This post lists 18 fun Aussie-inspired Australian Shepherd names. These fun names compliment the Australian Shepherd’s breed name, but did you know that the Australian Shepherd actually originated in California?
The History of the Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds, more affectionately known as Aussies, are a breed of dog that originated in California. They were developed in the 1800s by ranchers and farmers who wanted a versatile and intelligent working dog to help with herding and guarding livestock.
The breed’s origins can be traced all the way back to the Basque region of Spain, where shepherds brought along their herding dogs when they immigrated to the United States. These immigrant dogs were then bred with other herding breeds like the Border Collie, Australian Kelpie and Australian Cattle Dog to ultimately end up with the Australian Shepherd.
Aussies clearly have a somewhat misleading name seeing as they didn’t originate in Australia. The name “Australian Shepherd” stuck because the breed was developed and refined in the western United States, and back then, many people associated the term “Australian” with anything that came from the west. Weird.
Beloved Aussies are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and trainability. This breed is super high-energy and requires lots of exercise and mental stimulation. They tend to do especially well in various dog sports such as agility, obedience and herding trials. Aussies are also often used as therapy dogs, service dogs and search & rescue dogs. The cherry on top of this fantastic breed is that they are loyal and affectionate, making them great family pets.
Despite their misleading name, giving your new Australian Shepherd a fun Aussie-inspired name is a fun way to nod to their interesting history.
Check out the list of names below to give your Aussie a name that sounds as Australian as you probably thought the breed was!
Read More: 32 Unique Dog Names & Their Meanings
Aussie-Inspired Australian Shepherd Names
1. Yarra
- “Yarra” is a name that originated as a word by Australian Aboriginals meaning “flowing water” or “ever flowing.”
- The Yarra River is a river that passes through Melbourne, Australia.
- The Yarra Valley in Australia is known for its vineyards.
2. Roo
- This cute name is a shortened version of “kangaroo,” the quintessential Australian animal.
- Roo is the name of the adorable little baby kangaroo stuffed animal in Winnie-the-Pooh.
3. Kiwi
- In the early 20th century, cartoonists began using images of the kiwi bird to represent New Zealand as a country (much like the bald eagle is used to represent the United States). During WWI, New Zealand soldiers were called kiwis and the name stuck!
- Kiwi birds are flightless birds native to New Zealand.
- Kiwifruit is grown throughout the world but is a popular commercial crop in New Zealand.
4. Bindi
- The daughter of the iconic Australian conservationist Steve Irwin, Bindi Irwin followed in her father’s footsteps and has also become a zookeeper and conservationist.
- Bindi was named after her father’s favorite crocodile in the Australia Zoo.
5. Sydney
- Sydney is the name of Australia’s capital city, known as one of the best cities to live in the world.
- In Old English, this name means “wide meadow.”
6. Nemo
- Finding Nemo anyone? This super cute name is inspired by the clown fish in the classic Pixar movie. Nemo ends up pulled away from his home in the Great Barrier Reef and ends up in a dentist’s fish tank in Sydney. If you haven’t seen this movie before, definitely give it a try!
7. Joey
- Baby kangaroos are called joeys! The reason for this has nothing to do with the name Joseph, but instead, joey is the aboriginal word for “small animal.”
8. Darwin
- Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory in Australia.
- While Charles Darwin and Australia don’t often go hand in hand, Darwin’s theory of evolution certainly raises some interesting questions when observing unique Australian wildlife.
9. Dundee
- This name is inspired by the Crocodile Dundee film series. The series began with a 1968 film about a reporter who learns of a man that survived a crocodile attack in the Australian outback. To research her article, she spends time with “Crocodile Dundee” in Bush Country.
10. Lolli
- In Australia, a piece of candy is referred to as a lolly. This Aussie name would be so cute for a dog as sweet as candy!
11. Byron
- Byron Bay is a popular beach town vacation destination in South Wales that boasts beautiful beaches, whale watching, great surfing conditions, exotic wildlife, shopping, festivals and more.
12. Adina
- Adina is an aboriginal word for “good” or “pleasant”. This feminine, delicate-sounding name could be a great conversation starter for your Australian Shepherd.
13. Kaya
- Kaya is the word for “hello” in the Noongar aboriginal language.
14. Barbie
- Aussies refer to the grill or barbeque as the “barbie.” This familiar name may also make you think of the classic kid’s dolls. Barbie in her swimsuit would be just as well suited in a Northern Australian beach town as she would Malibu!
15. Kirra
- Kirra is the word for “leaf” in the Australian aboriginal language. This is an interesting and unique nature-themed name, with an Aussie influence.
16. Nala
- In a Tasmanian aboriginal language, Nala means “Earth.” Don’t be mistaken though – Nala from The Lion King was inspired by Swahili, where Nala means “gift.”
17. Dingo
- Dingoes are wild dogs with an ancient Australian lineage.
- Dingoes are fairly easily tamed when pulled from their litter at a very young age. As a result, Australians can legally own these wild dogs.
18. Miki
- In the Australian aboriginal language, Miki means “moon”. This is an interesting choice for those that love the name Luna but want a less common mood-related dog name.
What do you think of these Australian Shepherd dog names? Are there any Aussie-sounding names that you’d like to recommend? Please share in the comments!
For more dog name inspiration, check out the dog name archives.
Sincerely,
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