Every Balinese child is named by the order of his or her birth. First born is Wayan. Second is Made (ma day). The third child is Nyoman and the fourth is Ketut.
If the family grows beyond four children, the names just start over. That's it...simple and sweet!
But no one seems to know why! It is tradition is all I hear when I ask.
I am told that each child has equal value. The only tradition regarding children is that the sons inherit equally...the daughters receive nothing.
The Balinese refer to each other by their family name or nickname rather than their given name. For we foreigners, they introduce themselves by one of the 4 names.
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