True Blue Baby Names

Was your little one born on the 26th of January? Or do you just feel like celebrating your National pride by naming your baby a quintessentially Aussie name? Here’s some suggestions for a true blue baby name…

Matilda is about as Australian as you can get, springing from our unofficial National Anthem, Waltzing Matilda, by Banjo Patterson. But did you know the ‘Matilda’ the song refers to is slang for the bag slung over ones back by the early settlers?

Meaning: Powerful battler

Another one which springs from a slang word– in this case, a typically Australian term for a girl (a ‘sheila’).

Meaning: Noble

There’s something very regal-looking about this Australian girl’s name, borrowing from one of our capital cities. You can even shorten it to ‘Ada’, a slightly different version of ‘Ava’.

Meaning: A Noble Kind.

If waltzing Matilda is our unofficial national anthem then My Country is our national poem. Dorothea Mackellar was awarded an OBE for her ode to our sunburnt country, a sort of Australian patron of poetry. Can be shortened to Dot, Dotty or Thea.

Meaning: A gift of God.

You can’t get much deeper into the heart of our country than Alice Springs, or ‘Alice’, to the locals. Aside from coming from the town in the centre of our country, Alice is a lovely and ‘happy’ girl’s name made famous by Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland.

Meaning: Exalted

The famous Australian Operatic soprano, Dame Nellie Melba, was a true Australian spirit, risking everything to pursue a life as a singer and awarded an OBE for her stellar voice. 

Meaning: Shining Light

 

 

Think your boy might grow up to be an extrovert, prone to shining brightly with a touch of fanfare? Why not name him after our glorious city by the Harbour. It’s a very strong name, too. Or, perhaps you think your daughter would make a cute Sydney - why not, it's a great name for a boy or a girl.

Meaning: Wide meadow

 

Barry Humphries has become one of our most revered and respected Australian comedians, bringing Dame Edna Everage to stage and screen across the world, and Baz Luhrmann (or Barry, to his parents) has has similar creative success, bringing the iconic Australia to Hollywood screens. Why not set your little one up for a life of success with this name?

Meaning: Spear

 

Borrowing from Henry Lawson’s surname, why not honour one of our intrepid explorers and esteemed writers (a contemporary of Banjo Paterson) with this noble name.

Meaning: Son of Laurence

 

This great boys name is inspired by Aussie boxer Les Darcy. Following on from the tradition of last names as first names, Darcy is a fine name for any Aussie lad.

Meaning: Dark one.

 

One true-blue ocker name that we don’t hear very often. This name has its traditions as a surname since medieval times, but seem to have fallen our of favour lately. Could it be due for a comeback? If not, why not try for a variation such as Bryce or Brys? 

Meaning: Thick brush.