Keeping parrots as pets is a popular choice for many people. They are lovely creatures and make interesting, funny, and quirky companions. It makes sense to spend some time choosing the right name to suit your new parrot’s personality, and that’s where we can help.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a parrot name. The most important thing is to select a name to which your parrot will respond. It should be short, easy to say, and not too similar to other words in your parrot’s vocabulary. You also want to avoid anything that might sound like a command or be confusing for your parrot.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- If your parrot is very chatty, you could name it after a famous talk show host or commentators, such as Oprah, Ellen, or Anderson Cooper.
- If your parrot is very playful, you could name it after a famous athlete like Serena, LeBron, or Messi.
- If your parrot is very smart, you could name it after a famous scientist or thinkers, such as Einstein, Darwin, or Aristotle.
- If your parrot is cuddly, you could name it after a famous movie or TV character known for being cuddly, such as Ewok, Groot, or Pikachu.
Let’s look at some specific parrot name categories and see if we can get your imagination going.
Female Parrot Names
Is your female parrot a real lady, or more of a tomboy? Either way, we’ve got some great parrot names for her! Try one of these:
- Arabella
- Athena
- Cleopatra
- Elizabeth
- Grace
- Helena
- Hermione
- Macedonia
- Maria
- Penelope
- Sophia
- Victoria
If your parrot is more of a sassy lady, these names might be more up her alley:
- Anastasia
- Aurora
- Carmen
- Devi
- Kali
- Maleficent
- Morticia
Male Parrot Names
Got yourself a bit of a cowboy parrot? Or maybe he’s more of a surfer dude? Whatever his personality, we’ve got some parrot-tastic name suggestions for your feathered friend!
- Ace
- Bandit
- Biscuit
- Blue
- Bono
- Buddy
- Buster
- Butterball
- Casanova
- Chewbacca
- Chief
- Chili
Maybe he’s more of a gentleman? Try these on for size:
- Sirius
- King
- Prince
- Lord
- Duke
- Baron
Common Parrot Names
Of course, you can’t go wrong with choosing some of the classic common parrot names, such as:
- Kiwi
- Buddy
- Sunshine
- Coco
- Kabuki
- Captain
- Polly
- Pirate
- Gizmo
- Sparky
Cute Parrot Names
Just a word of warning; make sure you know what your parrot’s personality is like before deciding on a cute name. Sometimes, the resulting clash between name and character can be disastrous! If cute seems to fit, try these:
- Boomer
- Tweetie
- Cuddlebug
- Doodlebug
- Buttons
- Cupcake
- Cutie Pie
- Darlin’
- Fifi
- Lovie
- Muffin
- Nugget
- Precious
- Pumpkin
Pop Culture Parrot Names
You’ll find many pop culture references to parrots; from movies and TV shows to songs, books, and even breakfast cereals! Some popular parrot names inspired by pop culture include:
- Lago (from the movie Aladdin and also the villainous parrot in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’)
- Polly (Derived from the bird’s calls of ‘Polly want a cracker?’ or ‘Polly put the kettle on’)
- Skittles (from the book/movie series Harry Potter)
- Pablo (from the TV show The Magic School Bus)
- Pierrot (A French clown character who is often associated with the commedia dell’arte)
- Gavroche (A young boy in Victor Hugo’s novel ‘Les Misérables’)
- Toucan Sam (The famous mascot of Froot Loops cereal)
Famous Political Parrot Owners in History
There are also many famous parrots whose owners held prestigious political positions in history. Some of these include:
President Theodore Roosevelt
President Roosevelt had two parrots named Eli Yale and Loretta. Eli was the more well-known; a Macaw who appeared in a lot of early photos of Roosevelt. Macaws are known for being very talkative, and it’s said that Eli would often mimic Roosevelt’s voice.
President William McKinley
McKinley had a yellow-headed Mexican parrot – known for being very rare – who he named Washington Post. While maybe an odd name for a parrot, it’s said that this parrot would often imitate the sound of a gunshot, which caused quite a bit of panic on more than one occasion! In addition, the parrot could certainly whistle an excellent rendition of ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy!’
