Suggestions for Macaw Bird Names

As the lifespan of a macaw parrot is up to 60 years in the wild and over 100 in captivity, you'll want to pick a name that he, and you, will not tire of for some time. Take into consideration the personality of your new parrot, and see if any names suggest themselves. It's a good idea to get to know your bird for a week or so before assigning him a permanent name.

  1. Famous Parrots and Birds

    • Winston Churchill purchased Charlie from a previous owner in 1937.

      Alex, the famed African grey parrot belonging to Dr. Irene Pepperberg, and Einstein, another African grey are both known for their speaking abilities. Ping Pong, a blue-fronted Amazon parrot lives with actress Elizabeth Hurley and is possibly most famous for being a parrot with his own Twitter account. For a classic name with historical merit, Charlie is a blue macaw that used to belong to Winston Churchill. The parrot is known for his bad moods, foul language and for his age; in 2009 Charlie was over 107 years old.

    Fictional Birds

    • For the more literary-minded, a nod to classic and contemporary literature could be a good starting place for a macaw name. Quoth, in homage to Poe, is the name of a loquacious raven in several of British satirist Terry Pratchett's books, and could well suit a talkative macaw parrot. Lory is a clever and persistent parrot character that Lewis Carroll wrote into the Alice in Wonderland series to represent Lorina Liddell. For the fans of popular children's literature, Fawkes the phoenix from the Harry Potter series is selfless and brave -- a great name for a large and docile macaw. For a great pet's name, often all one needs to do is select their favorite book from the shelf.

    Color Themes

    • There are 19 species of macaw and 35 hybrid varieties, all with different coloring.

      Macaws are one of the most vibrant and colorful parrots in the world; as a new macaw owner, consider choosing a name that draws attention to his incredible plumage. Names such as Indigo, Scarlet and Azure are directly linked to your parrot's unique coloring, and provide a flashy moniker that can showcase his looks. Whether you're taking a more humorous tone, as with classic Crayola colors such as Burnt Sienna, or showing crossword knowledge with head-scratchers such as Feldgrau (a dark gray-green), a colorful name will stand out.

    Classic Names

    • With hard work, training and love, macaws can become fully-fledged family members.

      Some parrot owners like to think of their bird as a companion in the home, and choose to go with classic "human" names for their feathered friend. You could choose a name from an era, such as Enid, Diana and Theodore from Edwardian times, or revered Roman names such as Marcus, Flavius or Caesar. You could go with contemporary names from popular culture such as Edward or Bella, or timeless classics such as David, James or Jennifer.