I absolutely love naming farm animals! I’m the kind of person who will look up old names, words in different languages, or even start thinking about botanical latin for ideas that are suitable for the animal that I’m naming.
So if you need unusual chicken name ideas, I thought I’d share the list I’ve gathered over the years of names that are punny, cute, and fitting for your hens and roosters.
This a unique list of chicken ideas that you likely haven’t seen anywhere else, because I’m a huge nerd for stuff like this.
Alexander or Alek: In Greek, alektor means chicken, and the verb alexo means “to defend,” much in the way that a rooster protects his hens from threats.
Amsel: Have a black rooster? Amsel, which means "blackbird" in German.
Basil: After the basilisk of myth, which was part rooster and part lizard, but also a great herb in the kitchen garden.
Benedict: Eggs Benedict or Benedict Cumberbatch, either way this is a noble name which means blessed, or perhaps more fittingly for a rooster, well spoken.
Cicero: In Latin, cicer means chickpea, and the orator Cicero got his name from his family being chickpea farmers. While the “chick” isn’t connected to chicks or chickens, your flock can eat cooked chickpeas! If you have a rooster who is an orator in his own right, this name would be fitting!
Dagon: In Hebrew, this means both "earth" and "grain" - a great pick for an eco-friendly grain eater!
Dempsey: If you're a fan of Patrick Dempsey, you might enjoy this choice for your rooster, which means "proud." "Proud" is a nice way of saying "cocky," so take that as you will!
Donahue: Donahue is an Irish name meaning "dark fighter." Perfect for a rooster who is a flock defender, there's more meaning to it if you break the name down. "Don" can also mean "proud" and in Alemanic German, and hue means chicken!
Fufluns: Etruscan god of plant life, happiness, and health - all the things that you want in a fluffy homestead rooster.
Gallus: after the scientific Latin word for chickens, but also the name of several notable figures in ancient Rome. Interestingly, St. Gall is the patron saint of birds and poultry.
Gallio, and the close but not quite Galileo: this name might be after the strength of a rooster, the crying of a rooster, or it might have to do with the greek word “gala” meaning milk…but either way it’s a great pick for a distinguished rooster.
Garth: This boy's name means garden, perfect for a free-ranging roo.
Hahn: This German name means "resembling a rooster" - if it looks like a rooster, walks like a rooster and crows like a rooster, then it must be a rooster.
Helios: The Greek god of the sun, this is a great idea for your living alarm clock heralding the rising sun.
Hugh: If your rooster is charming and handsome, why not name him after Hugh Grant? This pick is inspired by the Alemannic German word for chicken, hue.
Kambi: After Gullinkambi, a rooster who makes his home in Valhalla.
Ken: Ken the chicken, a classic name for a wise + handsome rooster. Kenneth means "fire born" and "handsome," and ken means "knowledge" or being able to see. If you have a good-looking fiery and clever rooster, he might be a Ken!
Orion: For a heavenly rooster, Orion is an endearing name. In ancient Babylonia, the constellation Orion was seen as a shepherd with a rooster walking behind him instead of the Greek hunting dogs that you might be familiar with in the night sky as Canis Major and Canis Minor.
Ops: In Greek, “Ops” means “voice” - self-explanatory option for a rooster. In Latin, however, Ops was the Roman Goddess of the harvest, so this could also be a hen’s name.
Peter: I’m always humored by animals having very common human names, and Peter is no exception. Did you know that Pope Gregory the I said that the rooster is the emblem of St. Peter?
Priapus: The Roman god of fertility was sometimes represented as a rooster…and if you check out pictures of this guy, you’ll see that he’s a suitable namesake for a overly…frisky rooster. Definitely an unusual choice!
Pudding: For a cutie-pie of a bird, inspired by the Sicilian word for rooster, puddu.
Richard: I'll let you make the connections between a nickname for Richard and an other word rooster, and leave it a that.
Scully: Maybe you're an X-files fan, or maybe you like that this word means "herald" for a rooster who announces a new day.
Stuart: Meaning steward, fitting for a rooster that takes care of your hens, and also for a steward of the land. This name could be a little too real if you call him Stew for short and plan on eating the roo, though. But Stu the Roo does have a nice ring to it.
Ada: The Gothic term for egg, this name which also means “noble” is perfect for a Rhode Island Red or White Leghorn, which are known to lay a lot of eggs!
Aldara: This name is Greek and means “a gift with wings” - and aren’t all of our hens little treasures?
Brigid: St. Brigid is the patron saint of poultry, so this name is fitting for any member of your flock.
Carol: A fun word meaning “song,” a great match for a sing-songy hen
Chica: While this word means “girl” in Spanish, it’s similar enough to the word for chicken in English that it is quite a fitting name for a sweet hen.
Cicirenella: One of my favorite folk songs, Cicirenella, is about a girl named after the grass pea. The etymology of the word is derived from the word “cicer” or chickpea. For your little chickpea, this is an endearing option.
Circe: This name means “bird” in Greek, and has a captivating role in Greek mythology, where Circe is a sorceress. If you have a bird that is a bit of an enchanter, this idea might be a winner.
Clover: A common chicken forage find, clover is a pretty name for a chicken.
Demeter, or Demi for short: I have a chicken named after Demeter, Greek goddess of the earth. I call her Demi for short, though.
Eileen: Have a bird that is a bit of a straggler? Just call to her “Come on, Eileen!” - which works, since Eileen means bird.
Feronia: Goddess of wildlife in pre-Roman times, this name has a bit of wild and untamed nature to it due to its etymology.
Galatia: It might mean “Land of Milk,” but it might also mean “Land of Chickens.” Either way, it’s a pretty name that feels celestial in nature as well.
Honey: Perfect for a honey-colored hen, this sweet chicken name is a play on the German word for chicken, huhn. Definitely one of the cuter ideas out there!
Kalliope: This Greek name for the muse of poetry means “beautiful voice” - perfect for a hen that sings a pretty egg song.
Lidérc: Have a badass hen? Look no further than Lidérc, a blood-sucking chicken in Hungarian folklore that is both terrifying and intriguing at the same time.
Miu: In Japanese, this name translates to “beautiful feather” and would be a great choice for a showy hen.
Oracle: An auspicious name! In Roman times, chickens were consulted as oracles, and the way they flew or the way they ate informed the oracle reader or “augur”. The act of “auspices,” as it was called, is where we get the word “auspicious” from in English.
Penny or Penelope: While you may be thinking “Henny Penny, that’s not original” - I’m suggesting this pick for a specific breed - the Black Copper Maran. Since pennies are also known as “coppers,” this name is one that we have given to our own Black Copper Maran chicken. Penny is short for Penelope, which you may enjoy for a more elegant chicken.
Pluma: After the Spanish word for feather, pronounced ploom-a, this would be a fitting for a pretty hen with showy feathers.
Pomona: A must-have livestock name for anyone who has an orchard, Pomona is the goddess of the orchards and fruit harvests.
Stella or Stellaria: After the Latin botanical word for chickweed, Stellaria media, this is a fitting name for a chicken who likes to forage, or who is your shining star.
Tara: Chickens go absolutely wild for dandelions, or the Taraxacum genus, and this pretty name also means “star” in Sanskrit.
Yara: A proto-Celtic word for hen, derived from the “pip” sound that birds make - a lovely selection for a songstress hen.
