Pet Bird Names

Feminine spin on Arnold that received a brief flurry of use in the early 1990s.

Faigy is notable as New York State's quirkiest favorite name, widely-used in the Hasidic community.

Over-the-top glitzy. Sparkle debuted in 1976 and peaked in 1979 when it was given to 124 baby girls. Since then, it has only been given to a small handful of girls most years in the US. Pretty Amaryllis, Swedish Tindra, and Greek Maira all have sparkly meanings, while Sparky feels closer to Sparkle but more in line with the likes of Ziggy, Goldie, and Stevie.

Iolana is a hip-swaying, melodic, and unusual choice. Similar Hawaiian bird-themed choice: Iolani.

Associated with the mononymic Icelandic singer and her iconic swan dress.

Has good vibes via the stork's intimations of longevity.

Dyveke is related to the Frisian word düveke, which means "dove", as well as to the name Dietlinde.

Delicate and lacy, with less emphasis on the jar syllable.

The given name of Conocotocko II, or Standing Turkey, a Cherokee chief in the 18th century. He advised the tribe to go to war against the then-colonies of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

In America, it is inextricable from the popular '90s line dance, but Macarena is a traditional feminine name in Spain. It is used in honor of the Virgin of Hope of Macarena, an epithet of the Virgin Mary. Macarena is also the name of a hip neighborhood in Seville.

Lynn is a particularly popular suffix for combination names, dating from the days of Marilyn through Katelynn to today's Ashlyn and Brooklyn and, right, Skylynn (or Skylyn or Skylinn or Skylynne). Skylynn is probably more influenced by the trendy Skylar than by word name Sky, but Skylar itself is a variation on the Dutch Schuyler.

Solemn but soaring name with patriotic symbolism.

English speakers will think you invented this one, but it's a hidden nature name from the Basque country in present-day Spain. Some may find it too close to "zero" for comfort.

Faigel is a secret nature name deriving from the Yiddish word for "bird". Variants include Faiga and Faige.

Often written in English as Cooweescoowee — a place name in Oklahoma.

Brittle.

Iolani feels quintessentially Hawaiian, a stylish origin for baby names these days thanks to Malia, the Hawaiian name of the Obamas' older daughter. The initial I is pronounced with a long e sound, as in Waikiki, and the name Iolani has four syllables.

Petronius is an Ancient Roman family name that may be drawn from the word petronis, meaning yokel or woodpecker, or the more familiar meaning stone, which applies to all the Peter names.

Suggests the salty, windswept air of the seashore.

Ptarmigan is the common English name for the genus Lagopus, in the grouse family of birds. The name is derived from the Scottish word for the bird, tàrmachan (meaning unknown), with the initial P- added by erroneous association with the Greek pteron ("wing").