Susilo

Susilo is a Javanese masculine given name, derived from the Sanskrit Sushila via Indonesian adaptation. The root name Sushila (Sanskrit: सुशील or सुशीला) means "good-tempered, well-disposed," combining the prefix su- ("good") with śīla ("conduct, disposition"). In Hindu tradition, the feminine form Sushīlā denotes a consort of the god Yama. The Javanese form drops the aspirated 'i' and shortens the final vowel, yielding Susilo.

Notable Bearers

The name is most famously borne by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (born 1949), an Indonesian politician and retired army general who served as the sixth President of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014. Another bearer is Ronald Susilo (born 1979), a Singaporean badminton player of Chinese Indonesian descent. The name also appears as a surname: Susilo Wonowidjojo is an Indonesian businessman.

Cultural Context

In Javanese onomastics, Susilo reflects the influence of Sanskrit and Hindu culture on the archipelago, particularly through the adoption of Indic names denoting virtuous qualities. The name is also encountered in Indonesia as a variant Susila, and in other languages as Sushil (Nepali) and Sushila (Hindu). While primarily a male given name in Java, the underlying Sanskrit root is unisex with distinct feminine and masculine forms.

• Meaning: "good-tempered, well-disposed"
• Origin: Javanese adaptation of Sanskrit Sushila
• Type: Given name (also surname)
• Usage region: Indonesia, particularly Java