Names Categorized "birds"

This is a list of names in which the categories include birds.
gender
usage
Aarne m Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Arne 1.
Aart m Dutch
Dutch short form of Arnold.
Aderyn f Welsh (Rare)
Means "bird" in Welsh. This is a modern Welsh name.
Adler m English (Modern)
From a German surname meaning "eagle".
Aenoheso m Cheyenne
Means "little hawk", from Cheyenne aénohe "hawk" and the diminutive suffix -so.
Aetius m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was probably derived from Greek ἀετός (aetos) meaning "eagle". A famous bearer was the 5th-century Roman general Flavius Aetius, who defeated Attila the Hun at the Battle of Chalons.
Aghavni f Armenian
Means "dove" in Armenian.
Ainara f Basque, Spanish
Variant of Enara.
Ákos m Hungarian
Possibly of Turkic origin meaning "white falcon". This was the name of a medieval Hungarian clan.
Akulina f Russian
Variant of Akilina.
Akvilė f Lithuanian
Lithuanian feminine form of Aquila.
Alcyone f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀλκυόνη (Alkyone), derived from the word ἀλκυών (alkyon) meaning "kingfisher". In Greek myth this name belonged to a daughter of Aeolus and the wife of Ceyx. After her husband was killed in a shipwreck she threw herself into the water, but the gods saved her and turned them both into kingfishers. This is also the name of the brightest of the Pleiades, a group of stars in the constellation Taurus, supposedly the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.
Alkyone f Greek Mythology
Ancient Greek form of Alcyone.
Alli f Finnish
Finnish diminutive of names beginning with Al. This is also the Finnish word for a type of duck.
Alondra f Spanish (Latin American)
Derived from Spanish alondra meaning "lark".
Altair m Astronomy, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Means "the flyer" in Arabic. This is the name of a star in the constellation Aquila.
Andor 1 m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Arnþórr, derived from the element ǫrn "eagle" combined with the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor).
Ane 2 m Frisian
Variant of Anne 2.
Animikii m Ojibwe, New World Mythology
Means "thunder, thunderer" in Ojibwe. In Anishinaabe mythology this is the name of the thunderbird, an immense flying creature that makes thunder with its flapping wings.
Ankarl m Old Danish
Old Danish form of Anker.
Anker m Danish
From the Old Danish name Ankarl, of uncertain meaning, possibly a combination of Old Norse ǫrn "eagle" and karl "man".
Anne 2 m Frisian
Short form of names beginning with the Old German element arn meaning "eagle".
Antiman m Mapuche
Means "condor of the sun" in Mapuche, from antü "sun" and mañku "condor".
Antinanco m Mapuche
Means "eagle of the sun" in Mapuche, from antü "sun" and ñamko "eagle, hawk, buzzard".
Aqissiaq m Greenlandic
Means "young ptarmigan" in Greenlandic (a ptarmigan is a type of bird that lives in cold regions).
Aquila m & f Biblical, Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen meaning "eagle" in Latin. In Acts in the New Testament Paul lives with Aquila and his wife Priscilla (or Prisca) for a time.
Aquilina f Ancient Roman, Spanish
Feminine form of Aquilinus. This was the name of a 3rd-century saint from Byblos.
Aquilinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Aquila.
Aras m Lithuanian
Means "eagle" in Lithuanian (a poetic word).
Archimedes m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master" and μήδεα (medea) meaning "plans, counsel, cunning". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician, astronomer and inventor.
Arend m Dutch, German (Rare)
Dutch and German variant of Arnold. This is also the Dutch word for "eagle".
Ari 2 m Old Norse, Icelandic, Finnish
Old Norse byname meaning "eagle".
Arke 2 m Frisian (Archaic)
Short form of names beginning with the Old German element arn meaning "eagle".
Arlie f & m English
Diminutive of Arline and other names beginning with Arl.
Arn m English
Short form of Arnold.
Arnaldo m Italian, Portuguese
Italian and Portuguese form of Arnold.
Arnar m Icelandic
Derived from the Old Norse elements ǫrn "eagle" and herr "army, warrior".
Arnau m Catalan
Catalan form of Arnold.
Arnaud m French
French form of Arnold.
Arnaude f French (Rare)
French feminine form of Arnold.
Arnbjörg f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Arnbjǫrg.
Arnbjǫrg f Old Norse
Old Norse name derived from the elements ǫrn meaning "eagle" and bjǫrg meaning "help, save, rescue".
Arnborg f Norwegian (Rare)
Norwegian variant form of Arnbjǫrg.
