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Bird Names for Boys and Girls

  1. Bluebird
    • Jacobin
      • Sora
        • Ani

          • Origin:

            Hawaiian; Igbo

          • Meaning:

            "beautiful"

          • Description:

            Folk singer DiFranco popularized this simple, appealing form. In Igbo mythology, Ani is one of the names of the goddess of the earth, fertility, creativity, and morality.
        • Aracari
          • Brant

            • Origin:

              German

            • Meaning:

              "sword"

            • Description:

              Brant, a no-nonsense one-syllable name, had some popularity in the early 1970s, but has been off the lists for a decade. Now, with similarly brisk names like Chase, Jace, Bryce, and Grant finding favor, Brant could make a comeback.
          • Blackbird
            • Blackbird
              • Bluebird
                • Crane

                  • Origin:

                    English surname

                  • Meaning:

                    "crane"

                  • Description:

                    This elegant surname has great potential to turn into an unusual first name, especially with its literary associations to both Stephen and Hart Crane.
                • Crow

                  • Origin:

                    Bird name

                  • Description:

                    From Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, the story of a boy named Kafka -- crow in Czech.
                • Cardinal
                  • Dove

                    • Origin:

                      Nature name

                    • Meaning:

                      "dove, a bird"

                    • Description:

                      One of the new bird names, like Lark and Wren, this one's associated with the billing and cooing sounds of love. Soft and gentle, Dove also has the admirable association with peace.
                  • Falcon

                    • Origin:

                      Bird name

                    • Description:

                      There is a whole new species of bird names open to the baby namer, from the light and feminine Lark to the sleek and powerful Falcon.
                  • Finch

                    • Origin:

                      English word and nature name

                    • Meaning:

                      "to swindle"

                    • Description:

                      It feels like Finch should be a modern bird name that's as popular as Wren or Lark, but that's not the case - so it's one to consider if you're looking for a nature name that's familiar but rare.
                  • Gannet

                    • Origin:

                      German

                    • Meaning:

                      "goose"

                    • Description:

                      A bird name that could be thought of as an animated spin on Garrett.
                  • Hawk

                    • Origin:

                      Nature name

                    • Meaning:

                      "hawk, a bird"

                    • Description:

                      Animal names are on the rise, especially more of the aggressive Hawk-Fox-Wolf variety than cute little Bunnys or Robins, and Hawk is a prime example.
                  • Heron

                    • Origin:

                      Nature name or Greek

                    • Meaning:

                      "hero"

                    • Description:

                      Heron may feel like a very usable nature name -- the heron is a long-legged wading bird -- but it was also the name of a 1st century Greek inventor and of an Egyptian saint. Highly unusual yet easy to understand and meaningful on several levels, Heron is a fantastic choice.
                  • Ibis
                    • Ibis
                      • Jacana

                        • Origin:

                          Portuguese

                        • Meaning:

                          "wading bird"
                      • Jay

                        • Origin:

                          Latin

                        • Meaning:

                          "jaybird"

                        • Description:

                          Though this feels like a modern invention, Jay has been in use for centuries. Early Jays often were named in honor of founding father John Jay, whose surname derived from the jaybird. A popular mid-century choice, Jay was in the Top 100 from 1956 to 1970. In the last couple of decades he was replaced by such more elaborate forms as Jayden, Jaylen, and Jayce. But Jay could make a comeback in tandem with cousins May, Kay, Fay, and Ray.
                      • Kestrel

                        • Origin:

                          English, bird name

                        • Description:

                          A kestrel is a bird of prey. It has good potential as a strong girls' name, similar to Falcon for boys.
                      • Martin

                        • Origin:

                          Latin

                        • Meaning:

                          "warlike"

                        • Description:

                          Martin is one of those names like Arthur and Vincent and George that is in the process of throwing off its balding middle-aged image to start sounding possible again, used in full without the dated Marty nickname.
                      • Myna

                        • Description:

                          Myna is an uncommon feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant of Mina, which has roots in multiple cultures, including German, where it serves as a diminutive of Wilhelmina, meaning "determined protector." In Hindu and Sanskrit traditions, Myna could relate to the Sanskrit word for "fish" or reference the mynah bird, known for its ability to mimic sounds and speech. The name may also be a form of the Arabic Muna, meaning "wish" or "desire." Despite its melodic quality and distinctive character, Myna remains relatively rare in English-speaking countries, giving it an exotic and uncommon appeal for parents seeking something unique for their daughters.

