The shapes of the baybayin characters bear a slight resemblance to the ancient Kavi script of Java, Indonesia, which fell into disuse in the 1400s. However, as mentioned earlier in the Spanish accounts, the advent of the baybayin in the Philippines was considered a fairly recent event in the 16th century and the Filipinos at that time believed that their baybayin came from Borneo.
Sa kabila nito, walang ibang ebidensiyang nagpatotoong gayon nga katanda ang baybayin. May kaunting pagkakahawig ang mga titik ng baybayin at ang mga titik ng Kawi, ang lumang sulat na ginamit sa Java, Indonesia hanggang sa siglong 1400.