A bilingual name dictionary
Indonesian names & their meanings
A bilingual dictionary of names used in Indonesia, with meanings in Indonesian and English, origins, pronunciation and spelling variants.
- names
- 8,940names
- with meanings
- 8,072with meanings
- languages of origin
- 14languages of origin
- audio pronunciations
- 9,713audio pronunciations
Most common male namesSee all →
- Muhammad♂Much praised
- Ahmad♂More praiseworthy, most deserving of praise
- Abdul♂Servant of
- Agus♂Great, venerable
- Ali♂Exalted, high in rank
- Putra♂Son
- Bambang♂A young nobleman or warrior
- Budi♂Intellect, intelligence, moral character
- Achmad♂More praiseworthy, most deserving of praise
- Muhamad♂Much praised
- Yusuf♂May God add
- Hidayat♂Guidance toward the right path
Most common female namesSee all →
Islamic girl namesSee all →
Browse A–ZAll letters →
By origin
The language a name comes from
Collections
Name generators & toolsAll tools →
- Name finderPopular Filter by gender, meaning, first letter, syllables, origin and rarity. Open tool →
- Name combination generatorNew Build two- or three-word full names from names whose meanings fit together. Open tool →
- Parents’ name combinerPopular Baby names that blend the father’s and mother’s names: real names first, then creative blends. Open tool →
- Sibling & twin names Names that pair with an older child’s name, and twin pairs by letter, rhyme or meaning. Open tool →
- Name in Javanese scriptNew Type a name and see how it is written in Javanese script (hanacaraka). Open tool →
- Names like this one Love a name? Find others with the same meaning, a similar sound or the same ending. Open tool →
Guides for parentsAll guides →
- How to choose an Indonesian baby name
Choose an Indonesian baby name with clear meaning, comfortable pronunciation and consistent spelling. Compare two- and three-word names and registration rules.
- Indonesian name registration rules under Permendagri 73/2022
Understand Indonesia’s baby name rules: the 60-character limit, two-word guidance, abbreviations, punctuation and titles before registering a birth.
- Javanese naming traditions: single names, meanings, and titles
Explore Javanese naming traditions, from single names and Sanskrit roots to Su-, adult names, final -o spellings, and Raden titles, with examples.
- Balinese birth-order names explained
Learn how Balinese birth-order names work, from Wayan to Ketut, why the cycle restarts with a fifth child, and how I, Ni and traditional titles fit.
- Old and modern spellings of Indonesian names
Understand old Indonesian name spellings, the 1947 and 1972 reforms, Arabic-derived variants, and how IndonesianNames groups related forms in one entry.
- Why do many Indonesians have only one name?
Learn why Indonesian mononyms are complete names, how surnames and patronymics differ, what FNU means abroad, and how the two-word naming rule works.
Guide
Explore Indonesian names through meaning, language, and tradition
Indonesian names draw on overlapping languages and naming traditions, so a familiar spelling can carry more than one context. Explore Indonesian baby names here by meaning, linguistic origin, or cultural usage, then read the individual entry before deciding what a name means to you.
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A broad starting point
Browse 8,940 names, including 5,233 boy names, 2,843 girl names, and 864 unisex names. Meanings are available for 5,462 entries.
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Meaning with context
Entries bring together Indonesian and English meanings, linguistic origins, and cultural usage. These describe the name, not the identity or character of its bearer.
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Look beyond the Roman spelling
Explore spelling variants, syllables, famous namesakes, and Islamic name history. Arabic script and Aksara Jawa and Sunda—Javanese and Sundanese writing systems—offer additional context.
Start with a meaning that interests you
If you are looking for Indonesian names with meanings, begin with an idea you want to explore rather than an isolated English gloss. Nur means “light, illuminating radiance,” while Sri means “splendor, beauty, prosperity.” Their entries offer different linguistic contexts even when both appeal to someone seeking a luminous or uplifting name. The meaning index helps you compare related ideas. Treat each meaning as a description of the name’s language history, rather than a prediction about the person who carries it.
Separate linguistic origin from cultural usage
Javanese names, Balinese names, and Islamic Indonesian names are useful browsing interests, but they refer to cultural or religious naming contexts rather than interchangeable language categories. A name may have a linguistic origin and also appear across several traditions. Compare the origin index with the cultural usage index to keep those questions distinct. For names associated with Islamic naming history, explore the Islamic tradition collection. None of these labels establishes a bearer’s religion, ethnicity, caste, or place of birth.
Read the entry before building a shortlist
Use the Indonesian boy names and Indonesian girl names collections as starting points, then look closely at spelling, syllables, and usage in each entry. A short English meaning cannot capture every linguistic distinction. uncertain interpretations are labelled. The methodology explains how to read this information. If you compare popularity, remember that it reflects a sample of recorded names, including notable people and aggregated records, rather than national naming data.
Make your browsing more useful
- Keep the exact spelling beside each name on your shortlist.
- Compare the Indonesian meaning with its English explanation.
- Read origin and cultural usage as separate parts of the entry.
- Check pronunciation before combining names into a longer form.
Frequently asked questions
Are all Indonesian names originally from Indonesian?
No. The collection includes names with different linguistic origins and names used across overlapping cultural traditions.
Does a name’s meaning describe someone’s personality?
No. A meaning explains the name; it does not establish the bearer’s character or future.
Can I browse names used beyond a single gender category?
Yes. The unisex collection provides another route when you want to explore beyond the boy and girl lists.
A careful reference, not a random list
We separate a name’s meaning, its linguistic origin and the communities that use it, label uncertain meanings clearly, and never assume anything about a person from their name.