Arnd m German
German short form of Arnold.
Arndt m German
German short form of Arnold.
Arne 1 m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Originally an Old Norse short form of names beginning with the element ǫrn meaning "eagle".
Arne 2 m German
Diminutive of Arnold.
Arnfinn m Norwegian
Norwegian form of Arnfinnr, which was derived from the elements ǫrn "eagle" and finnr "Sámi, person from Finland".
Arnfinnr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Arnfinn.
Arnfried m German (Rare)
From an Old German name derived from the elements arn "eagle" and fridu "peace".
Árni m Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse and Icelandic form of Arne 1.
Arnie m English
Diminutive of Arnold.
Arnifrid m Germanic
Old German form of Arnfried.
Arno m Dutch, German
Short form of Arnoud or Arnold.
Arnoald m Germanic
Old German form of Arnold.
Arnold m English, German, Dutch, Polish, Germanic
From a Germanic name meaning "eagle power", derived from the elements arn "eagle" and walt "power, authority". The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Earnweald. It died out as an English name after the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century.... [more]
Arnoldas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Arnold.
Arnoldo m Italian (Rare)
Italian variant of Arnaldo.
Arnolds m Latvian
Latvian form of Arnold.
Arnolfo m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Arnulf.
Arnór m Icelandic
Icelandic variant form of Andor 1.
Arnoud m Dutch
Dutch form of Arnold.
Arnout m Dutch
Dutch form of Arnold.
Arnstein m Norwegian
Norwegian form of Arnsteinn.
Arnsteinn m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse ǫrn meaning "eagle" and steinn meaning "stone".
Arnt m Norwegian
Norwegian form of Arend.
Arnþór m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Andor 1.
Arnþórr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Andor 1.
Arnulf m German, Germanic
Germanic name derived from the elements arn meaning "eagle" and wolf meaning "wolf". This name was borne by a few early saints, notably a 7th-century Frankish bishop of Metz. It was also the name of a 9th-century Holy Roman emperor.
Arnviðr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Arvid.
Arūnas m Lithuanian
Derived from poetic Lithuanian aras meaning "eagle" combined with the patronymic suffix ūnas.
Arve m Norwegian
Variant of Arvid.
Arvid m Swedish, Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Arnviðr, derived from the elements ǫrn "eagle" and viðr "tree".
Arvīds m Latvian
Latvian form of Arvid.
Astor m English (Rare)
From a German and French surname derived from Occitan astur meaning "hawk". The wealthy and influential Astor family, prominent in British and American society, originated in the Italian Alps.
Astoria f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Astor. This is also the name of several American towns, after the businessman John Jacob Astor.
Asuka f & m Japanese
From Japanese 明日 (asu) meaning "tomorrow" and (ka) meaning "fragrance", or from (asu) meaning "to fly" and (ka) meaning "bird". Other kanji combinations can be possible as well.
Atahualpa m Quechua (Anglicized)
From Quechua Atawallpa meaning "fortunate hen", from ataw meaning "fortunate, lucky" and wallpa meaning "hen". This was the name of the last sovereign Inca emperor. He was executed by the Spanish in 1533.
Aucaman m Mapuche
Means "wild condor" in Mapuche, from awka- "wild" and mañke "condor".
Ava 3 f German, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element awi, of unknown meaning. This was the name of a 9th-century Frankish saint. It was also borne by a 12th-century poet from Melk, Austria.
Aveline f English (Rare)
From the Norman French form of the Germanic name Avelina, a diminutive of Avila. The Normans introduced this name to Britain. After the Middle Ages it became rare as an English name, though it persisted in America until the 19th century.
Aveza f Germanic
Old German form of Avis.
Avia m & f Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Abijah.
Aviana f English (Modern)
Probably an elaboration of Ava 1, influenced by names such as Ariana. In some cases it could be inspired by the word avian meaning "bird" or "related to birds, bird-like".
Avis f English
Probably a Latinized form of the Germanic name Aveza, which was derived from the element awi, of unknown meaning. The Normans introduced this name to England and it became moderately common during the Middle Ages, at which time it was associated with Latin avis "bird".
Awilix f Mayan Mythology
Meaning uncertain, possibly from a place name Awilizapan, or possibly from a Q'eqchi' Maya word meaning "swallow (bird)". This was the name of the K'iche' Maya goddess of the moon, night and death.
Beckett m English (Modern)
From an English surname that could be derived from various sources, including from Middle English bec meaning "beak" or bekke meaning "stream, brook".
