Names of Malay Folklore Characters Derived from Native Malay Words

This article is written in Indonesian. For the version in Cakep Malayu, please see it here!

Hay saada parcakep!

How are you today? In this post, the admin will share several names of figures from Malay folklore that originate from genuine Malay and Malayic words. As a people with a long history, the Malays naturally possess a rich body of traditional stories. The names of characters in these tales often derive from Sanskrit or Arabic due to the influence of Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic traditions within Malay society. However, it is not uncommon for these characters to bear names originating from native or genuine Malay/Malayic vocabulary. As enthusiasts of Cakep Malayu, it is important for us to identify and become familiar with these authentic Malay names, which may even inspire us when naming our children in the future. Below is a list of such names together with brief explanations.

Read also: Name Inspirations Derived from Genuine Malay Words

Hang Tuah

Hang Tuah was a renowned martial artist in Malay society, especially in Johor, Riau, and the Riau Islands. He is believed to have lived during the fifteenth century in the Malacca Sultanate under the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah.

The word hang likely comes from the local dialectal pronunciation of Proto-Malayic uɣaŋ (“person”), evolving through uhaŋ to haŋ. Meanwhile, tuah derives from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian tuaq (“fortune, good luck”).

Orang Kayo Hitam

Orang Kayo Hitam (Cakep spelling: Uraŋ Kaya Hitem) is the local title of Sayyid Ahmad Kamil. He was the fourth Malay ruler of Jambi, reigning from 1500 to 1515. Among the people of Jambi, he was renowned for his supernatural powers and bravery.

The word orang comes from Proto-Malayic uɣaŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian uɣaŋ (“outsider, person”). Kayo is the Jambi dialect pronunciation of kaya, which derives from Proto-Malayic kaya, from Proto-Austronesian kaya (“strong, capable, wealthy”). Hitam comes from Proto-Malayic hitəm, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian qitəm (“black”).

Pahit Lidah

Pahit Lidah (“Bitter Tongue”) was the title of Prince Serunting, a legendary figure whose story is widespread throughout southern Sumatra, including the provinces of Jambi, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, and Lampung. According to legend, Pahit Lidah possessed magical powers whereby everything he spoke would come true.

The word pahit derives from Proto-Malayic pahit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian paqit, from Proto-Austronesian paqits. Lidah comes from Proto-Malayic dilah, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian dilaq, from Proto-Austronesian dilaq.

Mata Empat

Mata Empat (“Four Eyes”) was the opponent of Pahit Lidah. He defeated him by challenging him to a contest of supernatural ability in which they had to dodge fruits dropped from an aren palm tree. Because Pahit Lidah failed to avoid the falling fruit, he died.

The word mata derives from Proto-Malayic mata, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian mata, from Proto-Austronesian matsa. Empat comes from Proto-Malayic əmpat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian əpat, from Proto-Austronesian səpat.

Mayang Mangurai

Mayang Mangurai (Cakep spelling: Mayaŋ Maŋuray) was the name of Orang Kayo Hitam’s wife. She was the daughter of Tumenggung Merah Mato. In addition, one of the princesses in the Riau legend Putri Tujuh (“The Seven Princesses”) also bears the name Mayang Mengurai.

The word mayang comes from West Proto-Malayo-Polynesian mayaŋ (“the blossom of the areca or coconut palm”). Mangurai consists of mang + urai. Urai comes from Malay uray (“to come apart, unravel, unfold”).

Pinang Masak

The name Pinang Masak belongs to several different princesses in Malay folklore. In Riau Malay tradition, Pinang Masak is the wife of Putra Rengit Perkasa. In Jambi Malay folklore, she is the mother of Orang Kayo Hitam. In South Sumatran Malay tradition, Pinang Masak is the title of Nafisah, a princess from the region of Banten in West Java.

The word pinang comes from Malay pinang (“areca nut”). Masak derives from Proto-Malayic masak, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian ma-əsak (“cooked, ripe”).

Sedaro Putih

Sedaro Putih (Cakep spelling: Sadara Putih) is a princess in a Bengkulu folk legend explaining the origin of the aren palm.

The word sedaro comes from se + daro. The prefix se- derives from Proto-Malayic sa-, a shortened form of Proto-Malayic əsa, from Proto-Austronesian əsa (“one”). Daro comes from Proto-Malayic daɣa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian daɣa (“maiden, virgin”). Putih derives from Proto-Malayic putih, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian putiq (“white”).

Bawang Putih

Bawang Putih is the heroine of the Riau Malay folktale Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah. She is characterized by kindness and sincerity.

The word bawang comes from Proto-Malayic bawaŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian bawaŋ (“onion”). The origin of putih has been explained above.

Bawang Merah

Bawang Merah (Cakep spelling: Bawaŋ Mairah) is the other principal character in the Riau Malay folktale Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah. She is greedy and selfish but eventually realizes her mistakes.

The word merah derives from Proto-Malayic ma-iɣah, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian ma-iɣaq (“red”).

Aur Kuning

Aur Kuning (Cakep spelling: Haur Kuniŋ) was the name of the king of the Kingdom of Koto Alang. According to the oral traditions of the people of Lubuk Jambi in Riau, Koto Alang was founded after the collapse of the Kingdom of Kandis in Kuantan Singingi around the second century CE.

The word aur derives from Proto-Malayic hauɣ, from Proto-Austronesian qauɣ (“bamboo”). Kuning comes from Old Malay kunit + ŋ, from Proto-Malayic kunit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian kunij (“turmeric”).

Empang Kuala

Empang Kuala was a prince in the Riau legend Putri Tujuh, which tells the origin of the name Dumai.

The word empang derives from Proto-Malayic əmpʌŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian əmpəŋ (“dam, barrier, river obstruction”). Kuala comes from Malay kuala (“river mouth, estuary”).

Malin Kundang

Malin Kundang (Cakep spelling: Maalin Kaundaŋ) is the name of the disobedient son in the famous Minangkabau legend. Although remembered as an unfilial child, the name Malin Kundang itself carries a positive meaning.

The word malin comes from Minangkabau ma + alin, from Proto-Malayic alin (“to move, transfer, massage”). Kundang comes from Minangkabau kundang (“beloved, pampered”), from ka + undang, from Proto-Malayic undaŋ (“to look after, visit, pay attention to, accompany”).

Gunung Ledang

Gunung Ledang is the name of a princess mentioned in the Sulalatus Salatin, better known as the Malay Annals. In that work, the Princess of Gunung Ledang is described as extraordinarily beautiful and desired by Sultan Mahmud of the Malacca Sultanate. She received this name because she came from Mount Ledang.

The word gunung derives from Proto-Malayic gunuŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian gunuŋ (“mountain”). Ledang comes from Malay ledang (“yellowish white, radiant, glowing like clouds illuminated by sunlight”).

Buyung Besar

Buyung Besar is a character in a folktale from the Malay communities of Langkat and Deli Serdang in North Sumatra. He is said to have made several sacrifices that ultimately led to rewarding outcomes.

The word buyung derives from Proto-Malayic buyuŋ (“pot-bellied”), from West Proto-Malayo-Polynesian buyequŋ (“pot-bellied”). Besar comes from Malay besar (“big, great”).

This concludes our list of names from Malay folklore that originate from genuine Malay words. What do you think? Would you consider giving your child one of these names? You can also create entirely new names based on native Malay vocabulary.

Read also: Name Inspirations Derived from Genuine Malay Words

If you know of any other genuine Malay or Malayic names found in Malayic folklore, please do not hesitate to let the admin know in the comments section. Thank you for reading. May you always enjoy good health. My respects to you. 🌺