Our standards
Editorial policy
We help readers understand Indonesian names through clear explanations, evidence that can be assessed, and visible limits on what is known.
Name meanings are based on dictionaries and reference works for the source language. We explain uncertainty and competing interpretations within entries, welcome reader corrections, and update explanations when the evidence supports a change. Advertising never determines content.
How are name meanings assessed?
Evidence before inference
Explanations consider linguistic form, word history, and usage as a name. Similar sounds alone do not establish a shared origin or meaning.
Uncertainty stays visible
Where evidence is limited, meanings are qualified as uncertain or possible. An appealing interpretation is not presented as an established definition.
Competing origins explained
When several etymologies are plausible, we explain their differences and the limits of the evidence. The same spelling may have separate histories in different languages or naming traditions.
How do we explain name meanings and origins?
| Basis | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Source-language references | Meanings draw on dictionaries and reference works for the source language. |
| Limits of certainty | Entries explain where a meaning or origin remains uncertain. |
| Competing interpretations | Significant differences about meaning or origin are explained in plain words. |
How are entries developed and corrected?
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Source-based explanations
Each entry draws on dictionaries and reference works for the source language to explain meaning and origin. Uncertainty is described in plain words so readers can understand the limits of the available evidence.
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Considering new evidence
An objection supported by sources can help clarify an entry. When sources offer different meanings or origins, the entry explains those differences in plain words; explanations are corrected when the evidence supports a change.
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Corrections and replies
Use report a correction to identify the name, the detail you question, and your supporting evidence. We assess reports, correct errors when supported by evidence, and explain the outcome or request details through an available reply channel.
What do we exclude?
- Claims that names determine personality, destiny, or future events; numerology is discussed only as a belief.
- Invented popularity figures or claims that a recorded sample represents Indonesia’s entire population.
- Assumptions about a person’s religion, ethnicity, caste, home region, or character based on their name.
- Verbatim copies of other people’s writing.
Questions about our editorial standards
Does reviewed mean certainly correct?
No. It means an editor has examined the entry, not that every question is settled. New evidence may change its explanation or status.
Are all suggested corrections accepted?
Suggestions are assessed on their supporting reasons. Changes are not automatic; when evidence remains insufficient, the uncertainty stays visible.
How should I interpret popularity information?
Treat it as a view of the recorded sample, not a national ranking. Our methodology explains the limits of that interpretation.
Last updated .