Berahthraban m Germanic
Old German form of Bertram, using an extended form of the second element.
Berahthram m Germanic
Old German form of Bertram.
Bertram m English, German, Germanic
Means "bright raven", derived from the Old German element beraht "bright" combined with hram "raven". This name has long been conflated with Bertrand. The Normans introduced it to England, and Shakespeare used it in his play All's Well That Ends Well (1603).
Bibigul f Kazakh
Means "nightingale" in Kazakh.
Birdie f English
Diminutive of Bertha, Bernice and other names with a similar sound, or sometimes simply from the English word bird.
Blodeuwedd f Welsh Mythology
Means "face of flowers" in Welsh. According to the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, she was created out of flowers by Gwydion to be the wife of his nephew Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Originally she was named Blodeuedd meaning simply "flowers". She was eventually transformed into an owl by Gwydion after she and her lover Gronw attempted to murder Lleu, at which point he renamed her Blodeuwedd.
Brân m Welsh Mythology
Means "raven" in Welsh. According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, Brân the Blessed (called Bendigeidfran) was a giant king of Britain. He was the son of the divine figure Llŷr. After his sister Branwen was mistreated by her husband the Irish king Matholwch, Brân led an attack on Ireland (the text says that he was so big he was able to wade there). Although victorious, the British lost all except seven men with Brân being mortally wounded by a poisoned spear. He asked the survivors to cut of his head and return with it to Britain. The head continued to speak for many years until it was buried in London.
Bran 1 m Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Means "raven" in Irish. In Irish legend Bran mac Febail was a mariner who was involved in several adventures on his quest to find the Otherworld.
Bran 2 m Welsh Mythology
Unaccented variant of Brân. This is also the Middle Welsh form.
Brant m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old Norse given name Brandr. This is also the name for a variety of wild geese.
Branwen f Welsh, Welsh Mythology
Means "white raven" from Old Welsh bran "raven" and gwen "white, blessed". According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi she was the daughter of Llŷr. After she was mistreated by her husband Matholwch, the king of Ireland, she managed to get a message to her brother Brân, the king of Britain. Brân launched a costly invasion to rescue her, but she died of grief shortly after her return.
Brennus m Gaulish (Latinized)
Latinized form of a Celtic name (or title) that possibly meant either "king, prince" or "raven". Brennus was a Gallic leader of the 4th century BC who attacked and sacked Rome.
Breno m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Brennus.
Çağrı m & f Turkish
Means "invitation" or "falcon" in Turkish.
Callum m Scottish
Variant of Calum.
Calum m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Columba.
Cauã m Tupi
From Tupi kaûã meaning "hawk, falcon".
Celandine f English (Rare)
From the name of the flower, which is derived from Greek χελιδών (chelidon) meaning "swallow (bird)".
Chizuko f Japanese
From Japanese (chi) meaning "thousand" and (tsu) meaning "crane (bird)" and (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Chizuru f Japanese
From Japanese (chi) meaning "thousand" and (tsuru) meaning "crane (bird)". A Japanese legend says that a person who folds a thousand origami cranes within one year will be granted a wish.
Chloris f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek χλωρός (chloros) meaning "pale green". Chloris, in Greek mythology, was a minor goddess of vegetation.
Circe f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κίρκη (Kirke), possibly from κίρκος (kirkos) meaning "hawk". In Greek mythology Circe was a sorceress who changed Odysseus's crew into hogs, as told in Homer's Odyssey. Odysseus forced her to change them back, then stayed with her for a year before continuing his voyage.
Coleman m Irish, English
Anglicized form of Colmán.
Colm m Irish
Variant of Colum.
Colmán m Irish, Old Irish
Diminutive of Colm (see Colum). This was the name of a large number of Irish saints.
Colomba f Italian
Italian feminine form of Columba.
Colombe f French
French feminine form of Columba.
Colombina f Italian (Rare), Theatre
Italian feminine diminutive of Columba. In traditional Italian theatre (commedia dell'arte) this is the name of a stock character, a female servant who was often the lover of Arlecchino (Harlequin). This is also the Italian word for the columbine flower.
Colombo m Italian
Italian form of Columba.
Colum m Irish, Old Irish
Irish form of Columba. The Old Irish word columb or colum also means "dove", derived from Latin columba.
Columba m & f Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "dove". The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. This was the name of several early saints both masculine and feminine, most notably the 6th-century Irish monk Saint Columba (or Colum) who established a monastery on the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. He is credited with the conversion of Scotland to Christianity.
