Javanese name

Javanese people typically have three-part names, each part of which is a personal name. They do not use surnames. In everyday life, only one name is used.

Culturally, Javanese people adopt a paternalistic system that traces the hierarchic lineage of the father. This system is particularly used to determine descendants' right to use royal titles before their names. However, it is not customary for Javanese to have descended family name.

Javanese do not usually have family names or surnames. Many have just a single name, for example, Sukarno or Suharto. Names may have come from traditional Javanese languages; 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 cleric and northern coast population, where Islamic influences are stronger. Commoners usually only have 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 languages. Christian Javanese usually use Latin baptist names followed with traditional Javanese name, for example Albertus Soegijopranoto, the first Indonesian bishop.

Some people use a patronymic. 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.

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