Many Aboriginal people have a skin name. Skin Name is an Aboriginal-English term derived from the English term 'Kin Names'. A skin name is a name given to an Aboriginal person at birth based on the combined skin names of their parents, or given by their community. A skin name is not a surname or last name.
Skin names are an important aspect of Aboriginal culture as it governs an individual's right to own certain Dreamings, as well as define their relationships and connections to traditional land and extended family.
| Western Desert Language Groups | Utopian Language Groups | ||||
| Warlpiri | Pintupi/Luritja | Arrente | Alyawarre | Anmatyerre | |
|
M F |
Jungarrayi Nungarrayi |
Tjungarrayi Nungarrayi |
Kngwarreye
|
Kngwarrey
|
Kngwarreye or Ngwarai |
|
M F |
Japanangka Napanangka |
Tjapanangka Napanangka |
Penangke
|
Penangke
|
|
|
M F |
Japaljarri Napaljarri |
Tjapaltjarri Napaltjarri |
Peltharre | Apetyarr | Petyarre or Pitjara |
|
M F |
Japangardi Napangardi |
Tjapangati Napangati |
Pengarte | Pengarte | |
|
M F |
Jupurrula Napurrula |
Tjupurrula Napurrula |
Perrurle | Apwerl | Pwerle or Pula |
|
M F |
Jangala Nangala |
Tjangala Nangala |
Angale | Ngale or Ngala | |
|
M F |
Jakamarra Nakamarra |
Tjakamarra Nakamarra |
Kemarre | Akemarr | Kemarre |
|
M F |
Jampijinpa Nampijinpa |
Tjampitjinpa Nampitjinpa |
Ampetyane | Mpetyane or Mbitjana |
Often people in the same language group refer to each other as 'brother', 'sister','aunty' or 'uncle' etc. This does not mean they are biologically related, but refers to their relationship to each other as set out by their Skin Name. If two women have the same Skin Name they might refer to each other as 'sister'.
Skin Names are spelt differently across different languages and dialects, for example Petyarre and Pitjara are the same name. These variations in spelling are a result of the process of writing and recording languages that were traditionally only spoken languages.
Traditionally, these kinship systems governed all social interactions including marriage.