Colonial era until 1965

During the Dutch colonial era, the Dutch administration recorded Chinese names in birth certificates and other legal documents using an adopted spelling convention that was based primarily on the Hokkien (Southern Min), the language of the majority of Chinese immigrants in the Dutch East Indies. The administrators used the closest Dutch pronunciation and spelling of Hokkien words to record the names, condensed as the Indonesian Ejaan Lama (lit. 'old spelling'). A similar thing happened in Malaya, where the British administrators record the names using English spelling. For instance, compare the romanized spellings of 林 (English: Lim; Dutch: Liem), 黃 (English: Wee, Ooi; Dutch: Oei, Oey), 吳 (English: Goh; Dutch: Go), 陳 (English: Chan; Dutch: Tan, Tjan), 李 (English: Lee; Dutch: Lie), 樑 (English: Leong; Dutch: Liong).^[1] Furthermore, as Hokkien romanization standard did not exist then, some romanized names varied slightly. For example, 郭 (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kok) could be Kwee, Kwik, Que or Kwek, while 黃 (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ûiⁿ) is often Oei or Oey.

The spelling convention survived through the Japanese occupation (1942–1945) well into Indonesian independence (1945) and sovereignty acknowledgment by the Dutch government (1949). Since the independent Indonesian government inherited the Dutch legal system, it also survived until 1965 in the Sukarno era.

The Indonesian government later began changing Indonesian spelling to harmonize it with the spelling used for Malay in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, first under the Ejaan Suwandi introduced in 1947, and again under Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan (lit. 'perfected spelling') adopted in 1972. Modifications were identified in this updated spelling system. For instance, the Dutch-influenced "oe" transformed into "u," influenced by English. Additionally, the Dutch-style "j" underwent a shift to the English "y." Consequently, alterations in surname spellings occurred; for instance, the surname Lie became Li or Lee, Loe became Lu, Njoo became Nyoo, and Oey became Wi.

1966–1998

After Suharto came to power, his regime created many anti-Chinese legislations in Indonesia. One of them was 127/U/Kep/12/1966 which strongly encouraged ethnic Chinese living in Indonesia to adopt Indonesian-sounding names instead of the standard three-word or two-word Chinese names.

There were various strategies that were employed to obtain an Indonesianized name. Most names were Hokkien surname syllables with western or Indonesian prefix or suffix, resulting in many exotic-sounding names. However, alternate methods were also present. Furthermore, individuals may share the same Chinese surname, they may adopt different Indonesian-sounding names.^[2] Strategies used by Chinese Indonesians to adopt Indonesian-sounding names were as follows:

• Adopting an Indonesian first name, whilst still retaining their Chinese surname. For example, Sofyan Tan, née Tan Kim Yang (Chinese: 陳金揚), kept his surname Tan in his Indonesianized name. Some individuals may have also kept their surname in the beginning of their name (e.g., Ong Yenny), to adhere to traditional Chinese naming customs.
• Adopting an Indonesianized surname that contains the romanizations of their Chinese surname, usually according to their spoken variety of Chinese, most commonly Hokkien. For example, individuals with the surname Lim (林) may adopt Limanto or Halim.
• Adopting an Indonesianized name that contains their given name and their surname. For example, the adaptation of Suwandi Kosim from Kho Chuan Suan and Sotiniwati from Lie So Tin.
• Translating the meaning of their Chinese surname into an Indonesianized surname, to Bahasa Indonesia or other Indonesian regional languages. For example, the famous political activist and businessman Sofjan Wanandi, née Liem Bian Koen (Chinese: 林綿坤) translated his surname Lim (林), which meant forest, to the old Javanese wana, which had the same meaning. Furthermore, he also added the male suffix -ndi, resulting in the surname Wanandi.
• Adopting an actual Indonesian surname, which were usually selected based on nearby ethnic groups. Examples include Ratulangi and Sambuaga (Sulawesi); Samikrian, Tengku, and Piliang (Sumatra); Mitang (Lesser Sunda Islands); and Engko, Mony, and Hatuwe (Maluku).
• Adopting Indonesian-sounding names that were not an Indonesianized version of their Chinese surname. For example, a person with the surname Si (徐) may have chosen unrelated names like Hartono or Soetjipto.

Despite the Indonesianization, the Hokkien surnames are still used today by the Chinese-Indonesian diaspora overseas (mostly in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States); usually by Chinese-Indonesians courageous enough during Suharto's regime to keep their Chinese names (e.g., Kwik Kian Gie), or by those who couldn't afford to process the name change through Indonesia's civil bureaucracy.

