What's In a Name, and Why so Many Wayans?

I was only here for a few weeks before I noticed it. So many businesses were called Wayan and Made. There was Made Motors, Wayan Laundry, repeating across the entire island.

My driver’s name was Made (pronounced “Mah-Day”). Locals often called him Pak Made or Pak De (pronounced Pawk-Day) for short, which means "Mister Made”.

When I went to a large, local gathering I’d hear the names being repeated, and I found it very confusing. I decided to look into it.

Known as the Empat Gelar naming system, Balinese names have three parts: A title, a birth order name, and a personal name. Balinese use the birth order name to refer to one another.

The names vary according to caste, regional customs and variations of dialects on the island. Names follow a predictable, circular cycle.

A first-born child will be called Wayan, Putu or Gede (pronounced “Why-Ahn”, “Pooh-Too”, or “Gah-Day”). These names signify the beginning, the eldest energy that leads the siblings. This means an only child will always be a Wayan.

A second-born child receives the name Made, Kadek, or Nengah (pronounced “Kaw-Deck”, or “Nun-Nyah”). This translates to “middle” or “middle child”.

The third-born child is named Nyoman (pronounced “Nee-Yo-Mon”) or Komang (pronounced “Koh-Mang”) and the fourth child is called Ketut (pronounced “Kuh-Tut”). Ketut simply means the fourth or the last-born child (of this grouping).

What happens when a family has more than four children? Herein lies why you’ll come across so many Wayans, Mades, and more.

The fifth child would restart the cycle over, often being named Wayan Balik, roughly translated to Wayan again or Wayan returns.

Life is cyclical in Bali, after all.

What about a sixth, seventh, eighth child? The same system will just keep repeating. A sixth child, then, would also be a Made, but not the original Made, but Made Balik (meaning Made again or Made returns).

Things begin to get complicated with child number nine.

Since the four names forever repeat, this child would be another Wayan. To make a distinction from the first Wayans, they’d be called Wayan Cenik (pronounced “Chen-Eek”). Cenik means the smallest, or the littlest, literally “the littlest Wayan”.

This continues in perpetuity.

The only minor exception to these names in Bali is the noble castes.

Brahmin (priests) add Ida Bagus (pronounced “E-dah Bag-oos”) for men and Ida Ayu (pronounced “I-you”) for women. Therefore, Ida Bagus Wayan would be a firstborn son of the priestly elite.

The Satria (warriors and princes) use Anak Agung or Cokorda. Therefore, a second-born princely child would become Anak Agung Made or Anak Agung Kadek.

The Wesia (merchants and administrators) sometimes use the name I Gusti, particularly in Karangasem and Klungkung, Bali.

With these cyclical names also come roles. In their Hindu tradition, birth order reflects cosmic order and cosmic hierarchy.

The oldest child represents Bali’s most sacred mountain, Mount Agung, which is seen as the axis of the sacred. Because of this, they are viewed as being spiritually responsible for the house.

Second-born children are symbolized by the sea. They are linked to change and trade. For this reason, family logistics fall into their wheelhouse.

Komang or Nyoman, the third-born child, is represented by the forest, and the space of meditation between the sea and the mountains. They are expected to be the most diplomatic.

Finally, Ketut represents a cultivated field, a place of transformation. They are meant to carry on family traditions and strengthen family bonds.

The most difficult part for me was processing that there is no family name.

I asked a local friend if this ever causes problems. He said traveling can be challenging. Making sure the name on the passport matches the correct categories on a boarding pass when the airline data might perceive their (first) name as their last name, and other challenges.

Because there are millions of Wayans and Mades across Indonesia, and because some have exactly the same names such as I Wayan Agus, information regarding legal identity must be checked and cross-checked. This is done by using street names, Banjar (geographic district) locations, and local clan and family affiliation.

That’s particularly important if a I Wayan Agus commits a crime and has a warrant issued for his arrest.

For people working in Balinese law, (and literally everyone else) though, it’s just another day of cyclical names.

Celeste A Vale, Bali

July 24, 2026