76 Indonesian Baby Boy Names With Meanings
An assortment of kaleidoscopic names from the land of thousand islands.
Indonesia is the land of a thousand islands and is the world’s largest archipelagic state. Indonesian boy names are inspired by the country’s nature, culture, religion, as well as different personality traits. Indonesia is a melting pot of different cultures from the Indian subcontinent, Europe, the Middle East, mainland China, Melanesian, and Austronesian people. This intermingling of various groups has a significant influence on the cultural and linguistic makeup of one of the largest countries in Southeast Asia. With over 1300 ethnic groups, Indonesia is considered a multilingual, multicultural, and multiethnic country. Indonesian naming practices or traditions are different from the Western way where the first name is followed by a family name or surname. In Indonesia, a single name is identified as the full name of an individual (1). If parents choose to add additional names like regional, patronymics, matronymics, family, or clan names, they may do so, but they hold no relevance officially. Indonesian names are distinct because even without a family name, the type of name a person holds is indicative of the location and culture he or she belongs to. For example, Indonesian names that begin with ‘Su’ or end with ‘o’ are identified as Javanese names. Javanese people tend to have one-word names. When an individual in Indonesia has a multi-word name, such as Yovan Gunardio Darmawan, all three names are considered to be their single personal name (1). Balinese names are differentiated based on their naming system which follows a birth order. Firstborn babies are given the name Wayan and the second is called Made, and so on. Balinese names can also identify a person’s caste. People who come from the Batak or North Sumatran cultures bear the clan names of Sitompul and Rajagukguk. If you’re keen to find an Indonesian name for your baby, go through this carefully curated list and explore the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the country.
Name | Gender | Meaning | |
---|---|---|---|
Ahmad | Boy | Much praised; Name of prophet Muhammad | |
Arief | Boy | One who is clever and intelligent | |
Arif | Boy | Knowing; Knowledgeable; Wise; Intelligent; Sage | |
Fadhlan | Boy | A gift from God | |
Farrell | Boy | Man of courage | |
Henry | Boy | Home ruler | |
Intan | Boy | Diamond | |
Kevin | Boy | Handsome by birth; Gentle | |
Stanley | Boy | Stony woodland or clearing | |
Abyasa | Boy | Clever | |
Adhiarja | Boy | Safety | |
Adika | Boy | The first child of the second husband | |
Agung | Boy | Grand or great | |
Ahmadzulkifli | Boy | An Indonesian voice actor | |
Ajij | Boy | Powerful; Respected; Beloved; A variant of Aziz | |
Akyli | Unisex | Unique; Modern | |
Angga | Boy | Tooth; Antlers | |
Arpa | Unisex | Harp | |
Bagaskoro | Boy | Sun rays | |
Bagus | Boy | Handsome; Excellent | |
Bakti | Boy | An obedient boy | |
Banyu | Boy | Water | |
Baskoro | Boy | Midday sun | |
Basuki | Boy | To flourish | |
Batara | Boy | God | |
Berkah | Boy | God's gift | |
Buana | Boy | A whole world | |
Budi | Boy | To have reason, mind or a character | |
Cahya | Unisex | Light in darkness | |
Cahyono | Boy | Light | |
Cerah | Unisex | Radiant; Bright; Shining | |
Chahaya | Boy | Light | |
Cinta | Unisex | Ribbon; Love | |
Cipta | Boy | To create | |
Darma | Boy | Good deed or duty | |
David | Boy | Beloved | |
Dumadi | Boy | Becoming | |
Eas | Boy | Gold | |
Eka | Unisex | The first born child | |
Elang | Boy | Falcon | |
Farel | Boy | Heroic | |
Galang | Boy | To assemble | |
Gemi | Unisex | Refers to uncertain or unsure time in life | |
Gesang | Boy | Life or alive | |
Gunadi | Boy | Something meaningful | |
Gus | Boy | Exalted; Majestic; Great; Venerable | |
Guss | Boy | Coolest kid you have ever met | |
Ismaya | Boy | God-like; Wise | |
Jakarta | Unisex | From the name of the capital city of Indonesia | |
Joyo | Boy | Victorious | |
Kabul | Boy | Fulfilled wish or prayer | |
Kadek | Boy | Younger sibling; Second child | |
Kaliappa | Boy | Bud | |
Kasiah | Unisex | Cinnamon | |
Keris | Unisex | A traditional Indonesian dagger with a wavy blade | |
Kersen | Boy | Cherry in Indonesian language | |
Kristiono | Boy | A Christian man or a follower of Christmas. | |
Kulon | Boy | Kulon means the West | |
Maaha | Unisex | Enthusiastic; Intelligent; Ambitious | |
Mentari | Unisex | The Sun, who gives powerful light to the whole world | |
Nayvadius | Boy | Unknown future; Destiny uncertain | |
Nesia | Unisex | Like an island | |
Panuta | Boy | Good example or one who leads by example. | |
Perdana | Boy | The First | |
Pramana | Boy | To be full of wisdom and knowledge | |
Pratam | Boy | A person who belongs to the highest; First status | |
Putra | Boy | To be someone's son | |
Ramelan | Boy | A prophecy | |
Rimbo | Boy | One who is like a jungle | |
Santoso | Boy | Peaceful | |
Sarinah | Unisex | Princess or radiant one | |
Setiawan | Boy | Faithful | |
Soleh | Boy | A person who is deeply religious | |
Taman | Unisex | One who is like a garden | |
Vikal | Boy | Twilight; Evening or close of the day | |
Zaskia | Unisex | A pure heart |
These Indonesian boy names are reflective of the rich tapestry of the country’s history and diversity. With thousands of islands and ethnic groups, these names take inspiration from the land, culture, religion, and language. Indonesian names stand out for their rare naming tradition, that is the absence of middle names or family names, but distinctive enough to identify a person’s ethnicity based on their single name. Each name is magical and carries the essence of Indonesia’s heritage and legacy. So zero in on names that resonate with you and pick the best one for your baby.
Infographic: Fantastic Indonesian Baby Boy Names With Meanings
Indonesian baby names reflect the diverse cultural and linguistic influences of the various ethnic groups in the country. With a unique and distinctive naming tradition, Indonesian names evoke a person’s native region or clan. Explore the beauty of Indonesian names in this infographic to find the one that suits your little boy the best.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the most common male name in Indonesia?
One of the most common male names in Indonesia is Muhammad. However, boys with the name are not usually called Muhammad, and Ahmad can be a popular diminutive of the name. Putra is another popular name that means ‘to be someone’s son.’ While Eka is considered a unisex name, it is also one of the most widely used Indonesian names as it signifies the firstborn.
2. Which boy names mean bright in Indonesian?
Some baby boy names that mean bright or have similar connotations like light are Cahya, Cahyono, Cahaya, and Menatari. A few other names that are related to the bright light of the sun are Bagaskoro and Baskoro.
3. What are some Indonesian baby boy names that mean love?
Ajij, a variant of Aziz, is one such name which carries the connotation of love. The name Ajij means ‘beloved.’
4. What are some Indonesian baby boy names that have a special significance or spiritual meaning?
Batara is a masculine Indonesian name that means God and possesses spiritual significance because Batara Guru is the name of the Supreme god in Indonesian Hinduism. Berkah and Fadhlan also have special significance since they both mean ‘God’s gift,’ or a ‘gift from god.’ Ismaya is another name with spiritual connotations; it means someone who is God-like or wise.
References
- Indonesian Culture.
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indonesian-culture/indonesian-culture-naming
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.