.
Referring to the examples above, a Netherlands ID card would record the individual's name as:
- Example 1: Gema Onbekend
- Example 2: Gema Pertiwi Onbekend
- Example 3: Gema Alatas Onbekend or Gema Alatas
- Example 4: Gema Suparmanputra Onbekend
In Germany, the one-word name is used as both given name and surname. This is often displayed on official documents as Gema Gema or G. Gema.
In the U.S., there are generally three ways to deal with person with only single-word name.
- Use his/her name as his/her surname, then the official records (ID or Driving Licenses or school records) added FNU (or Fnu) as their first name. This can lead to a false belief that Fnu is a common Indonesian first name.
- Use his/her name as his/her first name, then the official records (ID or Driving Licenses or school records) added LNU (or Lnu) as their surname. This can also lead to another false belief that Lnu is a common Indonesian surname. In some cases "FNU" will be added after the name, then standing for "Family Name Unknown".
- Use his/her name as his/her first name and surname, such as Gema Gema.
Chinese names
Under President Suharto, Indonesia attempted to deconstruct organisations and groups that might represent an internal security threat. As a part of the policy to limit the influence of the Chinese Communists and to encourage the ethnic Chinese to assimilate, the state required Chinese IndonesianChinese Indonesian
Chinese Indonesians, also called the Indonesian Chinese, are an overseas Chinese group whose ancestors emigrated from China to Indonesia, formerly a colony of the Netherlands known as the Dutch East Indies...
individuals to change their names. This was a difficult balance because while the names were changed, laws continued to identify them as 'different' from indigenous Indonesian groups. Indonesian businessman Liem Sioe Liong, for example, had his name changed to Sudono Salim
Sudono Salim
Sudono Salim , also known as Liem Sioe Liong, is a Chinese Indonesian businessman of Hokchia origin. He was once considered the richest individual in Indonesia. He was the head of the conglomerate Salim Group before turning over its management to his youngest son Anthony in 1992.-Early life:Salim...
. With Suharto's downfall came new laws, one of which allowed the Chinese to revert to Chinese family names,
Many of the later generations have kept the Indonesian form of the name. Other Chinese Indonesians, however, maintain their Chinese name as well as their family names. As is customary with Chinese names, the family name (or surname) is traditionally written in front of the given (or first) name.
Arabic names
The descendants of Arabs settled in Indonesia many generations ago still used their family names (e.g. Assegaf, Alhabsyi, Shihab). Since Islam is the largest religion in Indonesia, it is quite common to find Arabic first names or words (e.g. Amir, Rashid, Saiful, Bahar) being used by Indonesians, both as first names and surnames.Sanskrit derived names
Indonesians from various religions, especially Javanese, Sundanese and Balinese might have Sanskrit derived names — names that may sound Hindu-influenced. Hindu mythologies, names, etc. are seen as part of the Indonesian culture and not associated with the religion only. As the result it is common to have muslim Indonesian with seemingly hindu names. Some of first names are derived from sanskrit and is the popular name of Indian Hindu gods or heroes; such as Indra, Bayu, Surya, Dharma, Krisna, Wisnu, Rama, Lakshmana, Sudarto (Javanese for Siddharta), Susilo, Dewi, Sri, Laksmi, Shinta (Javanese for Sita), Kumala, Hapsari (Javanese for Apsara) and Ratih.Some of these sanskrit derived names might be used by ningrat or menak (nobles) families in fashion similar to family name in western culture to indicate lineage and nobility; such as Adiningrat, Notonegoro, Suryasumantri, Dharmokusumo, Wongsoatmodjo, Kusumaatmadja, Kartadibrata, Kartapranata and Kartasasmita.
Western names
Baptismal Latin names (e.g. Johannes, Paulus, Antonius, Anastasia) are mostly used by Indonesians of Roman Catholic religion (Many Indonesian Roman Catholics have some given names similar to Indonesian Muslims: Fatima, Omar, and Soraya. These are given by Portuguese who first colonized the islands and are common in Portugal, which, like Indonesia, came under Arab influence), while Protestant adherents tend to choose the English versions (e.g. George, Harry, John, Stephanie, Melinda). Due to the influence of Western popular culture and celebrities, many non-Christian Indonesians also have shortened Western names (e.g. Courtney, Tony, Julie), so some combinations like Ricky Hidayat (Western-Arabic) or Lucy Wiryono (Western-Javanese) are to be found as well.Local family names
Traditionally, there are few Indonesian ethnic groups or tribes whose people maintain family names. These include- The BataksBatak (Indonesia)Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...
of SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538... - The Minangkabau of SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
- People from ManadoManadoManado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
and other parts of North SulawesiNorth SulawesiNorth Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is... - People from Ambon and the Molucca Islands
- Tribes in the Eastern Lesser Sunda Islands (East Nusa TenggaraEast Nusa TenggaraEast Nusa Tenggara is a province of Indonesia, located in the eastern portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, including West Timor. The provincial capital is Kupang, located on West Timor...
) - Tribes in the islands off the west of Sumatra (mainly NiasNiasNīas is an island off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Nias is also the name of the archipelago, containing the Hinako archipelago....
)
Patronymic family names
The Indonesian patronymic family name is usually constructed of the father's name, with the word putra (for male) or putri (for female) appended. One famous example is former Indonesian President Megawati SukarnoputriMegawati Sukarnoputri
In this Indonesian name, the name "Sukarnoputri" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name "Megawati"....
, the daughter of former President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
. However, it is common for the father's name alone to form the child's surname (for instance, 'Ali Ahmad' from the father 'Ahmad Sudharma').
Matronymic family names
Located in Western Sumatra, the Minangkabau are the largest matrilineal culture in the world and the fourth largest ethnic group in Indonesia. Tribe, clan (or suku) titles, properties and names are all handed down through the female line. A man's children are not his clan's heirs. Instead, they are heirs of his wife's clan. When a man dies, he has to leave his possession of clan properties to the children of his sisters. The grandmother is the ultimate matriarch and a power figure. Although the Minangkabau are Muslim, their customs are unique and unusual in a state with a predominantly Muslim culture. Most such matriachial customs are justified by tradition, although they are sometimes supported by examples from the sira of the Prophet MuhammadMuhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, especially stories revolving around the centrality of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
's first employer and subsequent wife, Khadija.
'Nicknames'
It is uncommon - sometimes even considered rude - to refer to an Indonesian by their full first name, unless that name has only one or two syllables. Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid, for example, had the 'Abdurrahman' shortened to 'Dur'; it would sound excessively formal to call him 'Abdurrahman'. Many Indonesians use a different name altogether; a woman born as 'Khadijah' may be known as 'Ida' or 'Ijah' to all her friends and family.In Sundanese culture
Sundanese people
The Sundanese are an ethnic group native to the western part of the Indonesian island of Java. They number approximately 31 million, and are the second most populous of all the nation's ethncities. The Sundanese are predominantly Muslim...
it is common that the nickname or calling name later would become integrated as the first name. For example someone was born with the name Komariah, Gunawan or Suryana written in their birth certificate. Later they acquired nicknames such as Kokom for Komariah, Gugun or Wawan for Gunawan, and Yaya or Nana for Suryana; as the result the nickname become the first name thus creating rhyming names such as Kokom Komariah, Wawan Gunawan, and Nana Suryana.
External links
- Indonesian Baby Names - Indonesian Baby Names with meanings.