At Whale Tail Digital, naming things is kind of a big deal.
My services are all named after real whale behaviours (Spyhop, Breach, Comp Pod, Footprint…), so when it came time to name my website templates, I wanted something equally meaningful and on-brand.
That’s when I thought of the Oceania Project, which has documented and named dozens of humpback whales migrating along Australia’s east coast, and their stopovers in Butchulla Country (the land and waters in the Hervey Bay area). All those flukes, all those stories… and suddenly, the answer was right in front of me.
I decided to name each template after a real humpback whale that’s been seen in Hervey Bay, one of the most important resting grounds along their migration route. These names aren’t random or trendy. They’re rooted in place, in purpose, and in a deep love of whales.
Why Hervey Bay’s whales?
Hervey Bay, QLD, is more than just my home base – it’s a globally recognised humpback whale hotspot. Each year from July to October, thousands of whales stop here during their long migration up and down Australia’s east coast.
It’s a place for resting, socialising and nurturing calves. Mothers and calves have been known to stay for up to a month while they rest – and the calves grow (and ‘learn how to whale’) – in the calm, protected waters before they continue their big migration back to Antarctica.
Images via VisitFraserCoast.com
And in 2019, Hervey Bay was officially recognised as the world’s first Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance – acknowledging its incredible role in the ongoing survival and health of the east coast humpback population.
It’s one of the best places in the world to witness whale behaviours up close. That includes tail slaps, breaches, spyhops… and yes, those unforgettable flukes that help us ID them.
Thanks to the incredible work of citizen science platform Happy Whale, individual whales can be tracked over time based on the unique markings on their flukes – kind of like a fingerprint. Every sighting tells a story. Every match brings data to life.
And let’s be honest: nothing beats the buzz of getting an email that one of “your” whales has just been spotted again somewhere in the world.
Meet the whales behind the website template names
Each of these templates is named after a real humpback whale sighted in Hervey Bay waters. Here’s a little glimpse into their stories – and the sites they inspired.
Original name: Madeira
First sighted: 1997 (NSW)
Last sighted: 2018
Fun fact: Identified as female after being spotted with a calf in Hervey Bay in 2006.
I chose the name Maddie because it just fit the vibe of the kit – confident, polished, and made for virtual assistants, OBMs and SMMs who mean business (but want to keep it personable). A short, sweet name for a reliable powerhouse.
Original name: Samari
First sighted: 1997 (Hervey Bay)
Last sighted: 2020
Fun fact: Confirmed female after being spotted with a calf in 2003.
The Sami template was designed for coaches and heart-led business owners who want a warm, welcoming site that reflects who they are. The name felt soft, grounding and human – perfect for a kit made with deep connection in mind.
First sighted: 2010 (Hervey Bay)
Last sighted: 2023 (Hervey Bay!)
Fun fact: She’s been spotted in Hervey Bay over the years, including with a calf on her first sighting.
This kit was built for creatives and artists, especially those wanting to showcase or sell their work online. I imagined a photographer or illustrator using it, and the name Molly had the right mix of charm, strength and approachability.
First sighted: 2007 (Hervey Bay)
Last sighted: 2023 (Hervey Bay), by my fellow “whale weirdo” friend Annika!
Fun fact: Confirmed female in 2023 after being sighted with a calf.
The Maia kit holds a special place in my heart – it was the first template I built specifically with low-carbon design in mind. I wanted a name that felt earthy and eco-conscious, and Maia (reminiscent of Gaia, Mother Earth) was spot on.
First sighted: 1988
Most recent sighting: September 2025 (Hervey Bay!)
Fun fact: Nala is a Hervey Bay icon and has had 15 calves – most recently this season! Known for her “tail-up feeding” technique, Nala is immortalised in a public sculpture in town.
Nala is legendary. She’s beloved by locals, researchers and whale-watchers alike – and now she’s the face (or rather, fluke) of one of my most purpose-driven templates. The Nala kit was created for NFPs and charities, and its demo site features the fictional “Nala Foundation” – a marine conservation org inspired by her legacy.
But wait... what about the boys?
All of my current templates are named after female whales – and that was completely unintentional, I swear! They were simply names that called to me when I was looking through the Oceania Project whales.
Buuuuut, the big news is that I’m working on three new templates with a more masculine edge, designed especially for service-based and trade industries:
- Apollo and Zeus: streamlined one-pagers for tradies and solo operators
- Broken Arrow: a bold, multi-page layout for growing businesses that want to look polished but stay practical
(All three will be designed to be as low carbon as possible, of course!)
They’re not live yet (still swimming through the concept and design phase), but you’ll meet them soon – and yep, they’re named after real whales too!
Why it matters
Could I have named my templates after colours, flowers or fonts? Sure. But it wouldn’t have felt like me.
These names are a tribute to the ocean, to conservation, and to the magical humpbacks that visit Hervey Bay each year. They’re a reminder that the work we do online can still be deeply connected to the natural world – and that meaning matters.
So whether you’re working with me to bring your brand online or collaborating on a site that reflects your values, know this: every design is built with purpose, care, and a whole lot of whale-sized love.
🐋 Interested in my Comp Pod service that uses these templates? Get in touch!
💙 Want to learn more about the whales? Visit HappyWhale.com or check out the incredible work of The Oceania Project.