Many Overseas Chinese, ethnic Chinese people have lived in Indonesia for many centuries. Over time, especially under social and political pressure during the New Order (Indonesia), New Order era, most Chinese Indonesians have adopted names that better match the local language.

History of Chinese Indonesian surnames

Colonial era until 1965

During the Dutch East Indies, Dutch colonial era, the Dutch administration recorded Chinese names in birth certificates and other legal documents using an adopted spelling convention that was based primarily on Hokkien language, Hokkien (Southern Min Chinese, Min), the language of the majority of Chinese immigrants in the Dutch East Indies. The administrators recorded the names using the nearest Dutch spelling derived from Hokkien words, which was simplified into ''Van Ophuijsen Spelling System, Ejaan Lama'' (). A similar thing happened in the British Malaya, where the British administrators record the names using English language, English spelling. The spellings of names in the British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies varied because English and Dutch employed distinct spellings for identical sounds. Furthermore, as Pe̍h-ōe-jī, Hokkien romanization standards did not exist then, some romanized names varied slightly. The spelling convention survived through the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, Japanese occupation (1942–1945) well into Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, Indonesian independence (1945) and sovereignty acknowledgment by the States General of the Netherlands, Dutch government (1949). Since the independent Indonesian government inherited the Law of the Netherlands, Dutch legal system, it also survived until 1965 in Sukarno's presidential era. The Indonesian government later began changing Indonesian spelling to harmonize it with the spelling used for Malay language, Malay in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, first under the ''Republican Spelling System, Ejaan Soewandi'' introduced in 1947, and again under ''Enhanced Indonesian Spelling System, Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan'' () adopted in 1972. Modifications were identified in this updated spelling system. For instance, the Dutch-influenced "oe" became "u", influenced by English. Additionally, the Dutch-style "j" underwent a shift to the English "y." Consequently, alterations in surname spellings occurred; for instance, the surname Lie became Li, Loe became Lu, Njoo became Nyoo, and Oei became Wi.

1966–1998

Following the rise of Suharto to power, the Indonesian government introduced a series of Legislation on Chinese Indonesians, policies that discriminated against the ethnic Chinese population. Among these was a 1966 decree (Legislation on Chinese Indonesians#Cabinet Presidium Decision 127 of 1966, 127/U/Kep/12/1966) that strongly encouraged Chinese Indonesians to adopt Indonesian-sounding names, moving away from the traditional Chinese three-part naming system. This policy was part of a broader effort to assimilate the ethnic Chinese minority. Many Chinese Indonesians reported changing their names in response to government “suggestions,” often feeling compelled to do so due to the climate of fear and coercion. Others chose to comply voluntarily, though not always free from pressure. Despite this period of forced assimilation, many members of the Chinese-Indonesian diaspora—particularly those who emigrated to countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States—have continued to use their original Hokkien surnames. Some had the courage to retain their Chinese names during Suharto’s rule (for example, Kwik Kian Gie; 郭建義), while others may have avoided name changes due to the bureaucratic hurdles involved.

2000–present

After Fall of Suharto, Suharto resigned from the presidency, subsequent governments revoked the Legislation on Chinese Indonesians, ban on the ethnic Chinese from speaking and learning Chinese in public. Using the original Chinese surnames is no longer a taboo but only a small minority have decided to re-adopt the original Hokkien names or to use the Mandarin Chinese ''pīnyīn'' romanization, pronunciation and spelling. For example, author Maria Audrey Lukito legally changed her name to Audrey Yu Jia Hui (). Individuals who retain their Indonesian names do it because they remain concerned about the persistence of Racism in Indonesia, racial issues, they believe non-Chinese speakers might struggle with pronunciations, it has become a habit from the New Order era, their family no longer speaks Chinese, they believe Chinese names are better when written in Hanzi, ''hànzì'', or they have never given it much thought. Many Chinese Indonesians born around the New Order (Indonesia), New Order era, especially between 2000 and 2003, prefer Western-sounding names for several reasons. Some of these names are associated with Christianity, while others are chosen because they are seen as more modern, trendy, and internationally recognizable. Indonesian names are often viewed as too common, old-fashioned, or not stylish enough. Additionally, Western names offer a broader range of options, better reflect global influences, and align with aspirations for international identity. There’s also a sense that the Indonesian language lacks the expressive vocabulary to convey the deeper meanings people want in a name, making Western names a more appealing alternative.

