Malaysian Names - Malay Names

Malay Names

Traditional Malay names were taken from one of a number of languages, or even a combination of two or more elements from these languages:

• Malay, for example Kiambang, Mayang or Tuah
• Khmer, Siamese or Cham, for example Tam, Som or Lai
• Javanese, for example Ratnasari, Joyo or Kesuma
• Sanskrit or Pali, for example Wira, Darma or Wati

Arabic names were introduced later along with Islam but didn't become dominant among commoners until the colonial era. Although traditional Malay names were still widely used for centuries afterward, they are now primarily confined to rural areas. Malaysia's National Registration Department doesn't allow names with negative or obscene meanings, such as Pendek which means short. The Department additionally bans names with the meaning of colours, animals and natural phenomena. This effectively renders many traditional names illegal including Puteh or Putih (white), Wulan or Bulan (moon), Suria (sun), Rimau (tiger) and Awan (cloud). Partly because of these restrictions and mostly as a result of the increased religious awareness during the last century, the vast majority of Malays today tend to favour Arabic names. However, names from the following languages are common as well:

• Persian, for example Jehan, Mirza or Shah
• Greek or Latin, for example Maria, Marina or Johana
• English, for example Tiara, Orked or Ros

Names of Arab-Hebrew origins are also common, for example Adam, Yaacob, Ishak, Bunyamin and Daniel and Sarah. Additionally, names of Arab-Hebrew origins that are seldom used by the Muslim Arabs are widespread among Malays, such as the female names of Meriam or Miriam (the Arabs commonly spell it as Maryam), Saloma and Rohana.

In pre-modern times, words and names of Arabic derivation were adapted to suit the Classical Malay language. This is still reflected in the rural pronunciation of certain Middle Eastern names. Thus, Sharif would be Sarip and Aziz would become Ajis.