Pet Bird Names

Teal is one of the prettiest and most straightforward of the new color names -- an ideal middle name choice.

This is the sort of name a four-year-old would make up for himself.

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

Owls are revered and feared in Cherokee culture, thought of as witches in disguise. Uguku is one of multiple owl names in the Cherokee language. It is onomatopoetic with the owl's calls.

Faulkner is an old occupational surname that was used for someone who kept and trained falcons when falconry was a popular sport in medieval Europe. Anyone using it in contemporary America would probably be honoring Southern novelist William Faulkner. While we love the author, Falconer would probably be a slightly easier name to carry on the playground.

Corky was a sitcom moniker of the fifties, Corcoran a better fit for these times.

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.

Peaceful and melodic, but a bit pretentious.

Cheasequah refers to the cardinal, associated with the sun in Cherokee culture.

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.

Suggests the salty, windswept air of the seashore.

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.

Once unique to the Zappa family, now you can have your own little prima donna.

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

Kew is an offbeat name of a saint from Cornwall with boyish appeal.

Possible musical tribute name to the waiflike, husky-voiced midcentury French singer who was given this last name because of her birdlike quality.

Dashing Latin surname name -- but also a well-known brand of Spanish packaged foods.

The French and Spanish word for "hummingbird" is lithe and charming as a girl name.

Double exposure: 1970s rock sensation (Mamma Mia) and scholar/diplomat name in Israel.