2000–present

After Suharto resigned from the presidency, subsequent governments revoked the ban on the ethnic Chinese from speaking and learning Chinese in public. Using the original Chinese surnames is no longer a taboo but only a small minority have decided to re-adopt the original Hokkien names of their grandparents or to use the Mandarin Chinese pinyin romanization, pronunciation and spelling, for example author Maria Audrey Lukito legally changed her name to Yu Jia Hui (Chinese: 俞佳慧).^[4][5]

陳 (Chén)

• Amir Syamsuddin, née Freddy Tan Toan Sin, former Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights (2011–2014).
• Arman Chandra, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Medan (2020–2025).
• Angela Tanoesoedibjo, the Indonesian Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (2019–present).
• Candra Wijaya, née Tan Kah Liang (Chinese: 陳甲亮), badminton player.
• Daniel Tjen, Indonesian National Army Major General and neurologist.
• Edric Tjandra, comedian.
• Eddy Tansil, née Tan Tjoe Hong (Chinese: 陳珠芳), businessman and criminal.
• Hadi Soesastro, née Tan Yueh Ming (Chinese: 陳余明), economist.
• Hary Tanoesoedibjo, businessman, politician, and founder of MNC Asia Holding.
• Heaven Tanudiredja, fashion designer.
• Ines Putri Tjiptadi Chandra, titleholder of Miss Indonesia 2012.
• James Danandjaja, née Tan Soe Lien (Chinese: 陳士林), anthropologist and folklorist.
• Ken Kawan Soetanto, née Chen Wen Quan (Chinese: 陳文泉), physician, academician, and pharmacist.
• Mely G. Tan, née Mely Tan Giok Lan (Chinese: 陳玉蘭), sociologist.
• Rafael Landry Tanubrata, singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, and member of SM*SH.
• Vania Larissa Tan, singer and beauty pageant titleholder.
• Sarwendah Tan, singer, model, actress, businesswoman, former member of Cherrybelle.
• Sofyan Tan, née Tan Kim Yan (Chinese: 陳金揚), physician and activist.
• Sukanto Tanoto, née Tan Kang Hoo (Chinese: 陳江和), businessman and founder of Royal Golden Eagle.
• Sutanto Tan, football player.
• William Tanuwijaya, entrepreneur and founder of Tokopedia.

黃 (Huáng)

• Abdul Karim Oei, née Oei Tjeng Hien (Chinese: 黃增賢), Muslim figure.
• Angelique Widjaja or Huang Yi Lin (Chinese: 黄依林), tennis player.
• Chelsea Olivia Wijaya, actress and model.
• Christiandy Sanjaya, née Bong Hon Sham (Chinese: 黃漢山), former Vice Governor of West Kalimantan (2008–2013, 2013–2018)
• Christianto Wibisono, née Oey Kian Kok (Chinese: 黃建國), economist.
• Dion Wiyoko, presentor and actor.
• Eka Tjipta Widjaja, née Oei Ek Tjhong (Chinese: 黃奕聰), businessman and founder of Sinarmas Group.
• Indrawati Oey, academician and researcher.
• Michael Bambang Hartono, née Oei Hwie Siang (Chinese: 黃惠祥), businessman and co-owner of Djarum and BCA.
• Morgan Oey, actor, singer, and former member of band SM*SH.
• Robert Budi Hartono, née Oei Hwie Tjhong (Chinese: 黃惠忠), businessman and co-owner of Djarum and BCA.

李 (Lǐ)

• Alvin Lie, née Lie Ling Piauw (Chinese: 李寧彪), member of the Indonesian National Mandate Party.
• John Lie Tjeng Tjoan (李約翰), Indonesian Navy officer and Indonesian national hero.
• Lie Agustinus Dharmawan, née Lie Tek Bie, activist and surgeon.
• Mochtar Riady, née Lie Mo Tie (Chinese: 李文正), businessman and founder of Lippo Group.

