Spread across a chain of thousands of islands between Asia and Australia, Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population and Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. It is highly diverse, with hundreds of linguistic and ethnic groups. Indonesian names and naming traditions reflect the multicultural nature of the more than 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago. Unlike Western naming traditions, most Indonesian parents pick only one name for their children, which is culturally or geographically specific. With this in mind, you will notice that the names on this list have sounds and influences diverse as their cultures and also carry powerful depth and meaning. To inspire your Indonesian baby name search, we’ve put together a list of great Indonesian baby names for boys and girls, as well as unisex names, to help you narrow the field.
Adinda
Origin: Indonesian, Dutch
Meaning: Sister or eldest daughter
A formal or poetic term in Indonesian, the name was used by Dutch writer Eduard Douwes Dekker for one of the characters in his story “Saïdjah and Adinda” in his 1860 novel Max Havelaar.
Adiratna
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Beautiful jewel
Agung
Origin: Indonesian, Bahasa
Meaning: The great
Agus
Origin: Indonesian, Malay
Meaning: Handsome, excellent
Alternative form of Bagus
Aisyah
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Happy life
Aisha was the wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Angkasa
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: The sky
Angkasa is a last name commonly found in Indonesia among its Chinese community.
Aninda
Origin: Indonesian, Hindi
Meaning: Dear
Annisa
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Friendly, friend
Aulia
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Leader
Bagus
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Handsome, excellent
Banyu
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Water
Baskoro
Origin: Indonesian, Sanskrit
Meaning: The sun
Basuki
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: To flourish
Batara
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: God
Batara (also called Bhattara Guru, Debata Batara Guru, and Batara Siwa) is the name of a supreme god in Indonesian Hinduism
Batari
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Goddess
Bayu
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Wind
Bejo
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Lucky
Bethari
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Goddess
Bima
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Brave
Bhakti
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Obedient boy
Bimo
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Dear
Budi
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Good manner, wisdom
From Sanskrit बुद्धि (buddhi) meaning “intellect” (related to Buddha).
Bulan
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: The moon
Associated with Tagalog mythology where Bulan was an alias for the deity, Mayari.
Cahya
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Light
Cahyo
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Light
Javanese form of Cahaya
Candra
Origin: Indonesian, Hindi
Meaning: The moon
Cinta
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Love
From Sanskrit चिन्ता (chinta).
Cipto
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: To create
Citra
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Image
From Sanskrit चित्र (chitra).
Citro
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Image
Daksa
Origin: Indonesian, Hindi
Meaning: Competent
Darma
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Good deed or duty
From Hindi
Dewi
Origin: Indonesian, Malay
Meaning: Goddess
Indonesian and Malay version of the Hindu devi (“goddess”). Common in the Netherlands due to the old colonial relationship between the two countries.
Diah
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Young female
Diann
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: A candle
Dinda
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Eldest daughter
Short form of Adinda
Dumadi
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Becoming
Elang
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Falcon
Endah
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Beautiful
Fadhlan
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Gift from God
Fauzi
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Glory
Gesang
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Life
Guntur
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Thunder
Harem
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Aromatic
Harto
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Treasure
The name is a common last name among Chinese-Indonesians.
Icha
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Scorpio
Indah
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Beautiful one
A variation of Endah.
Intan
Origin: Indonesian, Malay
Meaning: Diamond
Joyo
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Successful, victorious
Kemala
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Magic stone
Kirana
Origin: Indonesian, Hindi
Meaning: Beautiful sunbeam
Kulon
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: The west
Kusuma
Origin: Indonesian, Hindi
Meaning: Flower
Lestari
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Eternal, abiding
Marshanda
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Rose
Mawar
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Rose
Mega
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: The clouds
Mego
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Clouds
Melati
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Jasmine flower
Mentari
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: The sun
Merpati
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Dove
Murni
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Pure
Nabila
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Lovely or kind-hearted
Netro
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Vision
Nisrina
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: White rose
Indonesian form of the Arabic name Nasrin.
Novita
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Gift of god
A common girl’s name in Indonesia.
Nurul
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Light
Permata
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Precious stones
Pramana
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Wisdom
Putri
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Daughter
Raden
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Nobility of Javanese descent
Raden is related to the Malagasy noble titles of Randriana or Andriana, both of which are derived from the word “Rahadyan” (Ra-hadi-an), meaning “Lord” or “Master” in Old Javanese.
Rimba
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Jungle
Rimbo
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Jungle
Roro
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Nobility
Sari
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Essence
Senen
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Monday
Setiawan
Origin: Indonesian, Malay
Meaning: Loyal, true
Sinta
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Chastity
Javanese form of Sita
Soleh
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Religious
Sopan
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Polite
Syifa
Origin: Indonesian, Arabic
Meaning: Cure
Taufik
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Good fortune
Indonesian form of Arabic Tawfiq.
Timur
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: The east
Tirto
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese
Meaning: Sacred water, place of pilgrimage
Javanese form of Tirta.
Tri
Origin: Indonesian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Three, third
Widya
Origin: Indonesian, Javanese, Arabic, Sanskrit
Meaning: Knowledge, science, learning
Wulan
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: Moon
Vina
Origin: Indonesian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Lute
Yuda
Origin: Indonesian
Meaning: War
From Sanskrit युद्ध (yuddha)