Names of Balinese

Till now the names of Bali people are closely related to social strata or castes, and the names reflect cast, clan, family and group . Among of the castes are  Brahmana cast(first cast), Ksatrya (second cast) , Waisya (third cast) and  Sudra(the last /lowest cast). In daily activities, there are different treatments in term of language, attitude, and place for each cast in Bali. However, although Sudra is classified as the lowest cast, the majority of Bali People are Sudra. On this opportunity I just discuss about the naming of Balinese  in Sudra cast:

If the Balinese name with an initial “I”, meaning the person is a Man, for example : I Putu Kancrung, I Wayan Mara, I Gede Buyar,  I Nengah Cedil, I Kadek Dolar, I Ketut Gemuh, etc. However, if the initial name  begins with “Ni” , meaning the person is “Woman”, for example : Ni Luh Mongkeg, Ni Putu Koncreng, Ni Made Ayu, Ni Komang Centil
So I or Ni indicate sex, while Wayan, Putu, Nengah, Kadek, Ketut, Nyoman,and  Kamng are the number of birth .In relation to number of birth for Balinese  so that Balinese name their children as follows:

·         Wayan or Gede or Putu is the first child in family

·         Made or Kadek or Nengah is the second child

·         Nyoman or Komang is the third child

·         Ketut is forth child.

Actually in Bali has had family planning from long years ago, but in case of Balinese has more than 4 children than the naming be returned to the beginning, so in the past it is common in Balinese family has more than 2 Wayan or Made or Nyoman, even Ketut.

Those also have made Bali very unique !