Javanese names () refers to the

personal names A personal name, full name or prosoponym (from Ancient Greek ''prósōpon'' – person, and ''onoma'' –name) is the set of names by which an individual person or animal is known. When taken together as a word-group, they all relate to that on ...

used by individuals (primarily Javanese) originally from the

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

n island of

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

, and parts of the world (by the

diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of birth, place of origin. The word is used in reference to people who identify with a specific geographic location, but currently resi ...

). Javanese names reflects the rich cultural, linguistic, and historical heritage of the Javanese people, the largest ethnic group in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

, who traced their ultimate ancestral origin to the island of Java. These names are deeply rooted in a combination of indigenous Javanese cultural traditions, but to some extent, also drawn from foreign religious influences or elements. The structure, meaning, and use of Javanese names have evolved over centuries, yet many traditional patterns still endure.

Structure

Traditionally, the Javanese people did not use

surnames In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several giv ...

or family names. Instead, individuals were often known by a single

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

, though multiple names (without a fixed surname) were not uncommon. In modern times, due to administrative and bureaucratic needs, many Javanese adopt two or more names, and some have adopted the use of surnames for specific lineage recognition.

Single name

Many traditional names consist of just one name, such as

Sukarno Sukarno (6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967. Sukarno was the leader of the Indonesian struggle for independenc ...

(Indonesia's first president),

Suharto Suharto (8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian Officer (armed forces), military officer and politician, and dictator, who was the second and longest serving president of Indonesia, serving from 1967 to 1998. His 32 years rule, cha ...

(Indonesia's second president), or

Kartini Raden Adjeng Kartini, also known as Raden Ayu Kartini (21 April 1879 – 17 September 1904), was a prominent Indonesian advocate of women's rights and female education. She was born into an aristocratic Javanese people, Javanese family in the ...

(Indonesia's female national hero). These are complete identifiers within Javanese society.

Multiple name

More complex naming structures may include two or more elements, such as Raden Mas Said or Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX. These elements may indicate nobility, titles, or personal attributes.

Social class

Royal and Aristocratic Naming ()

The Javanese aristocracy (especially within the courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta) uses elaborate names that may include: *Titles: such as Raden, Mas, Gusti, Kanjeng *Honorifics and given names: such as Raden Ajeng Kartini or Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono These names may denote status, honor, and lineage, and are often bestowed in ceremonies.

Commoner Naming

Names among the commoners group are usually shorter and simpler, often drawn from Javanese vocabulary describing virtues, animals, nature, or aspirations.

Birth order or day

The Javanese have unique systems for naming based on birth order or day of birth: *Birth order: Names like Eko (first), Dwi (second), Tri (third), Catur (fourth) **''Notes: This type of personal nomenclature system still retained in Balinese names'' * (

Javanese calendar The Javanese calendar () is the calendar of the Javanese people. It is used concurrently with two other calendars, the Gregorian calendar and the Islamic calendar. The Gregorian calendar is the official calendar of the Republic of Indonesia and c ...

): Names may be given based on a person's weton or spiritual birthday using a combination of the five-day Pasaran cycle and the seven-day week.

Linguistic

Javanese names traditionally derived from

Old Javanese Old Javanese or Kawi is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language and the oldest attested phase of the Javanese language. It was natively spoken in the central and eastern part of Java Island, what is now Central Java, Special Region o ...

, a native naming system that are still preserved within the community. However, personal names derived from another languages might also apparent, mainly due to religious adherence. The

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

-based names usually rooted or drawn from the Javanese Hinduism religiousity, the

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

and Semitic (

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

Aramaic Aramaic (; ) is a Northwest Semitic language that originated in the ancient region of Syria and quickly spread to Mesopotamia, the southern Levant, Sinai, southeastern Anatolia, and Eastern Arabia, where it has been continually written a ...

)-based names are commonly used by the Javanese Muslims, meanwhile European (mainly Dutch and

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

/ Portuguese)-based names are used by the Javanese Christians.

Native (Javanese and Old Javanese)

Some native Javanese names might include: *Male names: Agus, Agung (), Ageng (), Anang, Awang, Bagas, Bagus (), Bambang, Buyung, Dadang, Danang, Demang, Gading (), Ganang, Gesang, Gilang, Gumelar, Gumilang, Gumintang, Guntur, Guruh, Jago (), Jajang, Kaisang, Kaesang, Kakang, Lanang (), Legimin (), Lantang (), Lintang (), Nanang, Paijo, Pamungkas (), Pangarep (), Parman, Parmin, Pawang, Ragil (), Sugimin (), Sukir (), Sunan, Tatang, Tenang, Untung (), Tugimin, Tumadang, Ujang, Yanto *Female names: Ajeng, Anggrek (), Anggun (), Ayu (), Bunga (), Dayang, Hanum, Intan (), Kembang (), Lestari, Lintang, Ningsih, Ning, Nusa (), Rahajeng, Rahayu, Sartika, Tinem, Tukiyem, Wulan (), Yanti, Wuri ()

Persian and Semitic-based names

*Male names: Abdi, Abdul, Abdoel,

Adam Adam is the name given in Genesis 1–5 to the first human. Adam is the first human-being aware of God, and features as such in various belief systems (including Judaism, Christianity, Gnosticism and Islam). According to Christianity, Adam ...

