Duck Names
Backyard ducks are chatty, comical and surprisingly affectionate, and every one of them deserves a proper name. Here are more than 90 duck names, from famous cartoon ducks to sweet names for hens, sturdy names for drakes, pond-and-nature names and picks inspired by popular breeds like the Pekin, Mallard, Indian Runner and Khaki Campbell.
Want something sillier? Our dedicated page of funny duck names is packed with puns like Quackers and Bill Murray. Raising a mixed flock? Browse chicken names and goat names too, or head to our full collection of bird names.
Duck Names: browse all lists
Famous ducks from cartoons and books
These ducks are household names, and a flock named after them is instantly recognizable.
| Name | Where it’s from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Donald | Disney’s Donald Duck (1934) | Hot-tempered and lovable |
| Daisy | Disney’s Daisy Duck | Donald’s sweetheart |
| Daffy | Warner Bros. <em>Looney Tunes</em> | Zany black duck |
| Scrooge | Disney’s Scrooge McDuck | For a thrifty drake |
| Huey | Donald’s nephews | Great for a trio |
| Dewey | Donald’s nephews | Trio name #2 |
| Louie | Donald’s nephews | Trio name #3 |
| Jemima | Beatrix Potter’s <em>The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck</em> | Sweet, old-fashioned hen |
| Ping | <em>The Story About Ping</em> (1933) | A duck on the Yangtze River |
| Darkwing | Disney’s <em>Darkwing Duck</em> | Heroic drakes |
| Launchpad | Launchpad McQuack of <em>DuckTales</em> | Clumsy flyers |
| Howard | Marvel’s Howard the Duck | Grumpy drakes |
| Plucky | <em>Tiny Toon Adventures</em> | Plucky Duck, a Daffy protégé |
| Psyduck | Pokémon | Confused-looking ducks |
| Gladstone | Gladstone Gander of Disney comics | Lucky ducks (technically a goose) |
| Webby | Webbigail Vanderquack of <em>DuckTales</em> | Adventurous ducklings |
| Ugly Duckling | Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale | For a duckling who’ll grow into a swan-like beauty |
| Quack | <em>Make Way for Ducklings</em> (1941) | Last of the eight ducklings, Jack through Quack |
Cute names for female ducks
A female duck is a hen (or simply a duck). Hens are the loud quackers of the flock; drakes make a raspy, quieter sound. These soft names suit them.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Clover | Lucky meadow plant | Grazing hens |
| Hazel | Hazel tree; warm brown | Brown Khaki Campbells |
| Penny | From Penelope, “weaver” | Copper-colored hens |
| Lucy | Latin “light” | Bright, bold hens |
| Olive | The olive tree | Green-sheened hens |
| Rosie | The rose flower | Friendly hens |
| Pearl | The gemstone | White Pekins |
| Willow | The weeping willow, often by ponds | Graceful hens |
| Poppy | The red flower | Cheerful hens |
| Maisie | Scottish form of Margaret, “pearl” | Small hens |
| Matilda | Germanic “mighty in battle” | Bossy flock leaders |
| Dottie | Pet form of Dorothy | Speckled hens |
| Tulip | Spring flower | Colorful call ducks |
| Millie | Pet form of Mildred or Millicent | Old-fashioned charm |
| Honey | Golden nectar | Buff Orpington ducks |
| Blossom | A flower in bloom | Spring ducklings |
Names for male ducks (drakes)
A male duck is a drake. Many drakes have curled tail feathers and, in Mallards, glossy green heads.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Drake | The word for a male duck; also the rapper | The obvious winner |
| Mallory | French “unlucky”; sounds like Mallard | Mallard drakes |
| Jasper | Persian “treasurer” | Handsome drakes |
| Gus | Short for Augustus, “great” | Chunky Pekins |
| Ferdinand | Germanic “bold voyager” | Proud drakes |
| Oscar | Irish “deer lover” | Friendly drakes |
| Winston | English “joy stone” | Stately Rouens |
| Barnaby | Aramaic “son of consolation” | Gentle drakes |
| Rupert | Germanic “bright fame” | Dapper drakes |
| Chester | Latin “fortress” | Flock guardians |
| Harold | Old English “army ruler” | Old-soul drakes |
| Cedric | Coined by Walter Scott; possibly Celtic | Distinguished drakes |
| Emerald | The green gem | Green-headed drakes |
| Sterling | “Of high quality”; silver | Silver Appleyards |
Pond, water and nature names
Ducks are happiest splashing, so water names are a natural fit. See also names that mean water and water names.
