Bali’s famously bold and unconventional governor, Wayan Koster, has confirmed a new initiative: starting in 2025, children born with the traditional Balinese Hindu names Nyoman and Ketut will receive government support.
The move is aimed at reversing a cultural shift in which fewer Balinese families are choosing to have more than two children, leading to a significant decline in the number of children given these names — traditionally assigned to the third and fourth child in a Balinese family.
“Only 6% of children are now named Ketut, and just 19% are named Nyoman. This is a worrying trend. If Nyomans and Ketuts disappear, our ancestors will not be pleased,” Koster stated.
The governor explained that children with these names will be eligible for various benefits, particularly educational support, such as assistance with school uniforms and textbooks. To determine the exact mechanisms for distributing these benefits, the Bali government will establish a special working group called the “Planning Team for the Preservation of Traditional Names Nyoman/Komang and Ketut.”
In his speech, Koster emphasized that this initiative is one of his top priorities during his second term as governor. It falls under a broader umbrella of programs focused on preserving Balinese tradition, religion, arts, culture, and local wisdom. Other initiatives in this category include support for traditional villages and the protection of the Balinese script and cultural heritage.
The idea behind traditional Balinese names is that they indicate birth order within a family: the first child is typically named Wayan, the second Made, the third Nyoman or Komang, and the fourth Ketut. The name “Ketut” even translates to “little banana” — symbolizing the smallest banana at the end of the bunch, representing the last-born.
With this new program, Governor Koster is making a passionate effort to protect Bali’s cultural identity. Fortunately, as he joked, “Wayans” remain safe for now.
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