Balinese names
Balinese names run according to the caste system and position within a family relating to lineage. When the Hindu Majapahit empire conquered Bali in 1343, the new ruler, Gajah Mada introduced the cast system to the Balinese. This obviously meant those closest to the ruler were high caste, the lowly rice farmer, low caste. The influx of Javanese priests and artisans into Bali in 1515, fleeing the advancing Muslim Mataram empire, meant an even greater number of Javanese were in positions of power. Strangely to this day the Sudra (lowest) caste, of which 90% of Balinese belong to is referred to as jaba (outside).
The 4 main castes in Bali are Brahmana, Ksatria, Wesia and Sudra. Here is a list of Balinese names according to caste.
•Brahmana (priest) caste
Ida Bagus or Bagus (good one) for a male
Ida Ayu or Dayu (beautiful one) for a female.
•Ksatria (rulers, warriors) caste
Anak Agung, Agung, Dewa for a male.
Anak Agung, Agung, Dewi, Dewayu for a female
Cokorda, Dewa Agung for members of the kingdom ruling clan.
Ksatria caste often have the following middle names.
Raka - older sister / brother
Oka - child
Rai - younger sister / brother
Anom - young woman
Ngurah - an indication of authority
•Wesia (merchants and officials ) caste
Gusti - (lord) for men and women
Dewa for a man
Desak for a woman
•Sudra (rice growers ) caste
Wayan, Putu, Gede for 1st born male child
Wayan, Putu, Iluh for 1st born female child
Made, Kadek for 2nd born male child
Made, Kadek, Nengah for 2nd born female child.
Nyoman, Komang for 3rd born male and female children
Ketut for 4th born male or female children.
The 5th born reverts back to the list for 1st born children. Last names are also given names.
There are a tremendous amount of Wayans and Mades in Bali. If someone tells you their name is Nengah Susantini, you know they are Balinese female from the lowest caste, who has at least one older brother or sister. Many Balinese will use a middle name to differentiate from other with the same name. Others will change their name slightly (Yumi for Yuni, Koming for Komang) or use their last name for a form of address.
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
The naming system is not 100% applied in Bali. My grand father was a priest in a famous temple. Now, my uncle is the priest. My big family never use Ida Bagus, or Ida Ayu. Only a simple name “Made X, Wayan Y, etc”.
According to Hinduism, It is not the caste system, but Warna system.
hello pak made i have checked your web site it seems all about education/you are study in germany some sort doing research/you are a computer sience it seems you are very highly educated,all the best for you hopefuly you can contribute many things for bali and indo i gather you will coming back to indo to live someday.
matur sukseme banget.
java or jawe or jawa refer to in bali as foreigner or outsider, people from java or in balinesse word (jeleme jawe)always meant as an outsider(stranger)however balinese people always knew that our ancerstor come from java especially from jogyakarta (centre of java), to this day you can find reminant of the gloriuos day of hinhu empires pinacle of that era was majapahit kingdom,with GAJAH MADA legendary promise he will unite nusantara(modern day indonesia)he achieved that, like people says the rest history.