Four Names in Bali: Balinese Naming Traditions

Yell “WAYAN!” on a crowded street and observe how many people are looking at you! Have you ever wondered why it seems like there are only four names in Bali? This article will shed some light on the naming customs of this unique island.

How Balinese Names Work

In Bali, a name isn't just a label, but has deep meaning, often reflecting a person's caste, birth order, and gender. In the past, castes were used to categorize people according to their role in society. Today, however, these castes are maintained mainly to preserve family lineage.

Balinese names are a combination of the person's ancestor's caste, gender, and birth order.

Caste-Based Names

Balinese society has traditionally been structured into four castes, each with its own set of names:

1. Brahmana: The highest caste, typically consisting of priests and scholars. Men often have names starting with "Ida Bagus," and women with "Ida Ayu."

2. Ksatria: The warrior caste, including royalty and nobility, often uses names like "Gusti Ngurah" for men and "Gusti Ayu" for women. In this caste, you might also encounter names like Cokorda, Anak Agung, Dewa, and Desak.

3. Waisya: This merchant and artisan caste traditionally employed names beginning with 'Ngakan,' 'Kompyang,' 'Sang,' and 'Si.' However, these names are becoming less common.

4. Sudra: The lowest caste, typically composed of laborers and farmers. Names for males start with “I,” and for females with “Ni,” followed by the order of birth. For instance, "Wayan" for the first-born, "Made" for the second, and so on. About 90% of the Balinese population falls into this category.

The significance of these caste classifications has dwindled in contemporary Balinese society as many traditional rules, such as assigning specific professions to particular castes, have become obsolete. For instance, it's no longer uncommon to find someone named "Ida Bagus" working in the hospitality industry or even "I Wayan" serving as Bali's provincial governor.

Birth Order-Based Names

Birth order plays a significant role in Balinese names, leading to a relatively small pool of names that are frequently recycled:

1. The first-born child can be named Wayan or Putu, which works for both sexes. Other variations include “Gede” (meaning "big" for males) and “Luh” for females.

2. The second child is often named Made, or "Madé." Variations include Nengah and Kadek.

3. The third child might be named Nyoman or Komang, derived from the word ‘Anom’ meaning young.

4. The fourth child is named Ketut.

5. For families with more than four children, the cycle repeats, with the fifth child receiving the same name as the first, followed by additional variations like “Alit” or “Balik.”

And that's how names work in Bali