30 Olympic-inspired baby names for your little winner

If you hold a torch for baby names with winning energy, you might want to look to the Olympics and Paralympics for inspiration.

Whether you’re inspired by 2024's athletes, or you're looking back to the nation’s legendary past Olympians and Paralympians, you’re sure to strike gold with our curated collection of world-class names.

Ahmed (Kelly)

Paralympic swimmer Ahmed Kelly clinched silver at his fourth games at Paris 2024, adding to his silver from Tokyo in 2020 for the men’s 150m individual medley.

Ahmed comes from the Arabic hamida, meaning "praised" or "commendable". It is number 245 in the boys’ chart.

Andrew (Hoy)

Equestrian Andrew Hoy has represented Australia in no less than eight Olympic Games, winning three gold medals, two silver and a bronze in team and individual eventing.

Andrew is the English and Scottish form of the Greek andreios meaning "manly". The popular boys’ name sits at number 343 in our charts.

Anna (Meares)

Anna Meares is a double Olympic gold medallist, with another four medals under her belt for track cycling. At the Rio 2016 Olympics she became the first Australian to win individual medals in four consecutive games from 2004 to 2016. Meares was Australia’s chef de mission for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Anna is a Latin name derived from the Hebrew hanna, meaning "grace". The classic name ranks at number 297.

Ariarne (Titmus)

Swimming sensation Ariarne Titmus gained international fame by taking two golds, a silver and a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. She followed this success with a further two golds and two silvers at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Ariarne is an alternative spelling of Ariane which is the Latin form of the Greek Ariadne. Ariane means “most holy” and ranks at number 1,190.

Brenden (Hall)

A veteran Paralympic swimmer, Brenden Hall clinched gold at his fifth Paralympic appearance at Paris 2024. His medal tally overall is now a whopping seven - four gold, one silver and two bronze - over his career for individual freestyle and relay events.

Brenden is derived from the Irish name Bréanainn meaning "prince". It’s at number 1,572 in our charts

Cathy (Freeman)

Athletics star and three-time Olympian Cathy Freeman became an iconic figure after taking the 400m gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where she also lit the Olympic flame, symbolising national unity. Since retiring from elite sport, she has worked with a number of charities to help create a brighter future for Indigenous children.

Cathy is the short form of Catherine, which comes from the Greek “katharos”, meaning "pure". It ranks at number 2,014 in our charts.

Daniel (Michel)

A standout in the sport of boccia, Paralympian Daniel (Dan) Michel made history by winning Australia's first Paralympic boccia medal in 25 years at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He became a world champion in 2022 and upgraded his bronze medal to silver at Paris 2024.

Daniel is from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, meaning "God is my judge". The popular name is at number 73.

Dawn (Fraser)

Dawn Fraser was one of the world's fastest freestyle swimmers in the 1950s and 1960s, winning four gold and four silver medals over three Olympics. She was the first Olympian, male or female, to take home gold three times for the same event (100m freestyle).

Dawn comes from the English word for "daybreak". It sits just within the top 1,000 names at number 998.

Dylan (Alcott)

Dylan Alcott has represented Australia at the Paralympics for both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. Named Australian of the Year in 2022, Alcott has won four gold medals and two silver. 

Dylan comes from the Welsh dy, meaning "great" and llanw, meaning "sea" or dylif, meaning "flood". It’s number 156 in the boys’ chart.

Ellie (Cole)

Ellie Cole is one of Australia's most successful Paralympians and the country’s most decorated female Paralympian. She has won 17 medals in swimming across four games, including six golds.

And she isn’t our only superstar athlete named Ellie Cole! Seventeen-year-old diver Ellie Cole made her Olympic debut at Paris 2024, coming seventh in the 10m platform event.

Ellie is a short form of Helen or Eleanor, meaning "torch", "light" or "sun ray" and “noble and exalted. It’s very popular with parents, sitting at 21 in our charts.

