The Peranakans are a Chinese sub-ethnic group of people who are part of the wider Chinese diaspora. The intermarriages of the Chinese settlers and the local folks in the 18th, 19th and 20th century maritime ports of Malacca, Penang and Singapore led to the birth of this hybrid and unique culture and its people are known as the Peranakans. Males are known as Babas while females are called Nyonyas. Many Chinese Singaporeans would find their ancestry intricately tied to this once thriving culture.