There are many chicken names to choose from, and some of the best names reflect either a rooster's beauty or a hen's quirky personality. Names for a specific chicken breed may make the process simple, as most are a certain color. Many roosters deserve a special name, and some chicken keepers only name roosters!

Chicken Names for the Ten Most Popular Breeds

Every chicken breed is beautiful in its own charming way, which leads to yet another idea for names! Take a mental note of your chicken's colors, feather length, and personality to come up with a few names that would fit them perfectly. We've come up with a few lists to get you started.

Orpington

Orpington chickens, with their fluffy yellow feathers that seem to capture the very essence of sunshine, are commonly named after beautiful flowers. There's no surprise there — their colors truly do embody the beauty and diversity of nature.

Begonia
Calendula
Daffodil
Dahlia
Daisy
Dandelion
Daylily
Freesia
Hibiscus
Iris
Marigold
Water Lily
Zinnia

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island Red hen is always a shade of red (hence the name) and is known to be a lively breed. They're super friendly, and they're one of the few chicken breeds that have actually cuddled up to me to relax. Seriously, they sat with me and chilled out while watching TV. Some of the names below are based on color, but there are also a handful that show off their cuddly chicken behavior.

Amber
Apple
Beets
Cardinal (double whammy right there with the name and color!)
Cinnamon
Crimson
Fire
Flame
Ironman (LOVE this one!)
Merlot
Rhubarb
Ruby
Rusty

Easter Egger

Easter Eggers are known for laying blue, green, and even pink eggs. Seriously! Take a look for yourself if you don't believe me. It's like having your own personal Easter year-round.

Azure
Bluebird
Champagne
Creamy mint
Honeydew
Lilac
Lyra
Mauve
Rainbow
Sky
Turquoise

Quick Tip

If none of these feel quite right, keep looking through the different options on the color wheel.

Plymouth Rock

This breed is also known as "barred rock" chickens and is an amiable, easy-going chicken breed.

Oreo
Fluffy Butt
Dixie Chick
Vanilla
Coco

Black Australorp

The Australorp, hailing from the land down under (AKA, Australia), is known for their impressive egg-laying capabilities. But they're also frequently becoming family pets these days. Here are some good names for your new addition whether you're bringing her home to lay eggs, be your bird pal, or both.

Beetle (like their beetle green sheen)
Black Beauty
Black Betty
Magpie
Midnight
Obsidian
Salem
Sharpie
Soot
Storm

Polish

The Polish chicken is known for their silly topknot. This fun little puff of feathers they've got going on top of their heads, kind of like a funky, royal crown, really makes them stand out in the chicken crowd. It's like that wild hairdo is where all their endless personalities are bubbling up from.

Cheese Puff
Creampuff
Hilary Fluff
Loco
Marshmallow
Peep
Poland
Pom Pom
Ponytail
Poof

Silkie

These small, ridiculously poofy white chickens are the epitome of "good things come in small packages." Don't let their dainty size fool you — they're tiny but mighty egg-layers, serving up adorable mini eggs that are just as delicious as their larger counterparts.

Blizzard
Chiffon
Cloud
Dude
Fabio
Fiber
Fro
Glacier
Hairball
Ice
Silkworm
Snowball
Thread

Wyandotte

Talk about a chicken breed that's hard to explain — this beauty has all kinds of colors going on. They kinda look like a checkers board, but in all different colors. You may have some ideas of your own, but we'd love to share ours.

Brindles
Checkers
Cookies and Cream
Dapple
Dot
Dottie
Penguin
Polka Dot
Skunk
Splotchy
Stripey

Ancona

The Ancona is an old Italian breed with yellow legs that tends to be on the shy side. They tend to avoid people, and they're not usually the best pet, but they're definitely pros at pumping out eggs for the kitchen. But just because they won't let you get close doesn't mean they don't need a name. Try these on for size:

Carbonara
Coy
Frittata
Meek
Pasqualina
Stracciatella
Tiramisu
Torta
Uova
Zaga (like zabaglione)

Leghorn

Leghorn hens are prolific layers, and many hobbyists choose this breed because of the large number of fresh eggs available. But these guys aren't for beginners. They get restless if they're cooped up and have a need for adventure.

Alaska
Angel
Arctic
Forager
Grub
Opal
Quest
Ransack
Scout
Snow White

Need to Know

These chickies are super noisy, so if you're looking for a quieter chicken, leghorns aren't for you.

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Tough and Rough Male Names for Roosters

The roosters in many flocks are lucky because, oftentimes, the roo is the only chicken with a name.

