Javanese name

Javanese people have various systems for naming. Many Javanese have only one name and no surname. Others use their father's name as well as their own, in a similar manner to European patronymics. For example, Abdurrahman Wahid's name is derived from Wahid Hasyim, his father, an independence fighter and minister. In turn, Wahid Hasyim's name was derived from his father named Hasyim Asyari, a famous cleric and founder of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization. Another example is former president Megawati Sukarnoputri; the last part of the name is a patronymic, meaning "Sukarno's daughter".

Culturally, Javanese people use a patrilineal system that traces the hierarchic lineage of the father. This system is particularly used to determine descendants' rights to use royal titles before their names. However, it is not customary for Javanese to pass on a family name, except in Suriname, which has a large Javanese population. Surnames in Suriname Javanese are usually derived from the names of their ancestors who immigrated from Java between 1890-1939. Suriname Javanese people usually use Western (mostly Dutch) given names, and Javanese surnames, many of which are archaic in Java itself. The example of Suriname Javanese surnames are Atmodikoro, Bandjar, Dasai, Hardjoprajitno, Irodikromo, Kromowidjojo, Moestadja, Pawironadi, Redjosentono, Somohardjo, etc. 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.

Many Javanese have just a single name, for example, Sukarno, Suharto, or Boediono. Many names have come from traditional Javanese language, many derived from Sanskrit. Names with the prefix Su-, which means good, are very popular. After the advent of Islam, many Javanese used Arabic names, especially among clerics and the northern coast population, where Islamic influence is strong. There are many Javanese-style Arabic names such as Marpuah (from Marfu'ah), Ngabdurohman (from Abdurrahman), Slamet (from Salamah), Sarip (from Sharif), Solichin (from Salihin), etc.

Commoners usually have only one-word names, while nobles use names of two or more words, but rarely a surname. Due to the influence of other cultures, many people started using names from other languages, mainly European. Catholic Javanese usually use Latin baptismal names followed by a traditional Javanese name, for example Albertus Soegijopranoto, the first Indonesian bishop. Albertus is his baptismal name, while Soegijopranoto is his traditional Javanese given name.

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