When you bring a new pet bird home, one of the first things you’ll do is pick a good parrot name.
When deciding on a name, remember that most species are long-lived birds and will have that moniker for 30-50 years, perhaps longer.
Select a name that’s easy to say and teach your parrot, so names with one syllable are perfect choices.
Begin training your parrot to respond to its name, and don’t change it to avoid confusion.
Top 10 Most Popular Parrot Names
The most well-loved parrot names come from shared sources.
For example, Tweety belongs to the well-known Looney Tunes character, who knew its name but not its age. Even though Tweety wasn’t a parrot, you may enjoy ascribing that name to your new bird friend.
Other names aren’t bird-specific, like Lucky. These are a favorite to tack on to new animal companions.
If you want your parrot to join the ranks with a popular name, consider the following:
- Tweety
- Coco
- Charlie
- Max
- Kiwi
- Sunny
- Buddy
- Lucky
- Tiki
- Polly
Male Parrot Names
The more customized a name is, the more precious it can feel. So, you might want to narrow down your name choices by the sex of your parrot. It’s natural to give a parrot a human name.
Some are simple names for males, while others are fun and cute. Try spending a day or two with your parrot and get a feel for its unique personality. Which of these would fit the bird best?
- Jerry
- Paddy
- Sonny
- Paco
- Floyd
- Buster
- Taz
- Sparky
- Yogi
- Toby
- Huey
- Gabriel
- Rio
- Frankie
- Ollie
- Petrie
- Pascal
- Remus
- Larry
Female Parrot Names
If your bird is female, you can get more flowery or unique with the naming. Many of the most popular female names for parrots aren’t traditional human names.
You might recognize some as famous characters from TV and movies. Check out this list and see which one fits your new feathered friend:
- Angel
- Reba
- Baby
- Minnie
- Pearl
- Buffy
- Thelma
- Louise
- Roxy
- Rosa
- Belle
- Kiki
- Sophie
- Priscilla
- Ethel
- Rosie
- Jenny
- Jessie
- Molly
- Katie
- Leia
- Gracie
- Goldie
- Lizzie
- Lily
- Jewel
- Isabelle
Famous Bird Names
Maybe you can’t think of a name that fits your parrot’s unique aesthetic. Is male or female too simple? Do you want a popular name that already has some personality assigned to it?
If so, pop culture is a great place to look. Let’s look at the names of famous birds on the silver screen. Your parrot doesn’t need to be a duck or a pelican, as the charm of these names can suit a parrot:
Daffy
While Daffy might be a duck from the Looney Tunes, it can also be a good parrot name. Does your parrot have a stubborn personality? Is your parrot a big talker? If so, you may be looking at your new Daffy.
Zazu
Zazu is an African hornbill. Nonetheless, if you’re a fan of The Lion King and looking for a name from the movie, you can’t do better than Zazu. This has assertiveness and loyalty all over it, and it’s even fun to say.
Woodstock
Woodstock is a much-loved canary from the Peanuts comics. The name also works as a fun parrot name, especially if your bird happens to be yellow.
Can you imagine how cute it’ll be if you teach the parrot to sing the theme song?
Daisy
If you have a female parrot, what better name than Daisy, one of the most famous female birds ever? If you have a male and a female parrot, you can always name them Donald and Daisy.
Iago
Lago from Disney’s Aladdin is one of the most well-known parrots ever. Loud-mouthed, hilarious, and bright red, you may find your parrot mirrors some of this cartoon character’s fun habits.
Diablo
Are you a Sleeping Beauty fan? Do you have a parrot with dark-colored feathers? Why not name it after Maleficent’s trusted companion? This also works if you have a parrot that likes to get into trouble.
Becky and Nigel
If you’re more of a Pixar fan, you’ll find Dory, Becky, and Nigel, and good names for your parrot.
In the movie, they may be a loon and a pelican, but that doesn’t mean you can’t repurpose their names. This works well if you own two birds that love to be partners in crime.
Big Bird
If you enjoy Sesame Street or have kids who do, there’s no better name for a parrot. If your parrot is yellow, Big Bird is an obvious favorite.
Hedwig
In the Harry Potter books and movies, Hedwig might be a white owl, but don’t let that hold you back.
If you’re a Potterhead, it’s the perfect name for any bird you keep as a pet. What if your parrot is white, loyal, and full of personality? Then, the name is even more fitting.
Blue Parrot Names
Do you have a blue parrot and want a name that represents the color of its feathers? Then, your options are wider than you’d expect.
Whether it’s as simple as Blue or more poetic like Celeste or Midnight, browse through this collection. You’re sure to find one that matches your parrot’s personality:
- Celeste
- Midnight
- Jasmine
- Sapphire
- Blue
- Swift
- Jet
- Blue
- Misty
- Stella
- Bluebell
- Petunia
- Jay
- Sky
- Teal
- Star
- Crystal
- River
- Luna
Green Parrot Names
Do you have a green or olive-colored parrot? Want to emphasize that with its name? Then, you can get creative. These names range from your favorite green character to a green plant you like.
Let’s explore some of the best green parrot names:
- Flora
- Sprout
- Fern
- Mikey
- Rosemary
- Kiwi
- Holly
- Pickles
- Jade
- Ivy
- Kermit
- Kelly
- Sage
- Olive
- Tinkerbell
- Yoshi
- Link
- Eve
- Yoda
- Marvin
- Basil
Red Parrot Names
Is your parrot a bright red hue? If so, it deserves a name that highlights its color. Whether it’s Phoenix to describe its fire-red color or Scarlet to show off its dark red feathers, look no further.