President Andrew Jackson
US President Andrew Jackson chose a bit of an unoriginal name for his parrot; Polly. The African Gray parrot is well-known for mimicking human speech, so it’s no surprise that Jackson’s parrot was said to have picked up a few of the President’s catchphrases. Unfortunately, Polly had to be removed from Jackson’s funeral proceedings because she would insist on repeatedly uttering curse words!
President John F. Kennedy
Kennedy’s ‘bird loves’ included Marybelle and Bluebell, who were both parakeets. He also had a cute canary named Robin. Parakeets are known for being very social creatures, so it’s no surprise that Kennedy found them good company in the White House.
Royal Parrot Owners
Royalty was also captivated by the parrot. Here are a few of our members of royalty throughout history who had parrots as pets:
Alexander the Great
Alexander’s love of parakeets was so great that he is credited with bringing the first ringneck parakeet to Greece in 327 BC. This beautiful parrot soon became popular among the people and was even mentioned by some of the greatest writers and thinkers of the time. Today, the ringneck parakeet is still a beloved pet in many parts of the world, and the Alexandrine parakeet is aptly named in honor of the great man.
Queen Isabella of Spain
Queen Isabella owned two Cuban Amazon parrots that Christopher Columbus gifted to her in 1493. Cuban Amazon parrots are known for being very intelligent and affectionate, and it’s said that the Queen was very fond of her parrots.
King Henry VIII
Before becoming King Henry VIII, Prince Henry Tudor owned an African Gray parrot. African Gray parrots are considered among the most intelligent parrot species. They are known for their ability to mimic human speech. It’s said that Tudor’s parrot was so well-trained that it could recite passages from the Bible!
Queen Victoria
Lory was Queen Victoria’s parrot, given to her in 1836 by her uncle Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Lory is also the name of this species of small parrot. Victoria was very attached to her pet and even had it buried with her when she died in 1901. The Lory species is known for its vibrant plumage and playful disposition. If you’re looking for a regal name for your parrot, Lory would be a perfect fit.
Music Legends
If you’re looking for parrot name ideas inspired by music legends, then here are some great options:
- Freddie (Mercury)
- Jimi (Hendrix)
- Janis (Joplin)
- Kurt (Cobain)
- Elvis (Presley)
- Fats (Domino)
So, whether you’re a classic rock or grunge fan, there’s a music parrot name that might fit your parrot’s character to a tee!
Famous Parrots
Not to be outdone by their human counterparts, parrots have forged their own way into the spotlight. Here are some famous feathered friends from the big and small screens.
Mac
Who could forget Mac, the mischievous Macaw from ‘The Real Macaw?’ While his antics often got him into trouble, Mac always managed to make us laugh. The adventures of Mac and Sam thrilled and enthralled viewers and became a family favorite worldwide.
Four birds played the vibrant blue and yellow Macaw in the movie; Tango, Harpo, Groucho, and Chico. Peter Gregg specially trained the parrot stars for their roles. He also worked on ‘Free Willy’ and ‘Operation Dumbo Drop.’
Zazu
Zazu is a red-billed hornbill who appears in Disney’s ‘The Lion King.’ He is Mufasa’s loyal advisor and often acts as a voice of reason for the impulsive young Simba.
Zazu is one of the main characters in the film and leaves a lasting impression on viewers. His scenes are some of the most memorable in the movie, including when he tries to teach Simba about responsibility and when Timon and Pumbaa capture him.
Paulie
After seven casting calls to find the right bird for the movie, using over 38 different species, the Blue-crown Conure parrot was the best fit for the role. Fourteen different birds were used; however, don’t worry, animal lovers; when scenes were too dangerous, the production used an animatronic Paulie. There were also scenes requiring complex facial expressions, and they used the animatronic parrot for these as well.
Alex
Arguably one of the most famous parrots of all time, Alex was an African Grey parrot owned by animal psychologist Irene Pepperberg. He was renowned for his intelligence and capacity for language, and ability to communicate with humans.