Columbán m Old Irish
Possibly an Irish diminutive of Columba. Alternatively, it may be derived from Old Irish colum "dove" and bán "white". The 7th-century Saint Columbán of Leinster was the founder of several monasteries in Europe.
Columbanus m Late Roman
This name can be viewed as a derivative of Columba or a Latinized form of Columbán, both derivations being approximately equivalent. This is the name of Saint Columbán in Latin sources.
Columbine f English (Rare), Theatre
From the name of a variety of flower. It is also an English form of Colombina, the theatre character.
Corbin m English
From a French surname that was derived from corbeau "raven", originally denoting a person who had dark hair. The name was probably popularized in America by actor Corbin Bernsen (1954-).
Crawford m English
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "crow ford" in Old English.
Csongor m Hungarian
Possibly from a Turkic root meaning "falcon". The Hungarian poet and dramatist Mihály Vörösmarty used it in his play Csongor és Tünde (1830).
Cuauhtemoc m Nahuatl
Means "descending eagle" in Nahuatl, from cuāuhtli "eagle" and temo "descend". This was the name of the last Aztec emperor, ruling until he was captured and executed by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in the year 1525.
Deror m Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew דְּרוֹר (see Dror).
Derorit f Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew דְּרוֹרִית (see Drorit).
Deryn f & m Welsh
Possibly from the Welsh word deryn, a variant of aderyn meaning "bird".
Diindiisi f & m Ojibwe
Means "blue jay" in Ojibwe.
Donald m Scottish, English
From the Scottish Gaelic name Dòmhnall meaning "ruler of the world", composed of the Old Irish elements domun "world" and fal "rule". This was the name of two 9th-century kings of the Scots and Picts. It has traditionally been very popular in Scotland, and during the 20th century it became common in the rest of the English-speaking world. This is the name of one of Walt Disney's most popular cartoon characters, Donald Duck, introduced 1931. It was also borne by Australian cricket player Donald Bradman (1908-2001) and former American president Donald Trump (1946-).
Dove f English
From the English word for the variety of bird, seen as a symbol of peace.
Drake m English
From an English surname derived from the Old Norse byname Draki or the Old English byname Draca both meaning "dragon", both via Latin from Greek δράκων (drakon) meaning "dragon, serpent". This name coincides with the unrelated English word drake meaning "male duck". A famous bearer is the Canadian actor and rapper Drake (1986-), who was born as Aubrey Drake Graham.
Dror m Hebrew
Means "freedom" or "sparrow" in Hebrew.
Drorit f Hebrew
Feminine form of Dror.
Éanna m Irish
Modern Irish form of Énna.
Elaia f Basque
Derived from Basque elai meaning "swallow (bird)".
Enara f Basque
Means "swallow (bird)" in Basque.
Enda m Irish
Anglicized form of Éanna.
Engilram m Germanic
Old German form of Ingram.
Enguerran m Medieval French
Old French form of Engilram (see Ingram). This was the name of several medieval French nobles from Picardy.
Énna m Old Irish
Possibly from Old Irish én meaning "bird". This was the name of several Irish kings and heroes. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint who built the monastery of Killeany on Aran.
Erdoğan m Turkish
From Turkish er meaning "man, hero, brave" and doğan meaning "falcon".
Ertuğrul m Turkish
From Turkish er meaning "man, hero, brave" and tuğrul, referring to a mythical bird of prey. This was the name of the father of Osman, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.
Ezio m Italian
Italian form of Aetius.
Faiga f Yiddish
Variant of Faigel.
Faigel f Yiddish (Rare)
From Yiddish פֿויגל (foigl) meaning "bird", a vernacular form of Zipporah.
Falk m German
Means "falcon" in German.
Féchín m Old Irish
Means "little raven" from Old Irish fiach "raven" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an Irish saint of the 7th century, the founder of the monastery at Fore. He died of the yellow plague.
Feige f Yiddish
Variant of Faigel.
Fenella f Scottish
Form of Fionnuala used by Walter Scott for a character in his novel Peveril of the Peak (1823).
Fiachna m Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Derived from Irish fiach meaning "raven". This is the name of several characters from Irish legend. It was also borne by Fiachna mac Báetáin, a 7th-century king of Dál Araide.
Fiachra m Irish, Irish Mythology
From Old Irish Fiachrae, possibly from fiach "raven" or fích "battle" combined with "king". This was the name of several legendary figures, including one of the four children of Lir transformed into swans for a period of 900 years. This is also the name of the patron saint of gardeners: a 7th-century Irish abbot who settled in France, usually called Saint Fiacre.
