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Naming customs in Fiji vary between ethnic groups. They have also been largely influenced by Western practices. Therefore, traditional indigenous and Indo-Fijian names are often adapted to suit Western standards.

Traditional Fijian Names

• For most Fijians, the two names they have are both given names. One is often a Christian name while the other is traditional (e.g. Chris Apenisa).
• Surnames are not a traditional practice in Fijian culture but have been adopted with the Western influence. It is common to make one’s traditional name their last name.

Traditional Indian Names

• Many Indian names do not include a surname. The initial of the father’s name is placed before their first name (e.g. N. Kumar). When addressed formally, the name is written as ‘s/o N. Kumar’. ‘S/o’ means ‘son of’, while ‘d/o’ is used for females and means ‘daughter of’.
• Sometimes when women marry, they omit their father’s initial and adopt their husband’s first name as their surname (e.g. Nita KUMAR). However, it is also common for women to adopt their husband’s family name (e.g. Nita VASANI).