Australian names...
The post about Kylie got me thinking about other names that originated in or became popular in Australia and have drifted into mainstream use, whether just in Australia or elsewhere. WDYT of...
Alira / Allira / Allirra (https://www.behindthename.com/name/alira/submitted)
Araluen (https://www.behindthename.com/name/araluen/submitted)
Bindi (https://www.behindthename.com/name/bindi/submitted)
Biralee / Birralee (https://www.behindthename.com/name/biralee/submitted)
Dimity (https://www.behindthename.com/name/dimity/submitted)
Jarrah (https://www.behindthename.com/name/jarrah/submitted)
Karri (https://www.behindthename.com/name/karri/submitted)
Kirilee / Kirrily / Kiralee etc (https://www.behindthename.com/name/kirilee/submitted, https://www.behindthename.com/name/kirrilie/submitted)
Kirra (https://www.behindthename.com/name/kirra/submitted)
Kylie
Melba
Narelle
Nerida
Raewyn (https://www.behindthename.com/name/raewyn/submitted)
Seaforth (https://www.behindthename.com/name/seaforth/submitted) – the author mentioned is a distant relative of mine
Tarnie / Tarnee / Tahnee (https://www.behindthename.com/name/tarnie/submitted)
https://nanowrimo.org/participants/christine-seaforth-finch
http://christineseaforthfinch.blogspot.com/
Alira / Allira / Allirra (https://www.behindthename.com/name/alira/submitted)
Araluen (https://www.behindthename.com/name/araluen/submitted)
Bindi (https://www.behindthename.com/name/bindi/submitted)
Biralee / Birralee (https://www.behindthename.com/name/biralee/submitted)
Dimity (https://www.behindthename.com/name/dimity/submitted)
Jarrah (https://www.behindthename.com/name/jarrah/submitted)
Karri (https://www.behindthename.com/name/karri/submitted)
Kirilee / Kirrily / Kiralee etc (https://www.behindthename.com/name/kirilee/submitted, https://www.behindthename.com/name/kirrilie/submitted)
Kirra (https://www.behindthename.com/name/kirra/submitted)
Kylie
Melba
Narelle
Nerida
Raewyn (https://www.behindthename.com/name/raewyn/submitted)
Seaforth (https://www.behindthename.com/name/seaforth/submitted) – the author mentioned is a distant relative of mine
Tarnie / Tarnee / Tahnee (https://www.behindthename.com/name/tarnie/submitted)
http://christineseaforthfinch.blogspot.com/
Replies
I love Allira, Jarrah, Kirra and Tahnee.
I wouldn't use any of them, but I can somewhat see the appeal of Alira, Jarrah, Kirra, Nerida and Seaforth.
I've always viewed Bodhi, Beau and Taj as Australian names. They might not have originated from there (?) but they feel Australian to me. Probably because I've heard/seen a lot of people with these names with Australian heritage.
I've always viewed Bodhi, Beau and Taj as Australian names. They might not have originated from there (?) but they feel Australian to me. Probably because I've heard/seen a lot of people with these names with Australian heritage.
I love Allira and would consider using it. I also love Jarrah for a boy and would consider it if compromising with a partner came down to it!
I have known a number of people named Nerida/Neridah and Tahnee or Tarnee, and a couple of those associations turn me off a little personally although I like the names objectively.
One name I love from the Gadigal language is Merindah. A close friend of mine, who is Wiradjuri and her husband's mother is from the Gadigal people, named her daughter Merindah a few years ago. I grew up not far from a street named 'Merindah' for awhile and so it has a nice feeling of comfort and good memories for me too.
ETA: Kirrily/Kirralee is probably the most quintessential Aussie name I can think of in roughly my generation (+/- 10 years from 1989). I have weirdly met most Kirrily's (and their spelling varieties) overseas but I think that is a selection bias, as in I hear someone say the name Kirrily in a bar in the Czech Republic or the Bahamas and I *know* they are Aussie and make a beeline haha. I did go to school, among my schools, with a couple of them too though.
I have known a number of people named Nerida/Neridah and Tahnee or Tarnee, and a couple of those associations turn me off a little personally although I like the names objectively.
One name I love from the Gadigal language is Merindah. A close friend of mine, who is Wiradjuri and her husband's mother is from the Gadigal people, named her daughter Merindah a few years ago. I grew up not far from a street named 'Merindah' for awhile and so it has a nice feeling of comfort and good memories for me too.
ETA: Kirrily/Kirralee is probably the most quintessential Aussie name I can think of in roughly my generation (+/- 10 years from 1989). I have weirdly met most Kirrily's (and their spelling varieties) overseas but I think that is a selection bias, as in I hear someone say the name Kirrily in a bar in the Czech Republic or the Bahamas and I *know* they are Aussie and make a beeline haha. I did go to school, among my schools, with a couple of them too though.
This message was edited 10/8/2020, 10:36 PM
How do you pronounce Araluen?
I notice it because it's the name of the fictional kingdom in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan (books my son loves). I didn't know it was a real place!
I like Kirilee / Kirrily and Kylie okay. Raewyn, Alira, Kirra, and Birralee are nice too.
I notice it because it's the name of the fictional kingdom in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan (books my son loves). I didn't know it was a real place!
I like Kirilee / Kirrily and Kylie okay. Raewyn, Alira, Kirra, and Birralee are nice too.
This message was edited 10/8/2020, 5:50 PM
I love Alira and I had no idea it was Australian! (ETA: I've never met one in the US so I thought it was rare, apparently I was very wrong lol)
I haven't heard of Araluen before but I like it.
The only Bindi I've heard of is Bindi Sue Irwin so I just think of her. I also didn't know this was a legit Australian name, I only knew it as a red dot on your forehead.
Biralee sounds namey but is it basically just a word and not traditionally a name until the 70's?
I like Jarrah.
Kirilee / Kirrily / Kiralee -- Kiralee just looks like Kira + lee so I don't really like it. Kirilee and Kirrily are more interesting. I guess I like them but I'm more drawn to the versions that don't have "lee" because it looks like a trend. I love Kira but didn't know it means leaf!
I like Kirra but prefer Kira.
Melba just makes me think Melba Toast.
Narelle sounds dated but okay.
I like Nerida. And I like that it has to do with water while looking kind of like Nereid.
I like Raewyn, it looks a lot like the kind of name I would have liked in high school and it's like Raylynn without the bad parts.
Seaforth is cool, it's definitely surnamey but I'd like it as a middle name.
Don't like: Dimity, Karri, Kylie, Melba, Tarnie / Tarnee / Tahnee
I haven't heard of Araluen before but I like it.
The only Bindi I've heard of is Bindi Sue Irwin so I just think of her. I also didn't know this was a legit Australian name, I only knew it as a red dot on your forehead.
Biralee sounds namey but is it basically just a word and not traditionally a name until the 70's?
I like Jarrah.
Kirilee / Kirrily / Kiralee -- Kiralee just looks like Kira + lee so I don't really like it. Kirilee and Kirrily are more interesting. I guess I like them but I'm more drawn to the versions that don't have "lee" because it looks like a trend. I love Kira but didn't know it means leaf!
I like Kirra but prefer Kira.
Melba just makes me think Melba Toast.
Narelle sounds dated but okay.
I like Nerida. And I like that it has to do with water while looking kind of like Nereid.
I like Raewyn, it looks a lot like the kind of name I would have liked in high school and it's like Raylynn without the bad parts.
Seaforth is cool, it's definitely surnamey but I'd like it as a middle name.
Don't like: Dimity, Karri, Kylie, Melba, Tarnie / Tarnee / Tahnee
This message was edited 10/8/2020, 3:13 PM
Alira - sounds delicate.
Araluen - not bad.
Bindi - I like the meaning.
Biralee - I prefer Kiralee.
Dimity - too similar to the non-related name Dimitry.
Jarrah - I don't like it.
Karri - it's ok.
Kiralee - I like it. I also like Kirrily.
Kirra - gorgeous. It can be a diminutive of Kirrily too.
Kylie - really like it.
Melba - I know a Melba, she was named after the Australian soprano. I like this name.
Narelle - beautiful name.
Nerida - cute.
Raewyn - hm, interesting name.
Seaforth - I dislike it. Sounds too dated.
Tarnie - nice name.
Araluen - not bad.
Bindi - I like the meaning.
Biralee - I prefer Kiralee.
Dimity - too similar to the non-related name Dimitry.
Jarrah - I don't like it.
Karri - it's ok.
Kiralee - I like it. I also like Kirrily.
Kirra - gorgeous. It can be a diminutive of Kirrily too.
Kylie - really like it.
Melba - I know a Melba, she was named after the Australian soprano. I like this name.
Narelle - beautiful name.
Nerida - cute.
Raewyn - hm, interesting name.
Seaforth - I dislike it. Sounds too dated.
Tarnie - nice name.
I never thought Dimity was Australian; it's the name of a minor (very minor, really) character in Gone With the Wind, and I believe there's a series of cozy mysteries about somebody called Aunt Dimity. (Don't know for sure if there's an Australian connection there.)
Some of these look Welsh (Raewyn) some like mashups (Kiralee) and some like the kind of thing US parents might make up in the seventies or eighties.
Most of them are just too unfamiliar for me to form any opinion of them beyond their sound. I will say that Narelle somehow makes me think of soap or shampoo or maybe even toilet paper; it just has a producty vibe to it.
Some of these look Welsh (Raewyn) some like mashups (Kiralee) and some like the kind of thing US parents might make up in the seventies or eighties.
Most of them are just too unfamiliar for me to form any opinion of them beyond their sound. I will say that Narelle somehow makes me think of soap or shampoo or maybe even toilet paper; it just has a producty vibe to it.
When I was in Australia I heard tee-AHN or tee- AHRN quite a few times. I guess it would have been spelled Tiarne or maybe Tiahn? I never heard that anywhere else and was always wondering where it came from.
Araluen is pretty cool. Kirra isn't bad. I don't really like any of the others. Melba just makes me think of the dessert.
Araluen is pretty cool. Kirra isn't bad. I don't really like any of the others. Melba just makes me think of the dessert.
Ohh, yes. Tiane, Tianne, Tiana, Tianna, Tiahn, Teahn, Teeahn... I've seen loads of spellings of that one.
I didn't include it because it's just something that happens to be popular there, rather that something that originated there. Another one like that would be Bronte - oddly popular in Australia but not of Australian origin.
Seaforth and Dimity, I suppose shouldn't count either for that reason but I never claimed to be consistent ;)
I didn't include it because it's just something that happens to be popular there, rather that something that originated there. Another one like that would be Bronte - oddly popular in Australia but not of Australian origin.
Seaforth and Dimity, I suppose shouldn't count either for that reason but I never claimed to be consistent ;)
Imogen is in the top 100 in the UK and has been for years.
I'm sorry, I didn't realize and didn't look it up before posting. I should have. I probably had that thought years ago and only have looked at the US SSA rankings as thoroughly as the Australian since then.
To give you an idea of the popularity of these names in Australia, I've known:
Many Allira / Alira / Allirah / Allyra / Allyrahs none of which have ever been spelled the same way
One Bindi (apart from Bindi Irwin)
One Jarrah
At least 3 Kyrili / Kirralei / Kirrilys that I can think of
More Kirras than I could ever be bothered to count
Heaps of Kylies
At least 2 Narelles
2 Neridas
And a handful of Tahnees
*
My opinions:
Alira / Allira / Allirra - I don't necessarily dislike it but I'm not a big fan. It's kind of common and doesn't stand out in the sea of A names for girls
Araluen - I've never heard of this one before but it's not bad
Bindi - Obviously very connected with Bindi Irwin but I like it
Biralee / Birralee - Has a very Aboriginal sound to it, not a big fan of it as a name
Dimity - Makes me think lf the children's book "Dimity Duck"
Jarrah - I love Jarrah. I had a rabbit with this name when I was a kid, sometimes I toy with the idea of using Jarrah in my boy combos
Karri - Don't like the sound
Kirilee / Kirrily / Kiralee - I have always liked Kirrily but I dislike Kirra which it is ALWAYS shortened to
Kirra - I don't like the abruptness of Kirra, too common as well
Kylie - Sounds dated to the 80s-00s
Melba - I've never heard this used in Australia, it's okay I guess
Narelle - Don't really get the appeal of Narelle
Nerida - Dislike the sound
Raewyn - Never heard of it, not a fan
Seaforth - A bit much
Tarnie / Tarnee / Tahnee - Don't mind Tahnee, it has a pretty sound
Many Allira / Alira / Allirah / Allyra / Allyrahs none of which have ever been spelled the same way
One Bindi (apart from Bindi Irwin)
One Jarrah
At least 3 Kyrili / Kirralei / Kirrilys that I can think of
More Kirras than I could ever be bothered to count
Heaps of Kylies
At least 2 Narelles
2 Neridas
And a handful of Tahnees
*
My opinions:
Alira / Allira / Allirra - I don't necessarily dislike it but I'm not a big fan. It's kind of common and doesn't stand out in the sea of A names for girls
Araluen - I've never heard of this one before but it's not bad
Bindi - Obviously very connected with Bindi Irwin but I like it
Biralee / Birralee - Has a very Aboriginal sound to it, not a big fan of it as a name
Dimity - Makes me think lf the children's book "Dimity Duck"
Jarrah - I love Jarrah. I had a rabbit with this name when I was a kid, sometimes I toy with the idea of using Jarrah in my boy combos
Karri - Don't like the sound
Kirilee / Kirrily / Kiralee - I have always liked Kirrily but I dislike Kirra which it is ALWAYS shortened to
Kirra - I don't like the abruptness of Kirra, too common as well
Kylie - Sounds dated to the 80s-00s
Melba - I've never heard this used in Australia, it's okay I guess
Narelle - Don't really get the appeal of Narelle
Nerida - Dislike the sound
Raewyn - Never heard of it, not a fan
Seaforth - A bit much
Tarnie / Tarnee / Tahnee - Don't mind Tahnee, it has a pretty sound
This message was edited 10/8/2020, 5:35 AM
other Aussie names Neroli, Keroli, Banjo, Elanora, Kerilyn, Lowanna, Makinti, Marlisa, Merinda, Tasma, Valmai, Valmae, Yakari, Yahamay, Zahlia, Zali, Tayla, Huon, Talei, Matilda, Lowan, Adaliya, Karalee, Annalie, Anzac, Briohny, Bronlyn, Cushla, Airlie, Norelle, Lyndal, Lyndel, Maeryn, Maylee, Braith, Kane, Lachlan, Peta, Talia, Jenaya, Tenaya, Jye, Kahlia, Keryn
Oh my gosh Valmai
Valmai and Narelle are like... peak Mum names.
Valmai and Narelle are like... peak Mum names.
I'm Australian too :)
There are a handful of us on here. I didn't mean "you" as in singular, by the way, I meant it as a plural for the whole board =)