According to tradition, the name was given by Ken Arok during the foundation of the new kingdom to replace its old name, Tumapel, located in a fertile highland valley which today corresponds to the area in and around Malang city.
Ifølge traditionen blev navnet givet af Ken Arok under dannelsen af det nye rige for at erstatte det gamle navn, Tumapel, der ligger i en frugtbar højlandsdal, som i dag svarer til området i og omkring Malang by.