Axel: Meaning "father of peace," a strong name with a tough edge.
Blaze: Signifies fire and fierceness, perfect for a spirited rooster.
Brutus: An ancient name meaning "heavy" or "muscular," ideal for a formidable bird.
Butch: Suggests strength and masculinity, fitting for a dominant rooster.
Ceasar: After the Roman emperor, symbolizing power and leadership.
Dexter: Meaning "right-handed," skilled, and adept, suitable for a capable rooster.
Drake: Refers to a male duck but exudes toughness and is fitting for a rooster with attitude.
Fang: Implies sharpness and aggression, a match for a fierce protector.
Goliath: Named after the biblical giant, suitable for a large and in-charge rooster.
Gunner: Means "bold warrior," apt for a rooster always ready to defend his flock.
Hawke: Symbolizing a bird of prey, indicating sharpness and strength.
Igor: Meaning "warrior of peace" for a rooster who's both protective and calm.
Jagger: Suggests edginess and strength, like the rock star Mick Jagger.
Kane: Meaning "warrior."
Loki: Norse god known for mischief, fitting for a rooster with a tricky personality.
Maverick: Signifies independence and nonconformity, perfect for a rooster with a unique character.
Nero: After the Roman emperor, suggesting strength and dominance.
Odin: A king among gods in Norse mythology, ideal for a rooster ruling the roost.
Pike: Like the weapon, indicating a fierce and formidable nature.
Quint: Meaning "fifth," a strong, short name for the fifth rooster in a flock or a standout individual.
Ragnar: A legendary Viking hero, suitable for a brave and bold rooster.
Spartan: After the ancient Greek warriors, for a rooster with unmatched courage.
Thor: Norse god of thunder, perfect for a powerful and commanding rooster.
Titan: Signifying greatness and strength for a rooster of impressive stature.
Ulysses: After the Greek hero, symbolizing bravery and adventure.
Vader: After Darth Vader, implying a commanding and powerful presence.
Wolfe: Symbolizing a fierce and independent spirit, suitable for a strong rooster.
Xander: Meaning "defender of the people," fitting for a protective rooster.
York: After the ancient city, symbolizing resilience and endurance.
Zeus: The king of Greek gods, was a rooster with a commanding and powerful personality.

Unique Names for "Loyal" Hens

The ladies follow a strict pecking order, and you may call one chicken to you more than the others. Your fave hen probably follows you around everywhere when you're hanging out by the coop, making her your most loyal birdie. Give her a name that fits.

Amana (Hebrew): Faithful
Amina (Arabic): Faithful
Amita (Hebrew): Truth, a friend
Conni (Irish): Steadfast, constant
Constance (Latin): Constant, faithful
Dillon (Gaelic): Faithful
Enid (Welsh): Faithful
Helga (Scandinavian): Faithful
Leala (French): Faithful

Creative Chicken Names Based on Personality

Is your hen bossy? Perhaps all your chickens are sassy, but one is sweet, and you need the perfect name? Or you can even name your hen just the opposite of what they're like. Have fun, and don't be afraid to mix it up.

Beatrice: Means "she who brings happiness" in Latin.
Cherry: Represents the fruit-bearing cherry tree, symbolizing sweetness and beauty, derived from the Old Norman.
Eliza: A diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning "pledged to God" in Hebrew.
Eloise: Of French and old German origin, meaning "healthy or wide."
Juliette: A French diminutive of Julie or Julia, meaning "youthful" in Latin.
Poppy: Named after the red flower symbolizing sleep, peace, and death in various cultures.
Ramona: Of Spanish origin, meaning "wise protector," a name that conveys strength and wisdom.
Rose: Represents the flower, a symbol of beauty, love, and honor.
Sweet Pea: Like the fragrant flower.
Willow: Beautiful like the weeping willow tree.

Chicken Names Inspired by Your Favorite States

A creative naming technique is to pick the states you enjoy visiting and name each hen after your favorite places.

Alaska: For a white chicken as beautiful as the northern lights.
Arizona: If your chickie is as popular as the Grand Canyon-or if you want to be dual-purpose for your love of Arizona Robbins from Grey's Anatomy
Cali: For the chic chicken with chill ocean vibes... or if they were meant to be a Hollywood movie star.
Delaware: Great for small chickens since this is the smallest state.
Georgia: For chicks as sweet as Georgia peaches.
Hawaii: If your chicken looks like a surfer dude, this could totally be the name for them.
Maine: Lobster is well-known in this state... Is your chick red?
Mary: Honor your chicken with this name if they're a little crabby. Maryland is famous for this delicacy.
Oklahoma: Is your chick wild like a tornado? Consider naming them after a state they're common in.
Vada: Like Nevada, home of Las Vegas, if your chicken is a party animal.

Cute Chicken Names Based on Cartoons

There are some seriously adorable cartoons you can draw inspiration from. The characters don't necessarily have to be chickens—any bird character's moniker can make a fun name for your new chickie.

Blu: The adventurous blue macaw in Rio
Iago: Jafar's evil sidekick in Aladdin
Kevin: The vibrant, adventurous tropical bird featured on Up
Leghorn: Foghorn Leghorn, the loud and obnoxious rooster from Looney Toones
Nigel: The larger-than-life pelican in Finding Nemo
Skipper: The leader of the penguin brigade in Madagascar
Tweety: Tweety Bird, the silly canary, from Looney Toones
Woodstock: Snoopy's loyal bird buddy in Peanuts
Woody: The obnoxious, loud, and rare woodpecker in Woody the Woodpecker
Zazu: A "royal" hornbill who follows orders to a "T" in The Lion King

Raising Chickens Is More Than a Basket of Eggs

By picking out a name for your chicken, whether hen or rooster, you're officially adding them to your family farm. Naming shows commitment, and, as with any other animal, these incredible animals deserve the best care.