Following the strict Hindu caste system, four major castes exist, Brahmana, Satriya, Wesya, and Sudra (Jaba). The Brahmana are the priest caste, the Satriya, the noble, and the Wesya, the former vassals of the court. Everyone else is Sudra (Jaba).

Balinese names are coded to reveal both caste and birth order within the family. Nothing, of course, is simple, especially when considering inter-caste marriages, and there are always exceptions. However, the following are clues to interpreting names:
Ida Bagus (male) and Ida Ayu (female) indicate Brahmana caste. Gusti is normally used by members of the Wesya caste, whereas Gusti Agung, Anak Agung, and Cokorda are reserved for the high-ranking members of the Satriya caste. Desak (female) and Dewa (male) are lower-ranking Satriya. I (normally male) and Ni (female) are usually used by the Sudra (jaba).

Wayan, Made, Nyoman, and Ketut mean firstborn, second-born, third-born, and fourth-born, respectively. Beginning with the fifth child in the family, the cycle is repeated. Also used similarly to indicate birth order are Putu, Kadek, Komang, and Ketut. Nengah may be used by either the second or third-born child. The birth order names are normally used only by the Sudra (jaba) caste, so don't call a member of the satriya caste Wayan even if you happen to know that he/she is the oldest in the family!