Baby name story: Brindabella

Brindabella mountains (Australia)

The identical Hepner triplets — Abby, Laurel, and Brindabella (“Brin”) — were born to Tom and Hannah Hepner in California late last year.

The name Brindabella refers to Australia’s Brindabella mountain range:

Mr. Hepner, who grew up in Canberra, said he had spent a lot of time exploring the Brindabella Ranges. “They are an intimate part of my history and early appreciation for the natural world. It is also where we had our small wedding ceremony in 2007, on top of Mount Franklin,” he said.

I found out about the triplets via Waltzing More than Matilda. Here’s what Anna says about the origin of the word Brindabella:

The name Brindabella is said to mean “two hopping mice” in a local Aboriginal language. Hopping mice are native Australian mice with long tails, large ears and strong back legs; they can hop about just like a rabbit or a kangaroo. Another theory is that brindy brindy meant “water running over rocks”, and that Europeans added a -bella at the end, to suggest “beautiful”.

I have to admit that “Abby, Laurel and Brindabella” does remind me of Disney’s Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. :)

What do you think of the name Brindabella?

Source: Kretowicz, Ewa and Megan Doherty. “Former Canberra resident’s identical triplets cause a sensation.” Canberra Times 14 Dec. 2013.

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