100 Popular Australian Nicknames

There are no prizes for knowing that Australia is famous for its easygoing lifestyle, dry humor, and possibly most popularly its weird ways of twisting the English language.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in Aussie nicknames.

Be it nicknaming after shortening a name, adding an “y” or “o” at the end, or coming up with something completely strange, Australians have a way with names; call it nickname charm or whatnot.

Everything from “Gazza” to “Shazza” and “Macca” to “Bluey,” let’s journey into the world of Australian nicknames and their origins!

australian nicknames

Bazza – Barry

Dazza – Darren

Gazza – Gary

Shazza – Sharon

Cazza – Carol or Caroline

Macca – Someone with a surname starting with “Mc” (e.g., McDonald → Macca)

Pazza – Paul or someone with a surname starting with “P”

Jezza – Jeremy

Kezza – Kerry

Loz – Lauren or Lawrence

Mozza – Maurice or Maureen

Roo – Someone named Andrew (from “Roo” in “Rooey”)

Bluey – A red-haired person (ironically, because of their hair color)

Snowy – A person with very light blond or white hair

Nugget – A short or stocky person, often tough

Titch – A small or short person

Spud – A nickname for someone named Murphy (from Irish potato associations)

Hooch – Someone with the surname Hutchinson or Hutchins

Robbo – Robert

Johnno – John or Jonathon

Big Fella – A large man

Slim – A tall, thin person

Tiny – Often used ironically for a large person

Boofhead (Boof) – Someone a bit clumsy or thick-headed

Ace – Someone who is excellent at something

Chook – A lively or fussy person (from “chicken”)

Blinky – Someone who blinks a lot or is slow-witted (from Blinky Bill, an Aussie cartoon character)

Stretch – A very tall person

Rocket – Someone fast or full of energy (sometimes ironic for slow people)

Champ – Used casually, sometimes sincerely, but also sarcastically

Sparky – An electrician

Brickie – A bricklayer

Chippy – A carpenter

Truckie – A truck driver

Jacko – Often given to someone named Jack, but also used for a laborer or worker

Swampy – Someone who works in wet or muddy conditions, like a miner or farmer

Singo – Someone involved in promotions or sales (from media mogul John Singleton)

Bushy – Someone from the outback or bush

Cocky – A farmer, especially a sheep or cattle farmer

Wombat – A slow-moving or burrowing person

Goanna – Someone sneaky or tough, like the Australian lizard

Eagle – A sharp-eyed person or keen observer

Frog – Someone who jumps around a lot or has a French connection

Dingo – Sometimes used to describe someone sneaky

Koala – A cuddly or sleepy person

Mate – A friendly term for a friend or even a stranger

Cobber – An old-fashioned term for a good mate

Drongo – A bit of an idiot or fool

Sheila – A (sometimes outdated) term for a woman

Dag – A funny, quirky, or unfashionable person (affectionate in tone)

Deano – Dean

Stevo – Steve or Steven

Daveo – Dave or David

Jacko – Jack

Ricky – Richard

Tomo – Tom or Thomas

Benno – Ben

Lexie – Alex or Alexis

Marto – Martin

Wilko – Wilson or Wilkinson

Gilly – Someone with the surname Gilmore or Gilligan

Hendo – Henderson

Smithy – Someone with the last name Smith

Jonesy – Someone with the last name Jones

Browny – Someone with the last name Brown

Thomo – Thomas or Thompson

Richo – Richard or Richardson

Jordo – Jordan

Sammy – Sam or Samantha

Damo – Damien or Damian

Legend – A term of endearment for someone well-liked

Old Mate – Can be affectionate or sarcastic, depending on context

Young Fella – A term for a younger guy

Boss – Sometimes respectful, sometimes sarcastic

Smarty – Someone a bit too clever for their own good

Clarko – Someone who thinks they know it all

Digger – A term for an Aussie soldier or hard worker

Sarge – Someone who acts like a boss or enforcer

Grumpy – A person known for their bad moods

Cheeky – A playful or mischievous person

Copper – A police officer

Postie – A postal worker

Fisho – A fisherman or fish shop owner

Milko – A milkman (historically)

Paddo – Someone who works with horses or race tracks (from “paddock”)

Barra – A fisherman, especially for barramundi

Coach – A sports coach or someone who gives unsolicited advice

Guv – Short for “Governor,” used for authority figures

Bouncer – A nightclub security guard

Revhead – A car enthusiast

Duck – A quiet or odd person

Rooster – A loud, confident, or cocky person

Emu – Someone who scrounges around a lot

Sharky – Someone sly or cunning

Possum – A cute or sneaky person

Kangaroo (Roo) – Someone always on the move

Magpie (Maggie) – A talkative or noisy person

Echidna – Someone a bit prickly or defensive

Wallaby – A small but energetic person

Platypus – A bit of an oddball or unique character