Fiacre m French (Rare)
French form of Fiachra.
Finella f Scottish
Variant of Fenella.
Finnuala f Irish
Variant of Fionnuala.
Finola f Irish
Anglicized form of Fionnuala.
Fionnghal f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Fionnuala. It has sometimes been Anglicized as Flora.
Fionnuala f Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "white shoulder" from Old Irish finn "white, blessed" and gúala "shoulder". In Irish legend Fionnuala was one of the four children of Lir who were transformed into swans for a period of 900 years.
Fionola f Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Fionnuala.
Fulton m English
From a surname that was derived from the name of the town of Foulden in Norfolk, itself meaning "bird hill" in Old English.
Gal 2 m Slovene
Slovene form of Gallus.
Gala 2 f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Gallus.
Gall m History (Ecclesiastical)
Form of Gallus used to refer to the saint.
Gal·la f Catalan
Catalan feminine form of Gallus.
Galla f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Gallus.
Gallo m Italian
Italian form of Gallus.
Gallus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "rooster" in Latin. It could also refer to a person from Gaul (Latin Gallia). This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint, a companion of Saint Columbanus, who later became a hermit in Switzerland.
Galo m Spanish
Spanish form of Gallus.
Ganymede m Greek Mythology (Anglicized)
From Greek Γανυμήδης (Ganymedes), which was possibly derived from γάνυμαι (ganymai) meaning "to be glad" and μήδεα (medea) meaning "plans, counsel, cunning". In Greek mythology this was the name of a beautiful boy who was abducted by Zeus to become the cupbearer to the gods, the successor of Hebe. A moon of Jupiter is named after him.
Gauvain m French, Arthurian Cycle
French form of Gawain used in the works of Chrétien de Troyes.
Gavin m English, Scottish
Medieval form of Gawain. Though it died out in England, it was reintroduced from Scotland in the 20th century.
Gawain m Arthurian Cycle
Meaning uncertain, from the Latin form Gualguainus used in the 12th-century chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth (appearing also as Walganus, Gwalguanus and other spellings in different copies of the text), where he is one of the knights who serve his uncle King Arthur. He can be identified with the earlier Welsh hero Gwalchmai, and it is possible that the name derives from Gwalchmai or a misreading of it.... [more]
Gaweł m Polish
Polish form of Gallus.
Griffin m English
Latinized form of Gruffudd. This name can also be inspired by the English word griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, ultimately from Greek γρύψ (gryps).
Gull f Swedish
Short form of various Scandinavian names beginning with the Old Norse element guð meaning "god".
Gundhram m Germanic
Old German form of Guntram.
Gunner m English (Modern)
English variant of Gunnar, influenced by the vocabulary word gunner.
Guntram m German
Means "war raven" from the Old German elements gunda "war" and hram "raven". This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish king, sometimes called Gontrand, who is considered a saint.
Gwalchmai m Welsh Mythology
Derived from Welsh gwalch "hawk", possibly combined with Mai "May (month)" or mai "field, plain". This is the name of a character in Welsh legend (appearing in Culhwch and Olwen for example). He is probably the antecedent of Gawain from later Arthurian romance.
Hadil f Arabic
Means "cooing (of a pigeon)" in Arabic.
Halcyon f Various (Rare)
From the name of a genus of kingfisher birds, derived from Greek ἀλκυών (from the same source as Alcyone).
Halcyone f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀλκυόνη (see Alcyone), via the misspelled variant Ἁλκυόνη (Halkyone). The spelling variation was due to a false association with ἅλς (hals) meaning "salt, sea".
Halkyone f Greek Mythology
Greek variant (or misspelling) of Halcyone.
Haruto m Japanese
From Japanese (haru) meaning "light, sun, male", (haru) meaning "distant, remote" or (haru) meaning "clear weather" combined with (to), which refers to a Chinese constellation, or (to) meaning "soar, fly". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Havel m Czech (Rare), Slovak (Rare)
Czech and Slovak form of Gallus.
Hayato m Japanese
From Japanese (haya) meaning "falcon" (using a nanori reading) and (to) meaning "person". Other kanji combinations can also make up this name.
Haytham m Arabic
Means "young eagle" in Arabic.
Hedwig f German, Dutch
From the Old German name Hadewig, derived from the Old German elements hadu "battle, combat" and wig "war". This was the name of a 13th-century German saint, the wife of the Polish duke Henry the Bearded. It was subsequently borne by a 14th-century Polish queen (usually known by her Polish name Jadwiga) who is now also regarded as a saint.
