Indonesian Names

With the coming of the 3rd generation, fans are presented with a roster of new names. There will always be questions among foreign fans on how Indonesian names are structured, given the differences of culture that separate both worlds. In a more practical occasion, how do we come up with nickname for a particular person?

For the first question, it is safe to say that there is no particular convention that is generally accepted on how Indonesian parents name their babies. Every person brings with them their ethnic, religious, cultural and spiritual background, as a result of the diversity of cultures that characterize Indonesia. It becomes even more complicated for couples to name their babies when it comes to a mixed marriage between persons of different backgrounds. Most of the time, parents pick a name that ((( SOUNDS GOOD ))) to reflect their hopes for their babies’ future.

So to speak, whenever we meet a chain of names in an Indonesian personal name, we can assume that most of the time all those names are given names. Most nicknames come from any of those names.

►One given name : Natalia, Thalia

►Two given names : Delima Rizky, Ghaida Farisya, Rica Leyona, Sendy Ariani, Shania Junianatha, Cindy Yuvia, Della Delila, Noella Sisterina, Riskha Fairunissa, Shinta Naomi, Sinka Juliani, Viviyona Apriani, Saktia Oktapyani, Diasta Priswarini, Alissa Galliamova, Neneng Rosediana, Fahira (al-Idrus), Alissa Astri, Dellia Erdita, Nadhifa Karimah, Althea Callista, Nurhalima Oktavianti

►Three given names : Rezky Wiranti Dhike, Dwi Putri Bonita, Nadila Cindi Wantari, Ratu Vienny Fitrilya, Rona (Ariesta) Anggreani, Dena Siti Rohyati, Fakhiryani (Harrya) Shafariyanti, Jennifer Rachel Natasya, Priscillia Sari Dewi, Intania Pratama (Ilham), Siti Gayatri (Abhirama)

►Four given names : Nabilah Ratna Ayu Azalia, Alicia Chanzia (Ayu Kumaseh), Octi Sevpin (Cahyaning Ayu), Intar (Maylica Putri) Kariina, Annisa Athia (Zainun Faqiha)

Of course, some of the names listed here are not their full names. Their full names might also include their family names, Christian/Catholic baptismal names, etc that for some reason are not displayed in public. The longest personal name that the author has seen comprises of 8 names.

However, there are some exceptions where (most frequently) one of the names are not given names. It is necessary to pay attention to those names, since it is generally improper to nickname someone with any of those names. Among those names are :

►Father’s names; most unmarried girls add their father’s name after their given names. This names are usually not included except in some formal situations or documentations. In most case, these names will be replaced by their husband’s name after marriage.

Example: Thalia Ivanka Elizabeth (Frederik)

►Family names in the same sense with western context of surname / last name. These names are usually inherited through generations. Most of these names are retained by particular indigenous ethnic groups : Batak, Minangkabau and Minahasa people, people from the Mollucas and East Nusa Tenggara, as well as Foreign-origin ethnic groups : Chinese Indonesians, Arab Indonesians, and the Indos (Eurasian). In most case, these names are retained after marriage.

Examples: Ayana Shahab, Gabriela Margareth Warouw, Olivia (Shafira) Robberecht. If they are considered Indonesian names, Rena Nozawa, Haruka Nakagawa and Aki Takajo fall into this category

►Chinese Indonesians in particular have Indonesian sounding names of their surname, as described in this article. The large variety of these stylized names and its resemblance with indigenous names making it harder to distinguish them with the next category.

Examples: Sonya Pandarmawan, Jessica Vania (Widjaja), Jessica Veranda (Tanumihardja), Sonia Natalia (Winarto), Jennifer Hanna (Sutiono), Stella Cornelia (Winarto)

►Names that resemble family names, but in most cases only reserved for one generation of siblings. It is not known for sure if such names are inherited from previous generations and/or will be inherited to the next. The only clue that they are not given names is that they are shared among siblings.

Such naming custom is apparent among some large indigenous ethnic groups like Javanese and Sundanese that previously heavily influenced by Indian cultures, and subsequently by Islam. It become more frequent with increasing occasions of mixed marriage: couples sometimes agreed to make new ‘family names’ instead of adopting any of one’s ancestry.

Patronymic names – a name that are derived from the father’s name – fall into this category, and is considered as one of the more established form of this naming system. In most case, these names are retained after marriage.

Names that might fall into this category due to lack of information to categorize them into other categories are: Cleopatra (Djapri). Cindy (Christina) Gulla, Devi Kinal Putri, Frieska Anastasia Laksani, Melody Nurramdhani Laksani, Lidya Maulida Djuhandar, Novinta Dhini (Soetopo)

Thus for nicknaming purpose it is always safe to address someone you just know with the first of their chain of names, unless the person in question specify otherwise (like in Dhike, Kinal and Ochi’s cases), since non given names are most likely to stand in the last place.

Nicknames are products of consensus between the subjects that bear the name with the public that use that name to address them. In many case, the subject have the initiative to pick the name he/she prefer to be addressed with, but public have their own voices to determine the final consensus.

This is true in case of Nabilah and Yupi. Both initially picked Ayu-chin and Cindvia as their nicknames, but final consensus arrived at different ends. After all, let us avoid abusing the girls with names they prefer not to be addressed with.