Budgie Names
Budgies, or budgerigars, are small Australian parakeets that come in a rainbow of colors and can learn dozens of words. In the wild they are always green and yellow; the blues, whites, violets and yellows you see in pet stores come from generations of careful breeding since the nineteenth century. In the US they are usually sold simply as “parakeets.”
Here are 100 budgie names sorted by color, style and personality. Budgies pick up short, snappy names fastest, so we’ve favored those. For bigger birds, see parrot names, or browse all our bird names. If you’re naming a pair, jump to the section on matching names near the end.
Popular budgie names
Budgies respond best to one or two syllables with a bright vowel sound. These are tried-and-true favorites.
| Name | Meaning / idea | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Kiwi | New Zealand bird and the fruit | Green budgies |
| Pickle | Small, green and crunchy | Green budgies |
| Sky | The sky | Blue budgies |
| Tiny | Just the right size | Any budgie |
| Joey | Baby kangaroo; also a nickname for Joseph | Males |
| Pip | Small seed | Any budgie |
| Bobby | Pet form of Robert, “bright fame” | Chatty males |
| Daisy | Old English “day’s eye” | Females |
| Rosie | The rose | Females |
| Cheeky | For confident birds | Bold budgies |
| Oscar | Irish, “deer lover” | Males |
| Bluebell | The woodland flower | Blue hens |
| Chico | Spanish, “little boy” | Energetic males |
| Jasmine | Persian, the flower | Females |
| Buddy | Friendly nickname | Tame budgies |
Names for green budgies
Green is the natural wild color, with a yellow face and black barring on the wings.
| Name | Why it fits | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pistachio | The pale green nut | Light green birds |
| Basil | The herb | Darker greens |
| Sprout | A new green shoot | Young budgies |
| Olive | The olive fruit | Olive-green mutation |
| Jade | The green gemstone | Elegant |
| Clover | The green lucky plant | Sweet |
| Gherkin | A small pickle | Silly |
| Sage | The herb; also “wise” | Calm birds |
| Peapod | Fresh garden peas | Pairs well with a sibling |
| Shamrock | Irish three-leaf clover | Irish flair |
| Lime | The citrus | Bright greens |
| Fern | The leafy plant | Gentle hens |
Names for blue budgies
Blue budgies range from pale sky blue to deep cobalt, and are among the most popular colors.
| Name | Why it fits | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Skye | Scottish isle; the sky | Sky blue |
| Bluey | Australian slang nickname and the hit cartoon dog | Aussie charm |
| Cobalt | The deep blue pigment | Dark blue birds |
| Azure | Sky blue | Elegant |
| Ocean | The sea | Unisex |
| Blueberry | The fruit | Cute |
| Indigo | Deep violet-blue | Striking |
| Sapphire | The blue gemstone | Hens |
| Denim | Blue jeans | Laid-back males |
| Neptune | Roman sea god, blue planet | Big personalities |
| Cloud | Soft and airy | Pale blues |
| Blu | The macaw in Rio | Short and sweet |
Names for yellow, white and violet budgies
Lutino (yellow), albino (white), violet and grey budgies are all color mutations. Soft, bright names suit them best.
| Name | Color | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon | Lutino yellow | Zesty |
| Banana | Lutino yellow | Silly |
| Sunshine | Lutino yellow | Cheerful |
| Custard | Pale yellow | Sweet |
| Goldie | Gold | Classic |
| Butterscotch | Yellow-cream | Long but cute |
| Snowy | White albino | Classic |
| Cotton | White | Soft |
| Pearl | White with a sheen | Elegant hens |
| Casper | White | The friendly ghost |
| Violet | Violet mutation | Pretty and vintage |
| Lilac | Pale purple | Soft |
| Plum | Deep violet | Short |
| Pewter | Grey | Unusual |
| Smokey | Grey | Classic |
| Ash | Grey | Short and modern |
Australian-inspired budgie names
Budgies come from the dry inland grasslands of Australia. These names nod to their homeland; see also British names for more Commonwealth classics.
