During the Sir Doug Nicholls Round in May, the Demons will be known as Narrm, the traditional place name of Melbourne.
The change will be used for all Indigenous rounds in the AFL and AFLW in the future.
The club announced the name change at a launch on Monday, with Premiership player Steven May, an Indigenous man from Darwin, saying this was something he “never really thought would happen”.
"Extremely proud, but just to be recognised during those two rounds is always special for our friends and family back home,” May said about the name change.
"We get to wear an Indigenous guernsey and now to be called an Indigenous name like Narrm I think is really special.
"There will be little kids here watching us play, asking their parents what the name means and that will start conversations.
"The flow-on effect from that is huge and the only way we can better is through education, teaching and raising awareness so I think this is another step along the way to fast-track that."
The club consulted with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation over the name change, including the way it should be spelled.
"For me, it's always been spelled Narrm, so I think that's a worthy point to make," Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy said.
With AAP.
