Javanese names
Encyclopedia
Javanese people have various systems for naming. Some Javanese have only one name and no surname
. Others use their father's name as well as their own, in a similar manner to European patronymic
s. For example, Abdurrahman Wahid
's name is derived from Wahid Hasyim
, his father, an independence fighter and minister. In turn, Wahid Hasyim's name was derived from his father named Hasyim Asyari, a famous cleric and founder of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization. Another example is former president
Megawati Sukarnoputri
; the last part of the name is a patronymic, meaning "Sukarno's daughter".
Culturally, Javanese people use a patrilineal
system that traces the hierarchic lineage of the father. This system is particularly used to determine descendants' rights to use royal titles before their names. However, it is not customary for Javanese to pass on a family name
, except in Suriname
, which has a large Javanese population. Surnames in Suriname Javanese are usually derived from the names of their ancestors who immigrated from Java between 1890-1939. Suriname Javanese people usually use Western (mostly Dutch) given names, and Javanese surnames, many of which are archaic in Java itself. The example of Suriname Javanese surnames are Atmodikoro, Bandjar, Dasai, Hardjoprajitno, Irodikromo, Kromowidjojo, Moestadja, Pawironadi, Redjosentono, Somohardjo, etc. Other Javanese communities who have surnames are the Jatons (Jawa Tondano/Tondano Javanese), descendants of Prince Diponegoro's followers exiled to North Sulawesi
. Some of their surnames are Arbi, Baderan, Djoyosuroto, Guret, Kiaidemak, Modjo, Ngurawan, Pulukadang, Suratinoyo, Wonopati, Zees, etc.
Many Javanese have just a single name, for example, Sukarno
, Suharto, or Boediono
. Many names have come from traditional Javanese language
, many derived from Sanskrit
. Names with the prefix Su-, which means good, are very popular. After the advent of Islam
, many Javanese used Arabic names, especially among clerics and the northern coast population, where Islamic influence is strong. There are many Javanese-style Arabic names such as Marpuah (from Marfu'ah), Ngabdurohman (from Abdurrahman), Slamet (from salam), Sarip (from Sharif), Salikin (from Salihin), etc.
Commoners usually have only one-word names, while nobles use names of two or more words, but rarely a surname. Due to the influence of other cultures, many people started using names from other languages, mainly European. Catholic Javanese usually use Latin
baptismal names
followed by a traditional Javanese name, for example Albertus Soegijopranoto, the first Indonesian bishop. Albertus is his baptismal name, while Soegijopranoto is his traditional Javanese given name.
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
. Others use their father's name as well as their own, in a similar manner to European patronymic
Patronymic
A 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...
s. For example, Abdurrahman Wahid
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...
's name is derived from Wahid Hasyim
Wahid Hasyim
Abdul Wahid Hasyim was the first Minister of Religious Affairs in the government of President Sukarno of Indonesia, a post he held in 1945, and from 1949 to 1952....
, his father, an independence fighter and minister. In turn, Wahid Hasyim's name was derived from his father named Hasyim Asyari, a famous cleric and founder of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization. Another example is former president
President of Indonesia
The President of the Republic of Indonesia is the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Indonesia.The first president was Sukarno and the current president is Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.- Sukarno era :...
Megawati Sukarnoputri
Megawati 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 last part of the name is a patronymic, meaning "Sukarno's daughter".
Culturally, Javanese people use a patrilineal
Patrilineality
Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to one's father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well....
system that traces the hierarchic lineage of the father. This system is particularly used to determine descendants' rights to use royal titles before their names. However, it is not customary for Javanese to pass on a 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...
, except in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, which has a large Javanese population. Surnames in Suriname Javanese are usually derived from the names of their ancestors who immigrated from Java between 1890-1939. Suriname Javanese people usually use Western (mostly Dutch) given names, and Javanese surnames, many of which are archaic in Java itself. The example of Suriname Javanese surnames are Atmodikoro, Bandjar, Dasai, Hardjoprajitno, Irodikromo, Kromowidjojo, Moestadja, Pawironadi, Redjosentono, Somohardjo, etc. Other Javanese communities who have surnames are the Jatons (Jawa Tondano/Tondano Javanese), descendants of Prince Diponegoro's followers exiled to North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North 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...
. Some of their surnames are Arbi, Baderan, Djoyosuroto, Guret, Kiaidemak, Modjo, Ngurawan, Pulukadang, Suratinoyo, Wonopati, Zees, etc.
Many Javanese have just a single name, for example, 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...
, Suharto, or Boediono
Boediono
Boediono is the Vice President of Indonesia, after winning the 2009 presidential election together with incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.-Education:Boediono received his early education in primary school in Blitar, East Java...
. Many names have come from traditional Javanese language
Javanese 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...
, many derived from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
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...
. Names with the prefix Su-, which means good, are very popular. After the advent of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, many Javanese used Arabic names, especially among clerics and the northern coast population, where Islamic influence is strong. There are many Javanese-style Arabic names such as Marpuah (from Marfu'ah), Ngabdurohman (from Abdurrahman), Slamet (from salam), Sarip (from Sharif), Salikin (from Salihin), etc.
Commoners usually have only one-word names, while nobles use names of two or more words, but rarely a surname. Due to the influence of other cultures, many people started using names from other languages, mainly European. Catholic Javanese usually use Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
baptismal names
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
followed by a traditional Javanese name, for example Albertus Soegijopranoto, the first Indonesian bishop. Albertus is his baptismal name, while Soegijopranoto is his traditional Javanese given name.
External links
- http://web.archive.org/web/20051225081222/http://www.geocities.com/omimachifuri/names.htm
- http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules.php?op=modload&name=Subjects&file=index&req=viewpage&pageid=60