Origin and Meaning of Nonya

Girl or daughter

Origin: Malay - The name Nonya is derived from the Malay term used to refer to a young girl or daughter, primarily in the context of Peranakan culture.

• Nonya is closely associated with the Peranakan or Straits Chinese culture, where it denotes a woman of Chinese descent born in Malaya.
• In the context of the Peranakan culture, 'Nyonya' also refers to the culinary traditions, which are a fusion of Chinese and Malay cuisines.
• Notable bearers of the name include Nyonya chefs who are renowned for their cooking, preserving traditional recipes that blend the two cultures.
• The popularity of the name Nonya has remained relatively steady within communities that embrace Peranakan culture, though it is less common in contemporary usage.
• Variations of the name include 'Nyonya' and can also be found in different contexts, such as being used informally to refer to women in Indonesian slang.