The Balinese naming system is a unique and fascinating cultural practice rooted in the island’s traditions and Hindu-Dharma faith. It primarily revolves around a cycle of four names, which denote the birth order of a child.
What Balinese Names Are and Their Origin
Balinese names are not chosen by parents based on preference, but are predetermined by the child’s sequential position within their nuclear family, regardless of gender.
- Origin: This tradition is deeply connected to the Balinese calendar system, worldview, and the philosophy of reincarnation and cyclical life, ensuring a systematic order within the community. The practice originated in the traditional Balinese villages and is an integral part of their cultural identity and social structure.
Balinese Naming – The Four-Name Cycle: Why and How It Works
There are essentially only four primary names used for the first four children in a Balinese family.
Why Only Four?
The cycle of four is symbolic and reflects the Balinese concept of the four siblings or Catur Sanak, which is a belief in four spiritual brothers/sisters that accompany a person throughout their life. It also reflects the four cardinal directions and other significant cyclical patterns in Balinese cosmology.
How It Works
The names cycle through the family’s children in strict birth order. When a family has more than four children, the cycle repeats.
| Birth Order | Name (Common Form) | Meaning/Order |
| 1st Child | Wayan / Putu / Gede | Firstborn |
| 2nd Child | Made / Kadek | Secondborn |
| 3rd Child | Nyoman / Komang | Thirdborn |
| 4th Child | Ketut | Fourthborn |
- Repetition: If a fifth child is born, they will be given the first name again (e.g., Wayan) but often with the addition of the word Balik (meaning “return” or “again”), to distinguish them (e.g., Wayan Balik). This ensures that every individual can be placed within the social hierarchy of the family and community immediately.
Naming in the Balinese Royal Family
Individuals belonging to the Balinese royal or noble families use a different system that signifies their caste or social status (known as Warna in the Hindu system), which is considered more important than their birth order.
The Difference Explained
- Caste Designation: The names of the royal/noble family members will begin with a specific title that clearly indicates their caste (e.g., Ida Bagus, Cokorda, Anak Agung, Raja). This title is inherited and serves as a fixed surname/prefix.
- Birth Order is Secondary: While they may sometimes use a birth order name as their personal name after the caste title, the caste prefix is the primary differentiator and indicator of their high social standing and lineage.
- Example Structure: A royal name will follow a structure like: [Caste Title] + [Personal Name (often birth order or a chosen name)].
In summary, common Balinese use birth order names to determine their social position within the family, while royal family members use fixed caste titles to determine their social position within the community/caste system.