| Name | Aussie connection | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Banjo | Poet Banjo Paterson, author of “Waltzing Matilda” | Fun to say |
| Matilda | “Waltzing Matilda,” Australia’s unofficial anthem | Hens |
| Sydney | Australia’s largest city | Unisex |
| Darwin | Northern Territory capital | Clever birds |
| Ned | Bushranger Ned Kelly | Rebellious males |
| Kylie | Singer Kylie Minogue | Performers |
| Wally | Aussie nickname, from Walter | Friendly |
| Tassie | Aussie nickname for Tasmania | Short and cute |
| Koala | Iconic marsupial | Cuddly birds |
| Wattle | Australia’s national flower, the golden wattle | Yellow budgies |
| Uluru | The sacred sandstone monolith | Grand |
| Aussie | Obvious and affectionate | Any budgie |
| Perth | Western Australia’s capital | Short and crisp |
| Kookaburra | The laughing bird | Noisy males |
Human names for budgies
Giving a budgie a grown-up human name is a popular trend and makes for great conversations at the vet. See old names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mabel | Latin, “lovable” | Vintage hens |
| Gerald | Germanic, “rule of the spear” | Dignified males |
| Doris | Greek, “gift” | Grandma charm |
| Frank | Germanic, “free man” | No-nonsense males |
| Nigel | Form of Neil, possibly “champion” | Very British |
| Hazel | The hazel tree | Warm and soft |
| Stanley | English, “stony clearing” | Old-school |
| Winnie | Pet form of Winifred | Sweet |
| Percy | From Percival | Distinguished |
| Edna | Hebrew, “delight” | Quirky |
| Barry | Irish, “fair-haired” | Funny for a tiny bird |
Budgie names for pairs
Budgies are flock birds and are happier with a friend. Matching names make a pair easy to tell apart.
| Pair | Theme | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Salt & Pepper | Seasonings | White and grey pair |
| Romeo & Juliet | Shakespeare | Bonded couple |
| Bert & Ernie | Sesame Street | Two males |
| Sonny & Cher | Singing duo | Musical birds |
| Kiwi & Mango | Tropical fruit | Green and yellow pair |
| Peanut & Butter | Snacks | Best friends |
| Bonnie & Clyde | Outlaw couple | Mischief-makers |
| Lilo & Stitch | Disney friends | Blue and green pair |
| Mork & Mindy | 1970s sitcom | Retro |
| Zig & Zag | Opposites | Energetic pair |
Famous and funny budgie names
Budgies have held world records for talking, and some have become internet stars.
| Name | Story or joke | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Puck | Held the Guinness record for the largest bird vocabulary, 1,728 words | Chatty budgies |
| Sparkie | Sparkie Williams, a famous British talking budgie of the 1950s | Talkers |
| Disco | A YouTube-famous talking budgie | Party birds |
| Echo | Greek nymph who repeated voices | Mimics |
| Zazu | The Lion King’s bossy hornbill | Bossy birds |
| Tweetie | Tweety Bird pun | Sweet |
| Chirpy | Always chattering | Noisy birds |
| Fluffy McFluff | For puffed-up budgies | Silly |
| Beaker | The Muppets’ lab assistant | Squeaky birds |
| Seedzilla | Godzilla of the seed dish | Big eaters |
Tips for naming a budgie
- Pick one or two syllables. Budgies can learn their own names; short names with a sharp consonant, like Kiwi or Pip, are easiest to copy.
- Check the cere before choosing a gendered name. In adult budgies, the cere above the beak is usually blue in males and brown or tan in females. Young birds are hard to sex.
- Say it at treat time. Repeat the name daily in a cheerful tone, and males in particular may start saying it within weeks.
- Theme your flock. Fruit, gemstones and Aussie cities make easy sets. Browse gemstone names for inspiration.
- Avoid names that sound alike. If you have two birds, Kiwi and Kiki are too similar for them (and you) to tell apart.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a budgie?
Popular budgie names include Kiwi, Sky, Pickle, Joey, Pip, Bobby, Daisy and Tiny. Short, bright names are easiest for budgies to learn and repeat.
Can budgies say their own name?
Yes. Budgies are strong talkers, and males especially often learn to say their own name. Puck, a budgie from California, was credited with a vocabulary of 1,728 words.
How can I tell if my budgie is a boy or a girl?
Look at the cere, the fleshy band above the beak. In adults it is usually blue or purple in males and brown, tan or whitish-blue in females.
Is a budgie the same as a parakeet?
In the US, “parakeet” usually means a budgie. Technically, parakeet is a broad term for many small, long-tailed parrots, and the budgerigar is one species of it.
What is a good name for a blue budgie?
Blue budgies suit Skye, Bluey, Cobalt, Azure, Indigo, Sapphire, Denim or Blu.