Hera f Greek Mythology
Uncertain meaning, possibly from Greek ἥρως (heros) meaning "hero, warrior"; ὥρα (hora) meaning "period of time"; or αἱρέω (haireo) meaning "to be chosen". In Greek mythology Hera was the queen of the gods, the sister and wife of Zeus. She presided over marriage and childbirth.
Heron m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἥρως (heros) meaning "hero". This was the name of a 1st-century Greek inventor (also known as Hero) from Alexandria.
Heru m Egyptian Mythology (Hypothetical)
Reconstructed Egyptian form of Horus.
Hoglah f Biblical
Means "partridge" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the daughters of Zelophehad.
Hong m & f Chinese
From Chinese (hóng) meaning "rainbow", (hóng) meaning "enlarge, expand, great" (which is usually only masculine) or 鸿 (hóng) meaning "wild swan, great, vast" (also usually only masculine). Other characters can also form this name.
Horos m Egyptian Mythology (Hellenized)
Greek form of Heru (see Horus).
Horus m Egyptian Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ὧρος (Horos), the Greek form of Egyptian ḥrw (reconstructed as Heru and other forms) possibly from ḥr "above, over" or ḥrj "distant". In Egyptian mythology Horus was a god of the sky and light, often depicted as a man with the head of a falcon. In some versions of the mythology he was the son of Osiris and Isis, and avenged his father's murder by killing his uncle Seth.
Hraban m Germanic
From an Old German byname derived from hraban meaning "raven".
Hrafn m Icelandic, Old Norse
Means "raven" in Old Norse.
Hrafnhildr f Old Norse
From the Old Norse elements hrafn "raven" and hildr "battle".
Hrafnhildur f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Hrafnhildr.
Hrambert m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements hram "raven" and beraht "bright".
Hrefna f Icelandic, Old Norse
Feminine form of Hrafn.
Huang m & f Chinese
From Chinese (huáng) meaning "bright, shining, luminous" (which is usually only masculine) or (huáng) meaning "phoenix" (usually only feminine). Other Chinese characters are also possible.
Huitzilopochtli m Aztec and Toltec Mythology
Means "left side of the hummingbird" or "southern hummingbird" in Nahuatl, derived from huitzilin "hummingbird" and ōpōchtli "left, south". In Aztec mythology he was the god of the sun and war. He was a patron deity of the city of Tenochtitlan (at the site of modern Mexico City).
Iago m Welsh, Galician, Portuguese
Welsh and Galician form of Iacobus (see James). This was the name of two early Welsh kings of Gwynedd. It is also the name of the villain in Shakespeare's tragedy Othello (1603).
Ingram m Germanic, English (Rare)
Germanic name composed of either the element angil, from the name of the Germanic tribe of the Angles, or engil meaning "angel" combined with hram meaning "raven". This name was brought to England by the Normans, though it died out after the medieval era. These days it is usually inspired by the surname that was derived from the medieval name.
Iona 2 m Russian, Georgian, Biblical Latin
Form of Jonah used in the Latin Old Testament, as well as the Russian and Georgian form.
Ionas m Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Form of Jonah used in the Greek Bible. It is also the form used in the Latin New Testament.
Ivaana f Greenlandic
Feminine form of Ivaaq.
Ivaaq m Greenlandic
Means "egg" in Greenlandic.
Jay 1 m English
Short form of names beginning with the sound J, such as James or Jason. It was originally used in America in honour of founding father John Jay (1749-1825), whose surname was derived from the jaybird.
Jemima f Biblical, English
Traditionally said to mean "dove", it may actually be related to Hebrew יוֹמָם (yomam) meaning "daytime". This was the oldest of the three daughters of Job in the Old Testament. As an English name, Jemima first became common during the Puritan era.
Jeruti f Guarani
Means "dove" in Guarani.
Jonah m English, Biblical
From the Hebrew name יוֹנָה (Yona) meaning "dove". This was the name of a prophet swallowed by a fish, as told in the Old Testament Book of Jonah. Jonah was commanded by God to preach in Nineveh, but instead fled by boat. After being caught in a storm, the other sailors threw Jonah overboard, at which point he was swallowed. He emerged from the fish alive and repentant three days later.... [more]
Jónas m Icelandic, Faroese
Icelandic and Faroese form of Jonah.
Jonáš m Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of Jonah.
Jonas 2 m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, French, Biblical
From Ἰωνᾶς (Ionas), the Greek form of Jonah. This spelling is used in some English translations of the New Testament.