While Alex is no longer with us, his memory lives on in the form of parrots around the world that are named after him.
Captain Flint
Of Treasure Island fame, Captain Flint was a parrot owned by the notorious pirate, Long John Silver. The parrot was known for its ability to imitate human speech, and it would often squawk out the phrase ‘pieces of eight’ whenever it heard the sound of coins.
Captain Flint is one of the most iconic parrots in literature. His name has been used repeatedly as a tribute to the original feathered buccaneer.
There are so many famous parrots on the big and small screen; these are just a few of the most well-known. Whether you’re looking for parrot name ideas inspired by famous people or parrots themselves, we hope this list has given you some inspiration!
What Do Celebrities Name Their Parrots?
You’re bound to know some of these celebrities, but did you know they have parrots as pets? Here are some stars and the names they chose for their feathered friends
Elizabeth Taylor
Taylor owns a Yellow Nape Amazon parrot that she calls Alvin. These beautiful birds are known for their vocal abilities and striking plumage. During Taylor’s appearances in ‘Private Lives,’ Alvin was a huge hit when she brought him onstage.
Mickey Rourke
Sonny was the name of Rourke’s cockatoo, who famously perched on his shoulder as he made his way around Hollywood. Sonny also featured alongside Rourke in his role in ‘Iron Man 2.’ Cockatoos are known for being very affectionate parrots and make great companions.
Stephen Spielberg
Spielberg named his parrot Blanche after the character in ‘Streetcar Named Desire.’ Blanche is a Panama amazon parrot known for its striking plumage and intelligence. Blanche was initially owned by Spielberg’s son, who enlisted the services of Ken Globus to learn how to control the bird!
Hilary Swank
Swank is enthusiastic about adopting pets and has two adopted parrots herself. One she named Seuss, and the other she called Angel. Seuss is an African Gray parrot known for its high intelligence and ability to mimic human speech. Angel is a Senegal, known for their gentle nature and ability to bond with their human families.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie’s African Gray parrot is reported to be a grumpy thing, especially when she leaves him with the ‘babysitter’ – the Amazon Rainforest shop in Hollywood – while she’s away.
Known for their attachment, Jolie’s African Gray makes it quite clear how he feels about being left there! He attacks customers and has even been known to stage a hunger strike!
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton is known for her love of animals and has quite a few parrots. One of her parrots is a BareEyed Cockatoo, one of the more unique parrots out there.
This parrot is very social and loves to play with its owners. It’s also known for being very friendly and outgoing. If you’re looking for a parrot that will make you laugh, the BareEyed Cockatoo can be an excellent choice.
General Tips on Naming Your Parrot
When choosing a name for your parrot, remember that the name will be with you and your parrot for the rest of its life. That being said, here are some general things to keep in mind when naming your parrot:
- Try to choose a name that is easy to say and suits your parrot’s personality.
- Once you have a few ideas, try saying them out loud to see how they sound. The name you choose should be easy to say and roll off the tongue.
- Once you have settled on a name, use it consistently so your parrot will learn to respond to it. Parrots are intelligent creatures and can learn to recognize their names if you are consistent in using them.
- Try to choose a name that has a positive meaning. This will help to create a positive bond with your parrot.
- Be creative and have fun when choosing a name for your parrot! This is an opportunity to give your bird a unique identity.
The Bottom Line
Whatever you name your parrot, please make sure it’s something you’re both comfortable with because you’ll be spending a lot of time together. Parrots make excellent companions, and you want to make sure your parrot’s name is something that you’re both happy with.
Because of their endearing but also quirky personalities, chances are that if the name you select doesn’t suit your feathered friend, he or she will let you know about it. So, have fun and be creative when choosing a name for your parrot, but also be mindful of the appropriateness of the name.
Treat your parrot as you would a best friend, and you’ll be richly rewarded with a companion that brings laughter, love, and loyalty into your life. Now that’s something to crow about!