These names for red parrots can represent boldness:
- Ruby
- Rusty
- Amber
- Strawberry
- Scarlet
- Phoenix
- Red
- Rose
- Poppy
- Annie
Funny Parrot Names
Parrots can bring fun and happiness to any home. What if their name alone helped in that venture?
Consider giving your parrot a funny name to lighten the mood. If your parrot is silly, cutesy – or even overly serious – these names can fit it perfectly:
- Nugget
- Beaker
- Harmony
- DJ
- Coconut
- Boss
- Doodle
- Snoopy
- Rainbow
- Wingman
- Jeeves
- Siri
African Grey Parrot Names
African Greys are one of the most popular breeds to own as pets. According to Ethology, the intonation journal of behavioral biology, they’re also among the smartest.
They can learn and comprehend words and phrases, easily picking up speech. That makes giving them a name worthy of their intelligence even more important.
You can also come up with names based on parrots’ unique colors. If you want a name that highlights the neutral shade of their feathers, take a look:
Male Names
- Ghost
- Ash
- Lancelot
- Smoke
- Thor
- Merlin
- Storm
- Sterling
- Paco
- Alfie
- Jet
- Zeus
- Miguel
- Gray
- Bentley
- Apollo
- Chip
- Ringo
- Shadow
Female Names
- Penelope
- Heather
- Willow
- Pearl
- Jane
- Lilac
- Violet
- Stella
- Pepper
- Periwinkle
Disney Names
If Daffy and Iago have you sold on the cartoon angle, why not lean into it?
Various Disney characters have imprinted on our minds and our sense of humor. When you’re naming a parrot that’s full of personality, you can consider these options:
Captain Peghook
Want to get spooky and fun? This parrot was a ghost in Ducktales and was a menace to the other characters in the show. If your parrot likes to get into trouble, Captain Peghook can be the right name.
Groucho
If your parrot is a fan of singing, this is a perfect choice. It’s also the name of a real parrot at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that sings to visitors to keep the mood light.
If your parrot likes to entertain you with a song, it has to be Groucho.
Parrot
This name may seem too simple to you – but it was good enough for Mickey Mouse and Pluto’s parrot.
Found on a ship in the aptly named cartoon Mickey’s Parrot, this bird left a memorable mark. If you want something simple, cute, and silly, you can’t go wrong with Parrot.
Famous Pirate Names
Parrots are synonymous with pirates. They’re like peanut butter and jelly; they go together. What better way to honor that pairing than by naming your parrot after a pirate or something pirate-related?
Here are some famous pirate names to consider:
- Bandit
- Crackers
- Parley
- Matey
- Mr. Smee
- Scuttle
- Peter Pan
- Skully
- Bones
- Davy Jones
- Scallywag
- Jolly Roger
- Strumpet
- Bucko
- Barbossa
- Long John Silver
- Rapscallion
- Hook
- Littlefoot
- Sinker
- Paulie
Unisex Names
Are you uncertain about the sex of your parrot? Check out these catchy name options:
- Hershey
- Snickers
- Ozzy
- Whisper
- Nibbles
- Sugar
- Spice
- Teke
- Casper
- Hunter
- Piper
- Scooter
- Jazz
- Sammy
- Harley
- Piglet
- Peri
- Squidward
- Tiger
- Poncho
Do Parrots Know Their Own Name?
Parrots can learn and respond to their names. If your parrot is fully grown and rehomed, it’s recommended you keep its original name.
Parrots can grow attached to the sound and remember it for years, but this depends on the following:
- How well a parrot is trained
- How often a name’s used
A parrot will eventually understand that Polly, Tweety, or Larry belongs to it.
How To Teach Your Parrot Its Name
Picking out a name can be difficult, and teaching your parrot its name and ensuring it learns the sound can be just as tough. However, with persistence, you can ensure your parrot makes the adjustments.
According to The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, parrots have evolved to learn complex words, phrases, and “social affiliations.”
How can you help your parrot learn its name? Follow these steps:
Pick A Name And Stick To It
Once you’ve chosen a name, avoid changing it, as that’ll confuse your parrot, making it difficult for them to associate the sounds you make with a name.
Instead, consider the ideal name for a day or two before settling on it.
Use The Name Often
Once you have the ideal moniker, you should refer to the parrot by that name in these situations:
- When you come home
- When you feed the parrot
- When you take the parrot out of the cage
- Whenever you look directly at the parrot as a greeting
Encourage visitors to do the same, as this will help the parrot realize that the sound is its name.
Use Treats
When your parrot responds to its name, offer it a treat because it teaches them to associate that name with good things. Additionally, it lets your parrot know that the word means you’re talking to it.
For better results, break these down into specific training sessions. Be sure to repeat the name-and-treat process for 15 minutes at a time.
Repeat Sessions
Keep repeating these 15-minute treat sessions 3-4 times per day until the parrot responds every time. This process is likely to take several weeks.
Give the parrot breaks between sessions, as it can grow bored of performing the same task repeatedly.
If the parrot responds every time, it’s learned its name. Then, you can move on to teaching them tricks using this same process.
Finding the Right Name for Your Parrot
Choosing a name that best fits your parrot isn’t an easy task. You have to take into account a parrot’s:
- Physical appearance
- Personality
- Age
- Gender
Once you’ve narrowed that down, you should also consider the following:
- Names you’re willing to say aloud.
- How quickly the names can be said.
- If the name is likely to be shortened to a nickname (which will confuse your parrot).
Finding the right name can be an involved process. However, the male and female names listed above will enable you to find the best name for a pet parrot.