| Name | Inspiration | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Puddles | Their favorite place to splash | Muddy, happy ducks |
| Splash | A big belly flop into the pond | Energetic swimmers |
| Brook | A small stream | Calm hens |
| River | Flowing water | Adventurous ducks |
| Marina | Latin “of the sea” | Hens who love the pool |
| Lily | Water lily | Pond-side hens |
| Reed | Tall pond grass | Slender Runners |
| Cattail | Pond plant with fuzzy brown spikes | Brown ducks |
| Pebble | A smooth river stone | Small ducks |
| Rain | Ducks love a rainy day | Any duck |
| Drizzle | Light rain | Gray ducks |
| Misty | Morning fog over water | Pale ducks |
| Waddles | That famous side-to-side walk | Any duck |
| Bayou | Slow Southern waterway | Louisiana flocks |
Food names for ducks
Food names are cute and easy to shout across the yard at treat time (peas and leafy greens are healthier for ducks than bread).
| Name | Food | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Pickles | Crunchy dill pickle | Green-sheened ducks |
| Nugget | Golden bite-size morsel | Yellow ducklings |
| Waffles | Webbed feet look like a waffle | Any duck |
| Butterscotch | Golden candy | Buff ducks |
| Peanut | Small, round nut | Tiny call ducks |
| Dumpling | Plump steamed dough | Round Pekins |
| Muffin | Soft baked treat | Fluffy ducklings |
| Pudding | Soft dessert | Chubby ducks |
| Noodle | Long pasta | Long-necked Runners |
| Pea | Ducks’ favorite healthy treat | Tiny ducklings |
| Biscuit | Pale baked bread | Cream ducks |
| Toast | Golden bread | Brown ducks |
Names inspired by duck breeds
Match the name to the breed’s look or history. Indian Runners stand upright like bowling pins; Pekins are big and white; Cayugas are black with a green sheen.
| Name | Best breed | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt | Indian Runner | They run instead of waddle |
| Dash | Indian Runner | Speedy upright ducks |
| Bowling Pin | Indian Runner | Their famously upright posture |
| Snowy | Pekin | Bright white feathers |
| Marshmallow | Pekin | Big, soft and white |
| Ivory | Pekin | Creamy feathers |
| Onyx | Cayuga | Black with green iridescence |
| Raven | Cayuga | Glossy black plumage |
| Khaki | Khaki Campbell | The breed’s name itself |
| Campbell | Khaki Campbell | Named after breeder Adele Campbell |
| Moscow | Muscovy | Named, possibly by mistake, after Muscovy, the old name for Moscow’s region |
| Rouen | Rouen | French breed named after the city |
| Tuft | Crested duck | Their pom-pom head crest |
| Pom-Pom | Crested duck | Fluffy head crest |
| Bibs | Swedish Blue | White bib on the chest |
| Cricket | Call duck | Tiny, loud and chirpy |
How to name your ducks
- Wait a few weeks to name ducklings if you can: most breeds can’t be reliably sexed by eye until the drake’s curled tail feather and raspy voice appear at around 6–8 weeks.
- Ducks are flock animals, so themed sets work well: Huey, Dewey & Louie, or Salt, Pepper & Paprika.
- Use short names at feeding time; ducks quickly learn a call that means treats.
- Leg bands in different colors help you tell look-alike Pekins apart, and can inspire names too.
- Need a laugh? Our funny duck names are full of puns, and our funny chicken names work for mixed flocks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a duck?
Popular duck names include Daisy, Donald, Puddles, Waddles, Jemima and Nugget. For drakes, Drake and Mallory are classic picks.
What is a male duck called?
A male duck is called a drake, a female is a hen or duck, and a baby is a duckling.
What are the names of Donald Duck’s nephews?
Donald Duck’s triplet nephews are Huey, Dewey and Louie, who first appeared in 1937.
What are the ducklings’ names in Make Way for Ducklings?
Robert McCloskey named the eight ducklings Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack.
How can you tell if a duck is male or female?
In most breeds, drakes develop a curled tail feather and have a quieter, raspy voice, while hens have a loud, classic quack.