AI Overview
The Balinese naming system is a unique system of birth order, caste, and personal names, rather than using family names. Children are named for their birth order: the firstborn is Wayan (or Putu/Gede), the second is Made (or Kadek), the third is Nyoman (or Komang), and the fourth is Ketut. For subsequent children, the cycle repeats. Men and women are distinguished by prefixes: men use "I" and women use "Ni". Higher castes have specific titles like Ida Bagus (men) or Ida Ayu (women) for the Brahmana (priest) caste.
Key components of a Balinese name:
Title:
A prefix indicating gender, caste, or a familial connection.
"I": for males and "Ni" for females in the commoner (Sudra) caste.
Titles like Ida Bagus for men and Ida Ayu for women are used by the highest caste, Brahmana.
Birth Order Name:
A
name identifying the child's birth position in the family.
First-born: Wayan, Putu, Gede
Second-born: Made, Kadek, Nengah
Third-born: Nyoman, Komang
Fourth-born: Ketut
Personal Name:
A unique name chosen by the parents, often a name with Sanskrit origin or a virtue.
How the system works:
N
o Family Names: Balinese people do not use family names.
Repeated Cycle: If a family has more than four children, the birth order names repeat.
Caste Influence: The birth order names are for the commoner caste. High-caste individuals use different titles and naming conventions.
Personal Identifier: The unique personal name is used to distinguish individuals within the same birth order.
Example:
I Wayan Suardika: "I" indicates the person is male, "Wayan" means he is the first-born, and "Suardika" is his personal identifier.