Joona m Finnish
Finnish form of Jonah.
Joonas m Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Jonas 2.
Kerttu f Finnish
Finnish form of Gertrude.
Kestrel f English (Rare)
From the name of the bird of prey, ultimately derived from Old French crecelle "rattle", which refers to the sound of its cry.
Kirke f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Circe.
Koloman m German (Rare), Slovak
German and Slovak form of Colmán. Saint Koloman (also called Coloman or Colman) was an Irish monk who was martyred in Stockerau in Austria.
Korbinian m German
Derived from Latin corvus meaning "raven". This was the name of an 8th-century Frankish saint who was sent by Pope Gregory II to evangelize in Bavaria. His real name may have been Hraban.
Koronis f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek κορώνη (korone) meaning "crow". This was the name of several figures from Greek mythology, including the mother of the god Asklepios.
Lærke f Danish
Means "lark" in Danish.
Lagle f Estonian
Means "goose" in Estonian.
Lark f English (Rare)
From the English word for the type of songbird.
Lautaro m Mapuche (Hispanicized), Spanish (Latin American)
Hispanicized form of Mapuche Lef-Traru meaning "swift hawk", derived from lef "swift" and traru "hawk". This name was borne by a 16th-century Mapuche military leader who fought against the Spanish conquistadors in Chile.
Leda f Greek Mythology, Italian
Meaning unknown. In Greek myth she was a Spartan queen and the mother of Castor, Pollux, Helen and Clytemnestra by the god Zeus, who came upon her in the form of a swan.
Linnet f English (Rare)
Either a variant of Lynette or else from the name of the small bird, a type of finch.
Llinos f Welsh
Means "linnet, finch" in Welsh. The linnet (species Linaria cannabina) is a small European bird in the finch family.
Loan 2 f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (loan), which refers to a mythological bird.
Lonán m Irish, Old Irish
Means "little blackbird", derived from Old Irish lon "blackbird" combined with a diminutive suffix. This name was borne by several early saints.
Manaia f & m Maori
From the name of a stylized design common in Maori carvings. It represents a mythological creature with the head of a bird and the body of a human.
Martin m English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Russian, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Finnish
From the Roman name Martinus, which was derived from Martis, the genitive case of the name of the Roman god Mars. Saint Martin of Tours was a 4th-century bishop who is the patron saint of France. According to legend, he came across a cold beggar in the middle of winter so he ripped his cloak in two and gave half of it to the beggar. He was a favourite saint during the Middle Ages, and his name has become common throughout the Christian world.... [more]
Mavis f English
From the name of the type of bird, also called the song thrush, derived from Old French mauvis, of uncertain origin. It was first used as a given name by the British author Marie Corelli, who used it for a character in her novel The Sorrows of Satan (1895).
Mayur m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit मयूर (mayūra) meaning "peacock".
Mekaisto m Siksika
From Siksika Mí'kiai'stoowa meaning "red crow", from mi'ki "red" and mai'stóó "crow". Red Crow (1830-1900) was a chief of the Kainai Blackfoot.
Merel f Dutch
Means "blackbird" in Dutch.
Merle m & f English, Estonian
From the English word merle or the French surname Merle, which both mean "blackbird" (from Latin merula). It was borne by the devious character Madame Merle (in fact her surname) in Henry James' novel The Portrait of a Lady (1880).... [more]
Merletta f English (Rare)
Diminutive of Merle.
Merlin m Arthurian Cycle, English
Form of the Welsh name Myrddin used by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his 12th-century chronicle. Writing in Latin, he likely chose the form Merlinus over Merdinus in order to prevent associations with French merde "excrement".... [more]
Miu f Japanese
From Japanese (mi) meaning "beautiful" and (u) meaning "feather". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Moa f Swedish
Possibly derived from Swedish moder meaning "mother". This was the pen name of the Swedish author Moa Martinson (real name Helga Maria Martinson).
Morrígan f Irish Mythology
Means either "demon queen" or "great queen", derived from Old Irish mor "demon, evil spirit" or mór "great, big" combined with rígain "queen". In Irish mythology Morrígan (called also The Morrígan) was a goddess of war and death who often took the form of a crow.
Mupitsukupʉ m Comanche
Means "old owl" in Comanche, derived from mupitsi "owl" and tsukupʉ "old man". This name was borne by a 19th-century chief of the Penateka Comanche.
Mut f Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian mwt meaning "mother". In Egyptian mythology she was a mother goddess, the consort of Amon and the mother of Khonsu. She was sometimes depicted wearing a headdress with vulture wings.