林 (Lín)

• Albert Halim, actor.
• Anthony Salim, née Liem Hong Sien (Chinese: 林逢生), businessman and head of the Salim Group.
• Benny Wijaya, or Lin Bing Chao (Chinese: 林秉超), Taiwan-based tennis player.
• Cherie Nursalim, née Liem Mei Kim (Chinese: 林美金), businesswoman.
• Dennis Lim, or Lim Kim Hok (Chinese: 林金福), Muslim figure.
• Djoni Matius, née Liem Wong Siu (Chinese: 林王小), Assistant Second Lieutenant of the Indonesian Marine Corps.
• Endang Witarsa, née Liem Soen Joe (Chinese: 林順有), football player and coach.
• Jahja Ling, née Lim Bang Kiat (Chinese: 林望傑), conductor and music director.
• Joe Taslim, actor, model, and martial artist.
• Junior Liem, actor and model.
• Jusuf Wanandi, née Lim Bian Kie (Chinese: 林綿基), politician.
• Ronald Susilo, or Lin Xiang Wen (Chinese: 林羽峰), Singapore-based badminton player.
• Sutanto Djuhar, née Lin Wen Jing (Chinese: 林文镜), businessman and co-founder of Salim Group.
• Teguh Karya, née Steve Liem Tjoan Hok (Chinese: 林廉鹤), film director.
• Wim Umboh, née Liem Yan Yung (Chinese: 林言容), film director.

王 (Wáng)

• Baim Wong, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
• Kaharudin Ongko, née Ong Ka Hoat (Chinese: 王家发), businessman.^[6]
• Kimun Ongkosandjojo, née Ong Kiem Oen (Chinese: 王金溫), businessman.
• Susi Susanti, née Ong Lien Hiang (Chinese: 王蓮香), 1992 Olympic gold medalist.

Other

• Agnez Mo, or Yang Shi Man (Chinese: 楊詩曼), singer-songwriter, record producer, composer, actress, presenter, rapper, author, businesswoman, dancer, model, and philanthropist.
• Alan Budikusuma, née Goei Djien Phang (Chinese: 魏仁芳), badminton player.
• Arief Budiman, née Soe Hok Djin (Chinese: 史福仁), sociologist, cultural critic and social activist.
• Ateng, or Kho Tjeng Lie (Chinese: 邱诚烈), actor and comedian.
• Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Chung Van Hok (Chinese: 鐘萬學), former Governor of Jakarta (2014–2017).
• Brian Imanuel Soewarno, known professionally as Rich Brian, rapper and singer.
• Christian Hadinata, née Tjhie Beng Goat (Chinese: 紀明發), badminton player.
• Ciputra, née Tjie Tjin Hoan (Chinese: 徐振煥), founder of Ciputra Development, businessman, and philanthropist.
• Enggartiasto Lukita, née Lu You En (Chinese: 呂有恩), former Indonesian Minister of Trade (2016–2019), politician, and businessman.
• Felix Siauw, née Siauw Chen Kwok (Chinese: 蕭正國), Muslim figure.
• Gabriel Prince Soerijo, surnamed Go (吳), content creator and actor.
• Hendrawan, or Ye Cheng Wan (Chinese: 葉誠萬), badminton coach and player.
• John Juanda, surnamed Zhuang (莊), poker player.
• Johan Wahjudi, or Hong Yao Long (Chinese: 洪耀龍), badminton player.
• Kim Jeffry Kurniawan, surnamed Guo (郭), football player.
• Livy Renata, or Yang Lifei, content creator and actor.
• Martha Tilaar, née Martha Tjhie Pwee Giok, businesswoman and founder of Sariayu.
• Leo Suryadinata, née Liauw Kian Djoe (Chinese: 廖建裕), sinologist.
• Marga Tjoa, née Auw Jong Tjhoen Moy (Chinese: 歐陽春梅), writer and journalist.
• Myra Sidharta, née Tjoa Liang Tjoe (Chinese: 蔡良珠), writer and academician.
• Nadine Chandrawinata, or Zeng Na Ding (Chinese: 曾納丁), contestant of Puteri Indonesia 2005.
• Prajogo Pangestu, née Peng Yun Pen (Chinese: 彭雲鵬), businessman, investor, and philanthropist.
• Soero Pernollo, née Han Tjien Kong (Chinese: 韓錢江), nobleman, police chief, and bureaucrat.
• Stephen Tong, née Tong Sung Wing (Chinese: 唐崇荣), pastor.
• Tahir, née Ang Tjoen Ming (Chinese: 翁俊民), businessman and founder of Mayapada Group.
• Teddy Jusuf, née Him Tek Jie (Chinese: 熊德怡), Brigadier General on the Indonesian Army.
• Tony Gunawan, or Wu Jun Ming (Chinese: 吳俊明), badminton player.
• William Soeryadjaya, née Tjia Kian Liong (Chinese: 謝建隆), founder of Astra International.
• Willy Dozan, née Chuang Chen Li (Chinese: 莊陳力), martial artist, actor and stuntman.