                      • Murrelet
                        • Nightingale

                          • Origin:

                            Bird name from German

                          • Meaning:

                            "night singer"

                          • Description:

                            Charming nature name made even more appealing by the connection to iconic nurse and statistician Florence Nightingale.
                        • Oriole
                          • Peregrine

                            • Origin:

                              Latin

                            • Meaning:

                              "traveler, pilgrim"

                            • Description:

                              Peregrine is considered to be an elegantly aristocratic name in England, but has never made it to the U.S., where it has been seen as extravagantly eccentric. In the new naming climate, though, it's not beyond consideration — in fact it's already been chosen by at least one Berry.
                          • Phoebe

                            • Origin:

                              Greek

                            • Meaning:

                              "radiant, shining one"

                            • Description:

                              Phoebe is the Latin variation of the Greek name Phoibe, which derived from phoibos, meaning "bright." In classical mythology, Phoebe is the by-name of Artemis, goddess of the moon and of hunting. The masculine version of Phoebe is Phoebus.
                          • Quail
                            • Raven

                              • Origin:

                                Word and animal name

                              • Description:

                                Bird name Raven, once a symbol of pride for both African-American and Wiccan parents, is finding new life as a superhero name. Raven Darkholme is the real name of Mystique, heroine of the X-Men films played by Jennifer Lawrence. And there is another Raven superheroine in Teen Titans. Some parents may still choose Raven to signal black pride or mystical powers or maybe even Edgar Allan Poe fandom, but we are guessing most inspiration is coming from the comics.
                            • Robin

                              • Origin:

                                Bird name; or English, diminutive of Robert

                              • Meaning:

                                "bright fame"

                              • Description:

                                Now that it's no longer fashionable for girls, Robin is rising for boys again. Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder are all male namesakes, after all. It reentered the US Top 1000 boys names in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.
                            • Robin

                              • Origin:

                                Bird name, or English, diminutive of Robert

                              • Meaning:

                                "bright fame"

                              • Description:

                                After a 60 year slide down the popularity ladder, Robin made a turnaround in 2020 and began climbing back into favor for baby girls. One reason may be its new status as one of the most evenly-divided gender neutral names.
                            • Sparrow

                              • Origin:

                                Nature name

                              • Meaning:

                                "sparrow, a bird"

                              • Description:

                                With related choices such as Lark and Phoenix gaining popularity, why not Sparrow? Though it's usually thought of as a female name, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden chose it for their son.
                            • Starling

                              • Origin:

                                Bird name

                              • Description:

                                Unusual choice that was the original name of children's illustrator Tasha Tudor, but is an interesting elaboration of Star, taking it into avian territory.
                            • Swan

                              • Origin:

                                English

                              • Meaning:

                                "swan"

                              • Description:

                                Obsolete Swanhild gives way to oh-so-modern Swan, joining the flock of newly fashionable bird names such as Wren and Lark. In France, the Swann spelling is fashionable for both sexes. But Swan carries an image of grace, though perhaps also a bit of languor. It's a lovely and original name, right for our times.
                            • Swift

                              • Origin:

                                English, Irish

                              • Meaning:

                                "quick, windblown"

                              • Description:

                                Surname with strong ties to singer Taylor Swift and writer Jonathan Swift. It could make a fun and quirky middle name.
                            • Teal

                              • Origin:

                                Bird and color name

                              • Description:

                                This name of both a grayish-greenish-blue color and a kind of wild duck can be used for both boys and girls.
                            • Teal

                              • Origin:

                                Bird and color name

                              • Description:

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

                              • Origin:

                                English

                              • Meaning:

                                "small bird"

                              • Description:

                                Wren, a lilting songbird name, could be the next Robin. Wren entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2012 and is among the new wave of popular English names for girls.