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Indonesia is an archipelago of 17,000 islands, only 6,000 of which are inhabited, that extends in an arc along the equator. It is the fourth most populous nation in the world (about 242 million) comprising about 365 tribal-ethnic groups, making it unrivaled in terms of ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity. Their naming customs and the use of names match this polycultural, polyglot environment.
Indonesia
The Indonesian people are generally of Malay origin, but there are over sixty ethnic groups recognised in the country, each with their own culture, customs, and language, with the Javanese being the largest single group (45%). While comparatively small, the ethnic Chinese minority (3 million - 1.5%) has an important economic influence, and so it has been subject to periodic bouts of ethnic (economic) jealousy from Malay-origin Indonesians.
Honorifics
In addition to the usual ranks and professional titles, it is customary to add pak or bapak and saudara for addressing men, and 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 you do not know a person's name, you can address an Indonesian man as Bapak or an Indonesian woman as Ibu.
Naming forms
Indonesians do not generally use the Western naming practice of a given first name and a family last name. The majority of Indonesians do not have family names 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 Sukarno
- Two (or more) names without a family name, such as Rudy Hartono
- Two (or more) names with a family name such as Abdul Haris Nasution or Liem Swie King
- Two (or more) names with a patronymic family name, such as Megawati Sukarnoputri
These categories of names are described below.
Indonesian naming system
Until recently, most Indonesians do not have family names. 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; 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 son (or daughter) of Suparman and Wulandari
The birth certificate of an extra-marital child would bear only the mother's name.
On a school diploma, the child's name would be written as: Gema son (or daughter) of Suparman
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 son (or daughter) 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 Americans 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 son (or daughter) 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) or putri (for female) 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 son 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 Russia, where the middle name is the patronymic (vich and vna being the suffixes used). However, Russians still have family names. Perhaps a better comparison would be the system 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.
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.
Origin of family names in Indonesia
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 Indonesian Chinese 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 Indonesian Chinese, 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 descendents of Arabs who settled in Indonesia many generations ago still used their family names (e.g. Assegaf, Alhabsyi, Shihab).Local family name
Traditionally, there are few Indonesian nations or tribes whose people do maintain family names. These include: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 Sukarnoputri, the daughter of former President Sukarno.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. Titles, property and family names are all handed down through the female line. A man's children are not his heirs. Instead, he leaves his possessions to the children of his eldest sister. The grandmother is the ultimate matriarch and power figure. Such customs are unusual in a state with a predominently Muslim culture.External links
- Indonesian Baby Names - Indonesian Baby Names with meanings.
"Indonesian names"