Australia is known for its unique wildlife and culture. If you live there or have an Australian dog breed such as an Australian shepherd or Australian cattle dog, you may want to give your dog an Australia-inspired name. Here are 120 name ideas inspired by the Land Down Under.
Names Inspired By Australian Geography
- Adelaide: This elegant-sounding name is an Australian city.
- Bondi: This is a popular beach located near Sydney.
- Brisbane: The third most populous city in Australia can be shortened to “Brisby” as a cute dog nickname.
- Byron: Byron Bay is a coastal town in Australia, known for its beaches.
- Canberra: This unique name is the capital city of Australia.
- Darwin: This is a city in Australia named for explorer and scientist Charles Darwin.
- Hobart: This unique city name is the capital of the island state of Tasmania.
- Marley: This popular dog name is also a beach in Australia.
- Melbourne: The second most populous city in Australia can also be shortened to “Mel.”
- Outback: This refers to remote inland regions of Australia, perfect for a “wild” sounding name.
- Perth: This is the fourth most populous city in Australia.
- Queenie: For an Australian dog, this name can be short for “Queensland,” one of Australia’s states.
- Sandy: This classic name brings to mind sandy beaches, of which Australia has many.
- Shred: This unique name refers to “shredding waves,” bringing to mind Australia’s beaches and surfers.
- Sydney: The most populous city in Australia also makes a good name.
- Taz: This name is short for “Tasmania,” an island off the coast of Australia.
- Uluru: This is an iconic sandstone rock formation in Australia, also called Ayers Rock.
- Victoria: This elegant name can also refer to one of Australia’s states.
Names of Australian Celebrities
- Allegra: This cheerful name is also actor Hugh Jackman’s pet.
- Bana: This name references actor Eric Bana.
- Banjo: This name references Banjo Patterson, an Australian poet.
- Baz: This name references Baz Luhrmann, an Australian director.
- Bindi: This Aboriginal name is also the name of Steve Irwin’s daughter.
- Cate: This name references actor Cate Blanchett.
- Chris: This name references actor Chris Hemsworth.
- Gibson: This name references actor and director Mel Gibson.
- Heath: This name references actor Heath Ledger.
- Hemsworth: This is the last name of brothers Chris, Liam, and Luke, all Australian actors.
- Hugh: This name references actor Hugh Jackman.
- Irwin: This name references Steve Irwin, Australia’s famous “Crocodile Hunter.
- Isla: This name references actress Isla Fisher.
- Liam: This name references Liam Hemsworth, who is an actor and Chris Hemsworth’s brother.
- Luke: This name references Luke Hemsworth, another actor and the third Hemsworth brother.
- Margot: This name references actress Margot Robbie.
- Rebel: This tough-sounding name can also reference actress Rebel Wilson.
Names of Australian Animals and Plants
- Acacia: This pretty name is an iconic Australian tree, also called the wattle tree.
- Bandicoot: This unusual marsupial makes a unique name.
- Boomer: While usually used as short for “boomerang,” this is also a term for a male kangaroo.
- Brumby: This is a slang term for an Australian wild horse.
- Chook: This unique-sounding name is an Australian slang term for “chicken.”
- Coral: This aquatic organism makes up coral reefs, including the iconic Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.
- Croc: This name is short for “crocodile,” a common reptile in Australia.
- Dingo: This is a type of wild dog found in Australia, making it a suitable name for a canine.
- Emu: This large flightless bird is the national bird of Australia.
- Eucalyptus: This is one of the most iconic trees in Australia.
- Flyer: To go with “Boomer,” this is a term for a female kangaroo.
- Galah: This unusual name refers to a type of cockatoo with pink feathers.
- Joey: A common human name, this name can also refer to a baby kangaroo or other marsupial.
- Koala: This iconic marsupial could be a good name for a cute and cuddly dog.
- Kookaburra: This unique name, which can also be shortened to “Kooka,” refers to an Australian bird.
- Myrtle: This pretty name is a type of tree, several varieties of which are native to Australia.
- Possum: This tree-dwelling marsupial is an iconic resident of Australia.
- Quokka: This wallaby relative is known for having a perpetual smile, making it a cute name.
- Roo: This cute name can be a shortened form of “kangaroo.”
- Wallaby: This is an animal similar to a kangaroo but smaller.
- Wombat: This burrowing marsupial makes a unique name.
Names From Aboriginal Languages
- Aari: This powerful name means “mountain of strength.”
- Alinta: This elegant-sounding name means “fire.”
- Amarina: This pretty name means “rain.”
- Cooee: This name means “come here,” making it a good choice for calling your dog.
- Jarrah: This unique name is a type of eucalyptus tree.
- Karri: This name is another type of eucalyptus tree.
- Kaya: This cute name means “hello.”
- Kirra: This name from the Yugambeh language means “leaf.”
- Kolya: This cool name means “winter.”