, Ahmad, Ardi, Ardie, Arif, Arief, Arifin, Ariefin, Baim, Bakri, Bakrie, David, Daud, Faris, Farisi (), Fikri (), Haris, Hasim, Iskandar, Jamil, Jamiel, Jauhar, Jihad, Kadir, Kandar, Lutfi, Mail, Musa, Muhammad, Muhamad, Mohammad, Mohamad, Mochamad, Naufal, Nur, Rachmat, Rahmat, Reza, Riski, Risky, Rizal, Rizqi, Rizky, Rochim, Rohim, Rochmat, Rohmat, Roziqin, Slamet,

Sarah Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch, prophet, and major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pious woma ...

, Soleh, Somad, Sultan, Sjarief, Sjarif, Syarif, Syarifudin, Tahir, Tohir, Taufik, Taufiek, Topik, Udin, Usman, Wahyu, Yusuf, Yosep *Female names: Abel, Almas, Jamilah, Jamielah, Jihan, Lela, Lutfiah, Siti, Syarifah, Maryam, Noer, Nur, Nurul, Wahyuni

Sanskrit-based names

*Male names: Adi, Adhi, Aji, Angga, Arga, Arya, Atma, Atmaja, Atmojo, Bagyo, Bakti, Bayu (), Bejo, Budi, Cahyo, Candra, Cakra, Cokro, Darma, Darmo, Dewa (), Dewo (), Eka, Eko, Guna, Guno, Handoko, Handoyo, Jaka, Jiwo, Joko, Jaya, Joyo, Karno, Kasturi, Putra, Putro, Sentosa, Santoso, Surya, Suryo, Susilo, Teja, Tejo, Tri, Purnomo, Kurnia, Kusuma, Kusumo, Raja (), Utomo, Wan, Wawan, Widodo, Wiro, Yudho, Yono *Female names: Agya, Aryani, Citra, Dara, Dewi (), Dwi, Dyah, Eka, Gempita, Handayani, Indah, Ismaya, Juwita, Jelita, Kartika, Kesuma, Kirana, Kurnia, Kusuma, Mega, Melati (), Mutiara, Nirmala, Pitaloka, Putri, Puspa, Puspita, Ratna, Retno, Rani (), Raya, Dari, Sari, Sri, Sukma, Tri, Wati, Widya

Dutch-derived names

*Male names: Arie, Frengki, Hendrik, Herman (), Johan, Jos, Julius, Kenzo, Lukas, Marsel, Marselino, Martin, Melik, Nikolas, Niko, Petrus, Ruben, Tomas, Yohan, Yos, Yulianto, Yulius *Female names: Agatha, Cantik (), Eva, Irene, Julia, Kezia, Laura, Lia, Linda, Natasya, Renata, Saskia (), Tiara, Tintje, Vera, Vita, Yasmin, Yulia, Yuni

Spanish/Portuguese-derived names

*Male names: Aldo, Fernando, Mario, Nando *Female names: Fernanda, Gisela, Gladis, Maria, Marta, Lolita, Nanda, Tania

Modern usage and evolution

While traditional naming is still used and respected, modern Javanese parents tend to choose names that blend Javanese, Arabic, or Western influences. Urbanization and national integration have encouraged the use of two or three names and sometimes the adoption of family surnames, particularly for bureaucratic purposes.

Symbolism and philosophy

Names in Javanese tradition are believed to carry spiritual and moral weight. A name is not merely an identifier but a hope, prayer, or expression of the parents' aspirations. It may reflect values such as bravery (), wisdom (), or peace ().

Javanese-Suriname People Names

Suriname Javanese people usually used Western (mostly Dutch) given names, and Javanese surnames, many of which are archaic in Java itself. The examples of Suriname Javanese surnames are Atmodikoro, Bandjar, Dasai, Hardjoprajitno, Irodikromo, Kromowidjojo, Moestadja, Pawironadi, Redjosentono, Somohardjo, etc.

Javanese Tondano (Jaton) Names

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.