Emma (McKeon)

Another legendary swimmer, Emma McKeon took one gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics and four more at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After also winning three additional bronze medals in 2020 she made history by taking home the most medals by any female swimmer in a single Olympics. She followed this up with a gold and a silver for team events at Paris 2024.

Emma comes from the Old German erm, meaning "whole" or "universal". It has been a constant in our top 100 and is currently at number 62.

Grant (Hackett)

Grant Hackett is one of the greatest freestyle distance swimmers in history. He boasts a total of seven Olympic medals for relay and individual events, including two gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and another gold at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Grant comes from a Scottish surname originally deriving from the French grand, meaning "tall, large". It ranks at number 1,065.

Herb (Elliott)

Herb Elliott is regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners. He won the gold medal for the 1500m race at the Rome 1960 Olympics, setting a world record that stood for seven years.

Herb comes from the Germanic word “heri” meaning "army" and beraht meaning "bright". It’s at number 1363 in our charts.

Ian (Thorpe)

Known as the "Thorpedo", Ian Thorpe is another enormously successful Aussie swimmer. He has won five Olympic gold medals, sharing the record with Emma McKeon for the most gold won by an Australian. Three of these were on home turf during the Sydney 2000 Olympics, making him a national hero.

Ian is the Scottish form of John, which itself comes from the Greek name Ioannes. This has its origins in the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning "God is gracious". It ranks at number 364 in our boys’ charts.

Jacqueline (Freney)

Jacqueline Freney made history in the London 2012 Paralympics, taking home eight gold medals from eight swimming events - the most gold won in the London games. It earnt her the title of Australia's Paralympian of the Year in 2012. She’s racked up a total of 13 medals over three Paralympics and was also named the 2014 Young Australian of the Year.

Jacqueline comes from the French for “protect” and is at 1,398 in the girls’ name charts.

Jessica (Fox)

The most decorated canoe slalom athlete of all time, Jessica (Jess) Fox has won six Olympic medals, including three golds: one at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and two at the Paris 2024 games. 

First used by Shakespeare in his play The Merchant of Venice, Jessica is thought to be based on the Biblical Jesca, from the Hebrew Yiskah meaning "God beholds". It ranks at number 174 in the BabyCenter Australian name charts for girls.

Kaylee (McKeown)

Swimmer Kaylee McKeown is a dominant force in backstroke events. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she won gold in the 100m and 200m backstroke - both firsts for Australia - and for the women’s medley relay, while claiming bronze in the mixed medley relay. She secured a further two golds, a silver and two bronzes at Paris 2024 for individual and team events.

Kaylee is a form of Kayley, which is from the Irish surname from the Irish Gaelic caol, meaning "slender". It’s at number 187 in the girls’ charts.

Kurt (Fearnley)

A wheelchair racer in marathon and long-distance events, Kurt Fearnley won a total of 13 medals, including three gold, over five Paralympic Games from 2000 to 2016. Fearnley has also won numerous marathons around the world, including the prestigious New York City Marathon five times.

Kurt is a form of Konrad, coming from the German elements kuon, meaning "bold" and rad, meaning "counsel". It ranks at number 1,334.

Kyle (Chalmers)

Swimmer Kyle Chalmers made a splash by winning the gold medal in the 100m freestyle at the Rio 2016 Olympics, along with two bronze medals for relay. He followed up with a silver and two bronzes at Tokyo 2020 and two more silvers at Paris 2024 for individual and relay events.

Now a popular first name Kyle was originally a Scottish surname, derived from the Scottish Gaelic caol, meaning "narrow strait". It ranks at 450 in our charts.

Lakeisha (Patterson)

Lakeisha Patterson, also known as "Lucky", has eight Paralympic medals to her name, including two golds from the Rio 2016 games, one from Tokyo 2020 and a silver from Paris 2024. She is known for her versatility in various swimming events, including freestyle, backstroke and butterfly individual races as well as relay.

Lakeisha is a modern African-American name that may be a combination of La and Keisha. It ranks 1,878 out of all girls’ names.