- Kylie: This name refers to a boomerang, but can also reference Australian pop star Kylie Minogue.
- Lowanna: This name from the Aboriginal language of New South Wales means “girl.”
- Mandu: This cute name means “sun.”
- Marlu: This name means “kangaroo,” offering another way to name your dog after an Australian animal.
- Miki: To go with Mandu, this cute name means “moon.”
- Nala: You may associate this name with Africa due to The Lion King, but it is also an Aboriginal name meaning “earth.
- Talia: This name meaning “near water” is also a coastal town in Australia.
- Tidda: This playful name means “sister,” making it suitable for your female best friend.
Names From Australian Slang
- Ace: This popular dog name is also Australian slang for “excellent.”
- Arvo: This cool name is a slang term for “afternoon.”
- Aussie: This shortened form of “Australia” is a common term for Australian people.
- Barbie: In Australia, this is short for “barbecue,” as in a barbecue grill.
- Biccy/Bikkie: This name with multiple spellings is short for “biscuit” and refers to a cookie.
- Bitzer: This is Australian slang for a mixed breed dog, making it an appropriate name for your mixed breed.
- Bloke: This is a common Australian term to refer to a man.
- Bonzer: This is Australian slang for “great.”
- Boonie: In Australia, this refers to a type of safari hat.
- Crikey: This iconic Australian term is used as a surprised exclamation.
- Digger: This is Australian slang for “soldier,” but it can also be suitable for a dog who likes to dig.
- Grommet: This is an Australian term for a young surfer.
- Kiwi: While not specific to Australia, this is a term for people from nearby New Zealand, derived from a flightless bird found there.
- Lolly: This shortened form of “lollipop” is used to refer to all kinds of candy in Australia.
- Mate: This is an Australian term for “friend,” making it a unique twist on naming your dog “Buddy” or “Pal.”
- Ozzie: This variant of “Aussie” is another slang term for people from Australia.
- Ripper: This tough-sounding name is also Australian slang for “cool.”
- Sheila: In Australia, this term means “woman,” but it also makes a nice name.
- Straya: Another shortened form of “Australia,” this nickname for the country could also work for your dog.
Names of Australian Fictional Characters
- Bandit: This popular dog name is the name of the titular character’s father in the dog-themed Australian cartoon Bluey.
- Bingo: This classic dog name is the name of the titular character’s younger sister in Bluey.
- Bluey: This is the titular character in a popular Australian kids’ cartoon.
- Chilli: Not only is this the name of Bluey’s mother in the cartoon, but it is one of the most popular female dog names in Australia.
- Cody: This is the child protagonist in Disney’s Australia-set film The Rescuers Down Under.
- Crash: The popular video game character Crash Bandicoot is inspired by a unique Australian animal.
- Dory: This popular character is from the Pixar film Finding Nemo, which takes place off the coast of Australia.
- Dundee: This name references the popular Australian film Crocodile Dundee.
- Felix: If don’t mind naming your dog after a cat, the popular silent-era cartoon character Felix the Cat is thought to have been created by an Australian cartoonist.
- Marahute: This majestic name is the giant golden eagle featured in Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under.
- Nemo: This is the titular character of the Pixar film Finding Nemo, which takes place off the coast of Australia.
- Perry: While he is from an American cartoon, the character Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb is based on one of Australia’s most unique animals.
- Rocko: Another Australian character from an American cartoon, the titular character of the Nickelodeon show Rocko’s Modern Life is a wallaby.
- Skippy: This name is the title character of the TV series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
- Wolverine: While this animal does not live in Australia, it is the namesake of the superhero character famously played by Australian actor Hugh Jackman.
Other Names Inspired By Australia
- Bob: In Australia, this simple name can reference “Bob the Railway Dog,” a real dog famous for traveling across Australia by train.
- Didgeridoo: This unique name is a traditional Australian musical instrument.
- Koko: This was the name of a real-life famous Australian dog whose story inspired the film Red Dog.
- Lamington: This is a type of cake from Australia, playing into the trend of dessert-themed dog names.
- Luna: While it has nothing specifically to do with Australia, this was the most popular dog name in Australia in 2023.
- Matilda: This name comes from “Waltzing Matilda,” Australia’s national anthem.
- Opal: Australia’s national gemstone makes a good name for a dog with silver-colored fur.
- Orchy: This is a popular juice brand in Australia, making it a cute food-based name.
- Pavlova: This elegant name is a popular dessert in Australia.
- Roger: Another real-world famous animal, Roger is the “jacked kangaroo” who became an Internet sensation.
- Rusty: Just as Bluey is a typical name for a blue heeler, Rusty is a typical name for a red heeler.
- Tim Tam: This is a popular cookie brand in Australia, making it a unique twist on naming your dog “Cookie” or “Biscuit.”
- Vegemite: This unusual name is a savory food spread that is popular in Australia.
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