Narelle

Pretty!

I like this...

I was born in 1973 and live in Brisbane, Australia. Like so many others I really didn’t like my name growing up and wanted to change it. As an adult I still don’t like it. It really feels bogan to me and that’s definitely not what I am. I only heard of a Narelle on a TV show when they were referring to a sheep or a dog! I thought it originated in the 70s so I was surprised to see others born much earlier with the name. I used to be called Nelly in school which I quite liked at the time. As an adult I find people call me all sorts of names (just random ones unrelated) - maybe they do that because they know I don’t like Narelle :)

Interesting...

I'm an 80s baby and I've never known any other Narelles my age. I used to actually hate my name, until I learned how uniquely Australian it is, then I grew to love it. I love bragging about it being Aussie. I have heard several different meanings of it over time, such as: songbird & lady of the river. I can't remember the others.

My name is Narelle and unlike many of those in the forum, I was born in the 90s. Where are all my 90s Narelles at!? Growing up as a Narelle in the 90s was a serene experience especially paired with the fact that my middle name is Marjorie. Can't get any more Aussie than that!
I'm just here living the good life, just doing me so I hope you're doing you too.
X0x0x.

My name is Narelle, born in 1978 - I’ve read that my name is aboriginal which I love. I didn’t like my name growing up but have an appreciation for the fact that there is not a heap of us out there. I often get called Relle by those close to me.

I was born in 1951. My father always told me the name was from French Polynesia and meant "Island Princess. Don't know how accurate that is. I have only met 4 other Narelles and have always liked the name. I get called Rel by most of my friends.

I never liked my name but I have a nice warm feeling when someone manages to spell it right the first time! Born in 68... at school there was only one or two of us Narelle's around but when I got to adulthood they came out of the woodwork! I even rang an employer for a job interview one day where the girl leaving had exactly the same first name and surname of me! The employer was suspicious that her employee was applying for her own job unknowingly! Prior to the internet I never believed anyone would have my 'rare' full name but there's about five of us out there with my full name after checking facebook! I moved to London for 8 years and nobody in the UK has heard of us, every single day of my working life I had to say my name then spell it for people over the phone. Then they would comment on how unusual it was and how "pretty" (They clearly had no first impression of it being a bogan name)! Also, all the Narelles I know are lovely. I have yet to hear of a bogan or nasty Narelle. Kids struggle with it, I am called Rell, Murelle, Arell, Nell, Nelly etc.

My grandma chose my name, Narelle. I was born in the mid 70's and have always disliked my name but liked its originality. I've only ever known another Narelle and she was quiet but sweet. It definitely has bogan connotations in Australia, but I have never met a bogan Narelle. It does get mispronounced as Nerelle a lot. It gets shortened to rel and Nellie. I have also heard it means good companion.

Narelle is my middle name and I love it. I was born in 1988 so it's not very common with people my age. Anytime someone asks me what my middle name is they tell me how beautiful and unique it is then they ask me if they can "steal" it for their future daughter. Haha I guess my parents did good!

My name is Narelle. I was born in 1955. I did not have any other girls my age with the same name when I was at school. Since I started working I have worked in one workplace with two other Narelle's both around my age, then just recently I worked with another Narelle, again my age. I have a few acquaintances through my children's school & after school activities who had the name Narelle as well. Both a lot younger, one had English parents. It is not a common name but all the Narelle's I have met are very friendly happy people.

I'm not Australian, and I don't see this as a low-class name. Narelle actually sounds pretty and sophisticated. It's actually quite a refreshing choice where I live.

My sister's original name is Nerella (Italian) but her Australian friends have always called her Narelle which is a very nice name I think. I didn't know it was aboriginal - interestingly "Nerella" means little black girl in Italian.

It's like Michelle, but with an Australian twist!

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This name is very dated - it has hardly been used at all since the 1960s. It's considered a very 'bogan' or 'chav' name.

Quoting an older Australian poster from a now defunct baby board: "Not old enough to be classic - it's very dated to the 1950s/60s. And it's a bogan name - I'd expect Narelle to be living in a caravan park in western Sydney with her husband Wayne and her children Trevor and Charlene".

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To be fair, Narelle sounds pleasant enough. There's much worse such as Schapelle (!) and found in a recent birth announcement, Sharkelle (eeeek!). I've met some nice Narelles myself.

It sure sounds invented, and I'm not even sure what it could be derived from. The name is not particularly pretty. It's the beginning part that just doesn't work.

I think this is a nice name. I like the beginning (Nar-) and the end (-elle). This is one of those few made-up modern names that I really like and would consider using.