Approaches to adopting Indonesian-sounding names

There were various strategies that were employed to obtain an Indonesian-sounding name. Most names were Hokkien surname syllables with Western or Indonesian prefix or suffix, resulting in many exotic-sounding names. However, alternative methods were also present. Consequently, individuals with the same Chinese surname may adopt distinct Indonesian-sounding names. Furthermore, due to the absence of regulations in the past regarding the number of names in legal documents, some Chinese Indonesians might have had an Indonesian-sounding given name without an accompanying surname. This was only addressed in 2022 through Indonesian names#Naming forms, Regulation of The Minister of Home Affairs Number 73 of 2022, which stipulated the necessity of having at least two names in one's legal name in Indonesia.

Adopting an Indonesian given name whilst retaining the Chinese surname

One of the strategies to create an Indonesian name is to retain their Chinese surname as they are, but have an Indonesian-sounding given name. The placement of their Chinese surname can vary, adhering to either the Western name order, Western or Chinese naming order. The most common method of adopting Indonesian-sounding names were to obtain a first name alongside an Indonesian surname with elements derived from their Chinese surname. In certain instances, the phonetic spelling of these surnames is utilized instead of their original spelling, likely to aid non-Chinese speakers in accurate pronunciation or reading of the names. In cases where the western order is maintained, their surname is placed at the end of the name. For example, Sofyan Tan placed his surname Tan () at the end of his name. Other individuals who used this approach include Clara Ng, Felix Siauw, Stephen Tong, and Warren Hue. An example of a phonetic-based spelling alteration is Teddy Yip (businessman), Teddy Yip, who altered the spelling of his surname Jap () into Yip, matching the Cantonese pronunciation of that name rather than Hokkien. Conversely, individuals who adhered to Chinese naming customs positioned their surname at the beginning of their names. For example, :id:Ong Yenny, Ong Yenny and :id:Lie A. Dharmawan, Lie A. Dharmawan positioned their surnames Ong () and Lie (), respectively, at the beginning of their full names. An instance of a phonetic spelling alteration is observed in Leo Suryadinata, who changed their respective surnames Liauw () to Leo.

Adding Indonesian-sounding words to their Chinese surname

The prevalent approach to adopting Indonesian-sounding names involved acquiring a first name paired with an Indonesian surname incorporating elements derived from their Chinese surname. This process includes the addition of Indonesian-sounding names through paragoge, prosthesis, and Epenthesis, epentheses between two syllables. This method does not entail any spelling alterations in their names, ensuring that the surname remains unchanged. In the context of paragoge, Chinese Indonesians adopted Indonesian-sounding surnames by appending a suffix to their Chinese surname. As an example, Kimun Ongkosandjojo adopted his surname by combining his Chinese surname Ong () with the suffix -''kosandjojo'' meaning "one who brings victory". Other examples include Lukita for Lu (), as used by Enggartiasto Lukita, and Tanoto for Tan (), as used by Sukanto Tanoto. As for adding Indonesian names as a prosthesis, Indonesian-sounding prefixes are added directly onto their Chinese surname. This is observed in Taslim and Nursalim for Lim (), as used by Joe Taslim and Cherie Nursalim, respectively. Another method is maintaining the original Chinese surname and is placed between two syllables as an epenthesis. Examples include Sasongko for Ong () and Johanes for Han (). In certain instances, this approach is used by placing the surname at the beginning of the full name, following Chinese naming customs. As an example, Loekito Sudirman placed Loekito, derived from Loe (), before his Indonesian given name Sudirman.

Adding Indonesian-sounding words to the phonetic spelling of their Chinese surname

Chinese surnames are combined with Indonesian-sounding names through minor modifications of their Chinese surnames. This process often involves adopting a Phonetic transcription, phonetic spelling. Similar to incorporating Indonesian-sounding names directly to their Chinese surnames, epentheses are employed. This is the most common method employed. Illustrating this method is Eka Tjipta Widjaja, who constructed his surname by phonetically incorporating Oei (), represented as ''Wi''- as a paragoge, and appending the suffix -''djaja,'' meaning "victory". This approach is frequently employed by individuals with the surname Oei () and Wei (), leading to the emergence of various names with the suffix ''Wi''-, including Wijaya, Winata, and Wiyoko. Other examples include Danandjaja for Tan (), as used by James Danandjaja, Pangestu for Phang () and Phang (), as used by Prajogo Pangestu and Mari Pangestu, respectively, and Muljoto for Njoo () used by Agnez Mo.

