Rachel Griffiths on her children's unique names

Brothers & Sisters actress Rachel Griffiths has two children, Banjo Patrick, 4, and Adelaide Rose, 2, with husband, artist Andrew Taylor and while many people may consider the children’s names to be unusual, they have a special meaning to the 38-year-old actress.

Adelaide is named for the city, for a character in a Disney movie and for the showgirl in ‘Guys & Dolls.’ And you must know Banjo. Banjo A.B. Paterson. He’s the famous Australianpoet, journalist and storyteller who wrote the song Waltzing Matilda.

Rachel and her husband, who are both from Australia, currently live in the San Fernando Valley in California, and the actress admits that it is making for an interesting accent in her son, Banjo.

Our boy has an accent I would describe as Afro/Carib/Valley or Valley-meets-pirates.

Source: Parade

Comments

I love Fig kids, but I have such a hard time finding it without their store locator button active on their site. I am always happy to stumble upon it in boutiques.
Anywho, I would love the Love in Moss green (size 6) for my daughter. It’s the one with the two love birds! SMOOCH!

- Devon on October 5th, 2007

I actually love her children’s names. I will admit that when I heard she had named her son Banjo, I was a bit apprehensive. Then I heard why he was named that, and I thought it was a very cool name. I absolutely love the name Adelaide and am trying to convince hubby to let us use it if we have another girl.

- Dana on October 6th, 2007

Banjo is a little hard for me to wrap my head around, but I love Adelaide.

As for the accent: I think that is so interesting. I always wonder how children will speak when they grow up traveling a lot and having parents from different countries. The Jolie-Pitts for example, will be really interesting to hear as they get older. I’m sure they will sound more American than anything because of their parents, but I’m sure they’ll pick up hints of accents from the places they spend most time in.

I know someone whos Mom is English and certain words she says sound like she has an English accent, but she mostly sounds American.

- Alex on October 6th, 2007

As an Australian, I find it quite insulting that everywhere I turn, people seem to find Rachel Griffiths children’s names ‘strange’ or ‘unique.’ Banjo Patterson is one of, if not the most famous Australian poet and I know people immediately think of the instrument, but it is an incredibly important name in Australia. So I’d just like to say that the comment ‘most people may consider the children’s names to be unusual’ because there are plenty of Australians who read posts on here who would disagree entirely. I remember seeing on E.T that the number one ‘strangest’ name for a Hollywood baby was Banjo. I just wish people would stop and think about where someone is from before saying such things about someone’s name… I don’t particularly like the idea of naming my child Jesus, but I don’t say it’s ‘strange,’ as the majority of people who have that name come from an area or country where it is common, or has particular significance for them.
Adelaide is a city in South Australia- a lot of cities/states are used for girls names- Sydney (New South Wales) and Victoria (state). I think it’s a beautiful tribute to our country and the fact that no matter if she lives in the U.S., or wherever she travels to, she still calls Australia home.

- josie on October 6th, 2007