Naming Traditions in Java

     Java is the name of one ethnic group which is the largest in terms of numbers compared to other ethnic groups. Their home regions are Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), Central Java and East Java. Among them there is a tradition regarding naming. According to the belief of some Javanese people, giving an inappropriate name to a child will result in the child being ill or having a bad luck. That was a kind of scary.

     Giving names to newborns baby, Javanese people have many ways to determine what the baby's name:

1. Based on the time of birth.

Giving names based on these times is usually intended as a marker of when this baby is born.

• Based on morning or night birth time
Ratri : If the baby is born at night
Rina : If the baby is born at noon
Enjang : If the baby is born in the morning

• Based on day
Senan, Saniman, Saniah, are given to children born on Monday.
- Lasa, Lasiman, Lasiah, Lasmini, Lasman, given to children born on Tuesday.
- Rebi, Rubinah, Rubiyo, given to children born on Wednesday.
- Kemis, Misman, Misiah, Kemin, were given to children born on Thursday.
- Jumidi, Jumali, Jumini, Juminah, Jumiyo, given to children born on Friday.
- Setu, Saptini, Sabeni, given to children born on Saturday.
- Ngadinah, Ngatiman, Ngatemi, Ngatino, given to children born on Dino Ngahat (Sunday).

• Based on "pasaran"
Pasaran is days in Javanese terms, its only 5 days on 1 Pasaran (Pon, Wage, Kliwon, Legi, and Paing)
-Ponirah, Poniman, Poinah, Ponijan, if the baby is born on Pon.
-Wagino, Wagiman, Waginah, Wagini, if the baby is born on Wage.
-Kliman, Klimin, Kliwon, if the baby is born on Kliwon.
-Tugino, Tuginah, Tugimin, Tugiman, given to children born on Saturday Legi.
-Paino, Painem, Paimah, Paijo, Paimin, if the baby is born on Paing.

• Based on month
Java has its lunar months. This is adapted from the use of months in the Islamic calendar. And also has a national months or sun months.

Examples of names that use the base of the Java month are:
- Suro Surati, Suratmi, Suratinah, Suratmin, Suratman, if the baby is born in Suro
- Sapariah, Suparmi, Supardi, Suparno, if the baby is born in Sapar.
- Mulyati, Mulyani, Mulyadi, Mulyono, if the baby is born in Mulud.
- Jumadi, Jumali, Juminah, Juminem, if the baby is born in Jumadilawal and Jumadilakir.
- Waljinah, Waluyo, Walgito, Walimin, Waluyan, if the baby is born in Sawal.
- Large, Bachelor, Saryanto, Saryanto, Sartini, Sarmini, Sarmina, Saryati, if the baby is born in the Big Month.

Examples of names that use the national month basis are:
- Aryani, Aryana, januar, given to if the baby is born in January.
- Maryati, Maryani, Maryono, Maryoto, Margono, if the baby is born in March.
- Apriati, Priatmi, Priono, Private, if the baby is born in April.
- Mei, Meilani, Meidiaswari, Meilani, if the baby is born in May.
- Yuni, Yuniarti, if the baby is born in June.
- Yuli, Yulianto, Yuliana, if the baby is born in July.
- Agustin, Agustinah, Agus, if the baby is born in August.
- Septiani, Septianingsih, Saptoto, if the baby is born in September.
- Nofianto, Novianti, if the baby is born in November.

• Based on special events or important
days
- Name: Merdekawati, Mardikani, Mardikoyuwono, if the baby is born at the independence day (1945).
- Name: Linggarjati, because the baby is born during the Linggarjati agreement.
- Name: Hariadi, Fitriani, because the baby is born on Idul Fitri.
- Irianto, Irawati, iriani, when the baby is born during the expulsion of the Dutch from West Irian.
- Purnomo, when the baby is born during the full moon
- Gerhono, when the baby is born during the eclipse

2. Based on the birth order

Giving baby names is also done by Javanese based on birth order.
- The firts baby's name: pratomo, Ika, eka, eko
- The second baby's name: Dwi
- The third baby's name: Triono, Tri, tr
- The fourth baby'a name: Catur, Caturini, and so on.

3. Based on the situation when the baby was born

The situation when a baby is born usually can also be used as an inspiration to give a name, if in a bad situation usually the naming is based on better expectations. For the example:
- Gangsar: The baby is born facile
- Beja: which means luck
- Sugeng: which means safe
- Widada: which means safe

4. Based on adjectives that have positive meaning.

Being a good person is the parents' greatest hope for their children, that's why giving a baby's name by taking from adjectives is often done by Javanese people. Also In the form of ideals or expectations of parents to their children
- Name: Slamet, Widodo, Mulyono, Rahayu, hope that the baby will be safe.
- Name: Prakoso, Santoso, Kuwato, hope that the baby will be strong
- Name: Margono, Sugiharto, Hartati, Hartini, Sri Rejeki, hope that the baby has a lot of sustenance or become a rich person.
- Name: Sabar, Trimo, Bariah, Sabarti, hope that the baby will become a patient person.
- Name: Cahyono, Cahyadi, Kartikasari, Fajarini, hope that the baby will be brilliant in his life.

5. Based on objects that have a positive name

The giving of baby names which refers to the names of objects is mostly done by Javanese so that the child who is born can have the nature or character as the object that is used as the name.
- Baskara: means sun
- Sekar: means flower
- Kirana: means light
- Rukmi: means gold
- Cahya: means light
- Kartica: means star, and others

6. Based on wayang

By giving the name of a wayang's character, parents hope that the baby can later "become" or imitate the character.
- Dananjaya: which means Arjuna
- Ismaya: which means Semar.
- Mayangkara: means Hanuman.
- Wisnu: Wisnu batara figure

7. Based on a combination of his/her parents names

This name combination can be a nickname or just a last name. The example:
- Mother: Surti +Father: Januar = Surja
- Mother: Reni + Bapak Yanto = Rian

     But in nowaday in globalization era, those name is rarely used. Parents prefer to give names which cooler, more modern, easier to call and more pleasant to hear. Usually taken from Arabic, English, Greek, Latin and so on. 

     Much children are shame of their own names because they think their name is bad, sometimes they also become the joke or became the victim of bullying of their friends. Therefore parents now are aware of that and of course, parents want to give "the best of the best name" to their children.