Adopting an actual Indonesian surname

During the reign of Suharto, Indonesian families may have given their family name to a Chinese person to facilitate their name alterations. Alternatively, some Chinese Indonesians opted for an actual Indonesian surname to better assimilate with neighboring ethnic groups. For instance, the surname Lembong, which is of Minahasan people, Minahasan origin, is used by Thomas Lembong, Tom Lembong, with the surname Ong (). Lembong's father resided in Manado, the ancestral homeland of the Minahasan people, Minahasan ethnic group, implying a possible adoption of Indonesian surnames influenced by the region's geography or neighboring ethnic communities. Another example of this phenomenon is the Moluccans, Moluccan surname :id:Afaratu, Afaratu. Initially exclusive to individuals of the Tanimbarese ethnic group native to the Maluku Islands, Maluku, this surname has recently been identified among Chinese Indonesians with Hokkien ancestry. Do note that this is different from the adoption of existing Indonesian surnames due to interracial marriages.

Translating their Chinese given names or surnames

In employing this strategy, individuals translate their Chinese name into Indonesian language, Indonesian, Languages of Indonesia, Indonesian regional languages, or common non-native names in Indonesia, such as those with Arabic or Sanskrit influence. For example, Sofjan Wanandi translated his surname Liem (), which meant "forest", to the old Javanese language, Javanese word "". Furthermore, he also added the male suffix -''ndi'', resulting in the surname Wanandi. In a newspaper article from 1967, now archived at the National Library of Indonesia, a guide recommended the adoption of Indonesian words as new names for Chinese Indonesians. The article provided direct translations of the meanings of Chinese words, leading to the creation of potential new names for individuals of Chinese descent. For instance, individuals bearing the name Kok (), which signifies "country", might possess names with the Indonesian translation "". Likewise, individuals with the name Ong (), meaning "king", might have names associated with the words "'" or "'".

Including only Chinese given names in their Indonesian-sounding name

In this approach, the surname is typically completely excluded, while at least one of the individual's given names is retained. When incorporating both given names into their Indonesian-sounding names, significant spelling alterations may occur, but the phonetics generally remain the same or similar. Most commonly, the entirety of an individual's Chinese given name is used in their Indonesian-sounding name. As an example, Mochtar Riady adapted his Chinese given name, Lie Mo Tie (), by transforming ''Mo'' to ''Moch''- and ''Tie'' to -''tar'' in his Indonesian name. His surname was ultimately excluded. Likewise, Teddy Jusuf utilized his Chinese given name, Him Tek Jie (), by converting ''Tek'' to ''Ted''- and ''Jie'' to -''dy'' in his Indonesian name. In rare instances, only one of the Chinese given names is included in an individual's Indonesian-sounding name. Christiandy Sanjaya, for example, only integrated ''San'' from his Chinese name Bong Hon San () into his Indonesian name. He also added the Sanskrit-derived suffix -''jaya'', which meant "victory".

Adopting Indonesian-sounding names without parts of their Chinese names

In some cases, the adopted Indonesian-sounding name bears no connection whatsoever to their Chinese name. Sutanto Djuhar's name, for example, lacks any elements from his Chinese name, Liem Oen Kian ().

Examples of Chinese surnames and their Indonesian-sounding adoptions

The table is arranged in alphabetical order according to Pinyin, ''pīnyīn''. The table includes only spellings based on the currently-used Enhanced Indonesian Spelling System, ''Ejaan Bahasa Indonesia yang Disempurnakan''. Some surnames may appear with older spelling variants, such as ''Ejaan Lama'', or a combination of both current and older systems. For example, the surname Wijaya might be spelled as Widjaja, Widjaya, or less commonly, Oeidjaja. Likewise, Sujatmiko could be spelled as Soedjatmiko or Sudjatmiko.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indonesian-Sounding Names Adopted By Chinese Indonesians Indonesian names Chinese-language surnames, * Chinese Indonesian culture