Nauja f Greenlandic, Inuit
Means "seagull" in Greenlandic and Inuktitut.
Nest f Welsh
Medieval Welsh diminutive of Agnes.
Nöl m Limburgish
Limburgish short form of Arnold.
Nölke m Limburgish
Limburgish diminutive of Arnold.
Odette f French
French diminutive of Oda or Odilia. This is the name of a princess who has been transformed into a swan in the ballet Swan Lake (1877) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Osman m Turkish, Kurdish, Albanian, Bosnian, Malay
Turkish, Kurdish, Albanian, Bosnian and Malay form of Uthman. This was the name of the founder of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century. It was later borne by two more Ottoman sultans.
Paloma f Spanish
Means "dove, pigeon" in Spanish.
Parastoo f Persian
Means "swallow (bird)" in Persian.
Parastu f Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian پرستو (see Parastoo).
Pavo m Croatian
Croatian short form of Pavao.
Pelias m Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek πέλεια (peleia) meaning "rock pigeon". In Greek mythology, Pelias was the king of Iolcus who sent Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece.
Pëllumb m Albanian
Means "dove" in Albanian.
Pénélope f French
French form of Penelope.
Penelope f Greek Mythology, English
Probably derived from Greek πηνέλοψ (penelops), a type of duck. Alternatively it could be from πήνη (pene) meaning "threads, weft" and ὄψ (ops) meaning "face, eye". In Homer's epic the Odyssey this is the name of the wife of Odysseus, forced to fend off suitors while her husband is away fighting at Troy.... [more]
Peregrine m English (Rare)
From the Late Latin name Peregrinus, which meant "traveller". This was the name of several early saints.
Petrit m Albanian
Means "falcon" in Albanian.
Petronia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Petronius.
Philomel f Literature
From an English word meaning "nightingale" (ultimately from Philomela). It has been used frequently in poetry to denote the bird.
Philomela f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomele), derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and μῆλον (melon) meaning "fruit". The second element has also been interpreted as Greek μέλος (melos) meaning "song". In Greek myth Philomela was the sister-in-law of Tereus, who raped her and cut out her tongue. Prokne avenged her sister by killing her son by Tereus, after which Tereus attempted to kill Philomela. However, the gods intervened and transformed her into a nightingale.
Phineus m Greek Mythology
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Greek φίνις (phinis), a variant of φήνη (phene) meaning "vulture". According to Greek mythology this was the name of a king of Thrace visited by Jason and the Argonauts.
Phoebe f English, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Φοίβη (Phoibe), which meant "bright, pure" from Greek φοῖβος (phoibos). In Greek mythology Phoibe was a Titan associated with the moon. This was also an epithet of her granddaughter, the moon goddess Artemis. The name appears in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament, where it belongs to a female minister in the church at Cenchreae.... [more]
Phoenix m & f English (Modern)
From the name of a beautiful immortal bird that appears in Egyptian and Greek mythology. After living for several centuries in the Arabian Desert, it would be consumed by fire and rise from its own ashes, with this cycle repeating every 500 years. The name of the bird was derived from Greek φοῖνιξ (phoinix) meaning "dark red".
Phượng f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (phượng) meaning "phoenix". This refers to the mythological creature known as the Chinese phoenix or the Fenghuang.
Pinelopi f Greek
Modern Greek form of Penelope.
Pitsiulaaq f & m Inuit
Variant of Pittiulaaq.
Pittiulaaq f & m Inuit
Means "black guillemot" in Inuktitut (a guillemot is a type of sea bird; species Cepphus grylle).
Polyphonte f Greek Mythology
Means "slayer of many", derived from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and φόνος (phonos) meaning "murder, slaughter". In Greek mythology this was the name of a woman who was transformed into a strix (an owl-like bird) after she had sons with a bear.
Qinnuajuaq f & m Inuit
Means "rough-legged hawk" in Inuktitut (species Buteo lagopus).
Quetzalcoatl m Aztec and Toltec Mythology
Means "feathered snake" in Nahuatl, derived from quetzalli "quetzal feather, precious thing" and cōātl "snake". In Aztec and other Mesoamerican mythology he was the god of the sky, wind, and knowledge, also associated with the morning star. According to one legend he created the humans of this age using the bones of humans from the previous age and adding his own blood.
Quetzalli f Nahuatl
Means "feather (from the quetzal bird)" or "precious thing" in Nahuatl.
Raban m Germanic
Variant of Hraban.