Leisel (Jones)

Leisel Jones is among the world's best breaststroke swimmers, winning nine Olympic medals - three golds, five silvers and a bronze - across four Olympics from 2000 to 2012. She was only 15 when she competed at her first Olympics and has written an autobiography about her experiences.

Leisel is an alternative spelling of Liesel, again derived from Elisabeth. It places at 1,186 in our charts.

Libby (Kosmala)

The legendary Libby Kosmala competed in no less than 12 Paralympic Games - the record for an Australian - over more than 40 years, from 1972 to 2016. She has won 13 medals, nine of them gold, in a range of events from archery and swimming to rifle shooting. Libby was the oldest athlete to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, making her one of the most enduring and successful Paralympians in history.

Libby is a shortened version of Elisabeth, itself coming from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning "God is my oath". It ranks at 831 in our charts.

Logan (Martin)

Trailblazer Logan Martin made history by winning gold in the first ever BMX freestyle Olympics event at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Logan derives from the Scottish Gaelic, meaning "little cove" or "small hollow". its Irish meaning is "meadow". It has become increasingly popular as a boys’ name in Australia over the past few years and now ranks at 48.

Louise (Sauvage)

Louise Sauvage dominated the middle and long-distance wheelchair racing events in four Paralympic Games between 1992 and 2004, winning a total of nine gold medals and four silver medals. She also played a significant role in increasing the visibility of Paralympic sports and has been a successful coach, guiding other athletes to Paralympic success.

Louise certainly lives up to her name which is the feminine form of the French name Louis meaning "famous warrior". The name ranks at number 572.

Madison (de Rozario)

Madison de Rozario is a renowned wheelchair racer skilled in short, middle and long-distance events. She has won three gold medals, three silver and a bronze in five Paralympic Games from 2008 to 2024.

Now a popular girls’ name at number 110 in our charts, Madison was originally a surname, meaning "son of Maud".

Matthew (Cowdrey) and Matt (Wearn)

Multiple world-record holder Matthew Cowdrey is Australia's most successful Paralympian with a total of 23 medals, including 13 golds, over three Paralympic Games from 2004 to 2012.

Meanwhile, Matt Wearn is the reigning Olympic champion in men's dinghy, taking gold in both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

Matt is the short form of Matthew which comes from the Hebrew Mattiyahu, meaning "gift of God". Matt is at number 920 in our charts while Matthew sits at number 107.

Nicola (Olyslagers)

High jumper Nicola Olyslagers (nee McDermott) won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and added to her trophy cabinet with another silver at the Paris 2024 Games.

Nicola is the French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, a combination of the elements nike "victory" , and laos "people". It’s at number 731.

Sally (Pearson)

Tenacious hurdler Sally Pearson won hearts and gold in the 100m event at the London 2012 Olympics. She previously brought home a silver in the Beijing 2008 games and is considered the most successful Aussie hurdler to date.

Sally is a form of Sarah, a Biblical name meaning "princess" in Hebrew. It’s at 589 in the girls’ charts.

Susie (O'Neill)

Swimmer Susie O'Neill represented Australia in three Olympic games from 1992 to 2000, winning a total of eight medals, including two golds, in butterfly and freestyle events.

Susie is the short form of the Hebrew name Susannah meaning "lily". It ranks at number 856.

Tim (Sullivan)

Sprinter Tim Sullivan is one of Australia's most successful Paralympic track athletes, having competed in four Paralympic games from 2000 to 2012. He won a total of 19 gold medals during his career for individual and relay events, making him one of the most prolific gold medallists in Australian Paralympic history.

Tim is a shortened version of Timothy which derives from the Greek words timan and theos and means "to honour God". It’s at 574 in our charts.

Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics

The Aussie Olympics team of more than 460 athletes competed in 329 events at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The team came fourth overall after winning 53 medals: 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze. Our team of 160 Paralympians then competed across 22 sports, coming ninth and bringing home 63 medals: 18 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze.