Names

What's in a name? The Balinese have an interesting naming custom. Every name includes your birth order. Putu means first born, Made - second, Nyoman - third, and Ketut - fourth. These are the names used by their family. In school, since there are so many with the same name, they have a more formal name, but even though it comes at the end, it is not their family name. That comes at the beginning - sort of. I indicates male, Ni, female for the Sudra caste (90% of Balinese). This is replaced with upper-castes titles for decendants of kings, priests and generals. So our driver's name is I Made (pronounced Mah-day) Suena, the surf guide's name is Si Nyoman Wijaya, and our housekeeper's name Ni Ketut Widiani. Too confusing! Ketut is by the door and Nyoman with Tom.