Comments for the name Narelle

Aboriginal origin, means red lily.

Narelle is an Australian name from a West Australian Koori (Aboriginal) tribe around modern Perth. It means Lake.

Firstly, "Koori" is a tribal name from New South Wales and Victoria. The Aboriginal people of the Perth region are the Nyoongar.

Secondly, I have never seen any reference to Narelle as a Western Australian name. There is a town named Naraling which was named for a nearby spring (not lake), but the meaning of the spring's name is unknown. Watering places in the Nyoongar region tend to have been indicated by the syllable "up" at the end of the place name.

My grandmother, world famous Australian soprano Marie Narelle, took the name as a talisman in 1898 when she began her career, dropping her married name of Callaghan. She "stole" the name, if you will, from Queen Narelle of the Moruya tribe of Aborigines who was legendary in those days. My understanding is that it means "woman from the sea". Indeed Moruya is a coastal area in southern New South Wales.

Thank you for your information. My Grandparents heard Marie Narelle sing. My mum also told me about Queen Narelle. And Yes it is a NSW name, in WA there are usually more Lorelle's than Narelle's. Glad to find out the meaning of woman of the sea.

My grandmother adopted the name from "Queen Narelle" of the Moruya tribe of aborigines on the south coast of New South Wales as her stage name in 1898. I have read that its aboriginal meaning is "woman from the sea". Given the coastal nature of the Moruya tribe that seems plausible. -Brian Narelle

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.

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.

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".

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's like Michelle, but with an Australian twist!

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

Narelle lost favour in the late 60's because of the Naked Vicar Show. Narelle was a rather dumb red head in mini shirt and platform shoes whose best friend was Cyril. The phrase "you're not wrong there Narelle" came from that show.

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.

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.