76 Indonesian Baby Boy Names With Meanings

indonesian-baby-boy-names-with-meanings

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.

NameGenderMeaning
heart image Ahmad Baby Boy Sign Boy Much praised; Name of prophet Muhammad
heart image Arief Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is clever and intelligent
heart image Arif Baby Boy Sign Boy Knowing; Knowledgeable; Wise; Intelligent; Sage
heart image Fadhlan Baby Boy Sign Boy A gift from God
heart image Farrell Baby Boy Sign Boy Man of courage
heart image Henry Baby Boy Sign Boy Home ruler
heart image Intan Baby Boy Sign Boy Diamond
heart image Kevin Baby Boy Sign Boy Handsome by birth; Gentle
heart image Stanley Baby Boy Sign Boy Stony woodland or clearing
heart image Abyasa Baby Boy Sign Boy Clever
heart image Adhiarja Baby Boy Sign Boy Safety
heart image Adika Baby Boy Sign Boy The first child of the second husband
heart image Agung Baby Boy Sign Boy Grand or great
heart image Ahmadzulkifli Baby Boy Sign Boy An Indonesian voice actor
heart image Ajij Baby Boy Sign Boy Powerful; Respected; Beloved; A variant of Aziz
heart image Akyli Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Unique; Modern
heart image Angga Baby Boy Sign Boy Tooth; Antlers
heart image Arpa Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Harp
heart image Bagaskoro Baby Boy Sign Boy Sun rays
heart image Bagus Baby Boy Sign Boy Handsome; Excellent
heart image Bakti Baby Boy Sign Boy An obedient boy
heart image Banyu Baby Boy Sign Boy Water
heart image Baskoro Baby Boy Sign Boy Midday sun
heart image Basuki Baby Boy Sign Boy To flourish
heart image Batara Baby Boy Sign Boy God
heart image Berkah Baby Boy Sign Boy God's gift
heart image Buana Baby Boy Sign Boy A whole world
heart image Budi Baby Boy Sign Boy To have reason, mind or a character
heart image Cahya Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Light in darkness
heart image Cahyono Baby Boy Sign Boy Light
heart image Cerah Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Radiant; Bright; Shining
heart image Chahaya Baby Boy Sign Boy Light
heart image Cinta Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Ribbon; Love
heart image Cipta Baby Boy Sign Boy To create
heart image Darma Baby Boy Sign Boy Good deed or duty
heart image David Baby Boy Sign Boy Beloved
heart image Dumadi Baby Boy Sign Boy Becoming
heart image Eas Baby Boy Sign Boy Gold
heart image Eka Unisex Baby Sign Unisex The first born child
heart image Elang Baby Boy Sign Boy Falcon
heart image Farel Baby Boy Sign Boy Heroic
heart image Galang Baby Boy Sign Boy To assemble
heart image Gemi Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Refers to uncertain or unsure time in life
heart image Gesang Baby Boy Sign Boy Life or alive
heart image Gunadi Baby Boy Sign Boy Something meaningful
heart image Gus Baby Boy Sign Boy Exalted; Majestic; Great; Venerable
heart image Guss Baby Boy Sign Boy Coolest kid you have ever met
heart image Ismaya Baby Boy Sign Boy God-like; Wise
heart image Jakarta Unisex Baby Sign Unisex From the name of the capital city of Indonesia
heart image Joyo Baby Boy Sign Boy Victorious
heart image Kabul Baby Boy Sign Boy Fulfilled wish or prayer
heart image Kadek Baby Boy Sign Boy Younger sibling; Second child
heart image Kaliappa Baby Boy Sign Boy Bud
heart image Kasiah Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Cinnamon
heart image Keris Unisex Baby Sign Unisex A traditional Indonesian dagger with a wavy blade
heart image Kersen Baby Boy Sign Boy Cherry in Indonesian language
heart image Kristiono Baby Boy Sign Boy A Christian man or a follower of Christmas.
heart image Kulon Baby Boy Sign Boy Kulon means the West
heart image Maaha Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Enthusiastic; Intelligent; Ambitious
heart image Mentari Unisex Baby Sign Unisex The Sun, who gives powerful light to the whole world
heart image Nayvadius Baby Boy Sign Boy Unknown future; Destiny uncertain
heart image Nesia Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Like an island
heart image Panuta Baby Boy Sign Boy Good example or one who leads by example.
heart image Perdana Baby Boy Sign Boy The First
heart image Pramana Baby Boy Sign Boy To be full of wisdom and knowledge
heart image Pratam Baby Boy Sign Boy A person who belongs to the highest; First status
heart image Putra Baby Boy Sign Boy To be someone's son
heart image Ramelan Baby Boy Sign Boy A prophecy
heart image Rimbo Baby Boy Sign Boy One who is like a jungle
heart image Santoso Baby Boy Sign Boy Peaceful
heart image Sarinah Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Princess or radiant one
heart image Setiawan Baby Boy Sign Boy Faithful
heart image Soleh Baby Boy Sign Boy A person who is deeply religious
heart image Taman Unisex Baby Sign Unisex One who is like a garden
heart image Vikal Baby Boy Sign Boy Twilight; Evening or close of the day
heart image Zaskia Unisex Baby Sign 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.

fabulous indonesian baby boy names with meanings (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

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

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  1. Indonesian Culture.
    https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indonesian-culture/indonesian-culture-naming
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