380+ Names That Mean Owl: Amazing Picks, Meanings & Origins

Finding names that mean owls can feel tricky. Most lists mix real owl words with random bird names, and it is hard to tell what is authentic.

This guide fixes that. Every entry shows a clear meaning and a real origin, from Latin and Welsh to Japanese and Hopi. Some are true owl words. Others carry owl symbolism, like wisdom, night, or luck.

Use them for a baby, a pet, a story character, or a username. Below you will find 380+ names grouped by gender, culture, myth, and style.

We built this list by going through owl words, myths, and naming records across many languages, so each name has a clear meaning behind it.

Quick Checklist for Choosing the Right Owl Name

Before you pick from these names that mean owl, run through this short list.

• Decide what you want: a true owl word, or a name that suggests wisdom, night, or luck.
• Say the name out loud. Short and easy names work best.
• Check the origin so you can use the name with respect.
• Match the name to the person, pet, or character.
• Test it with a surname or nickname.
• Look up the cultural meaning. Owls bring luck in some places and signal omens in others.

Here is a quick guide to the styles in this article.

Category	Works Best For
Female and male owl words	Baby names and middle names
Japanese names	Baby names, characters, and luck-themed picks
Surnames	Fictional families, brands, and pen names
Mythological names	Wisdom themes, writing, and gaming characters
Cute names	Pets, nicknames, and kids’ characters
Dark names	Fantasy, horror, and gaming usernames

Female Names That Mean Owl

Female names that mean owl range from soft Latin words to short Nordic ones. Start with the table, then scroll through the full list.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Ulula	Owl, screech owl	Latin
Ugla	Owl	Icelandic
Strix	Owl; night bird of Roman legend	Latin
Noctua	Night owl, little owl	Latin
Glaux	Owl; also “gleaming”	Greek
Coruja	Owl	Portuguese

• Lechuza – barn owl (Spanish)
• Chouette – owl (French)
• Civetta – little owl; also “flirt” (Italian)
• Pelėda – owl (Lithuanian)
• Pūce – owl (Latvian)
• Bufniță – owl (Romanian)
• Sova – owl (Slavic)
• Tylluan – owl (Welsh)
• Comhachag – owl (Scottish Gaelic)
• Chevêche – little owl (French)
• Hulotte – tawny owl (French)
• Effraie – barn owl (French)
• Pöllö – owl (Finnish)
• Uggla – owl (Swedish)
• Ugle – owl (Norwegian and Danish)
• Eule – owl (German)
• Uil – owl (Dutch)
• Bumah – owl (Arabic)
• Ruru – morepork owl (Māori)
• Koukouvagia – owl (Greek)
• Kaouenn – owl (Breton)
• Isikhova – owl (Zulu)
• Kuwago – owl (Filipino)
• Cú – owl (Vietnamese)
• Aanthai – owl (Tamil)
• Olppaemi – owl (Korean)
• Madge – old dialect nickname for the barn owl (English)

Male Names That Mean Owl

Male names that mean owl lean on Latin, Sanskrit, and Native American words. Many are short and strong.

• Bubo – eagle owl (Latin)
• Uluka – owl (Sanskrit)
• Kaushika – owl; also “descendant of Kushika” (Sanskrit)
• Yanshuf – owl (Hebrew)
• Búho – owl (Spanish)
• Mochuelo – little owl (Spanish)
• Cárabo – tawny owl (Spanish)
• Hibou – owl (French)
• Gufo – eagle owl (Italian)
• Allocco – tawny owl (Italian)
• Assiolo – scops owl (Italian)
• Filin – eagle owl (Russian)
• Puhu – eagle owl (Turkish)
• Uhu – eagle owl (German)
• Kauz – little owl (German)
• Bagoly – owl (Hungarian)
• Buf – owl (Albanian)
• Otus – scops owl (Greek and Latin)
• Asio – horned owl (Latin)
• Ule – owl (Old English)
• Howlet – young owl (Middle English)
• Hoolet – owl (Scots)
• Hinhan – owl (Lakota)
• Mongwa – great horned owl (Hopi)
• Ukpik – snowy owl (Inuktitut)
• Uguku – horned owl (Cherokee)
• Tecolote – owl (Nahuatl, via Spanish)
• Ñacurutú – great horned owl (Guaraní)
• Bundi – owl (Swahili)
• Pugach – eagle owl (Ukrainian)

Names That Mean Owl for Any Gender

These names that mean owl for any gender are neutral and easy to wear. They suit babies, pets, and characters alike.

• Ulchabhán – owl (Irish)
• Baykuş – owl (Turkish)
• Pueo – Hawaiian short-eared owl and family guardian (Hawaiian)
• Koukou – owl (Māori)
• Xiao – owl, written 鸮 (classical Chinese)
• Gookooko’oo – owl (Ojibwe)
• Tyto – barn owl (Greek)
• Pungguk – owl (Malay)
• Skops – scops owl (Greek)
• Hontza – owl (Basque)
• Mussol – little owl (Catalan)
• Xot – scops owl (Catalan)
• Moucho – owl (Galician)
• Öökull – owl (Estonian)
• Gwdihŵ – owl, imitating its hoot (Welsh)
• Üki – owl (Kazakh)
• Ugpa – owl (Tibetan)
• Sýček – little owl (Czech)
• Výr – eagle owl (Czech and Slovak)
• Mocho – owl (Portuguese)
• Autillo – scops owl (Spanish)
• Ćuk – little owl (Serbian and Croatian)
• Sych – little owl (Ukrainian)
• Huuhkaja – eagle owl (Finnish)
• Apuokas – eagle owl (Lithuanian)
• Boobook – small Australian owl, named for its call (Aboriginal Australian via English)
• Mopoke – Australian owl, named for its call (English)
• Pencha – owl (Bengali)
• Ghuvad – owl (Marathi and Gujarati)
• Mujiya – owl (Hausa)
• Kos – little owl (Hebrew)
• Ūpis – eagle owl (Latvian)

Japanese Names That Mean Owl

In Japan the owl is a lucky bird, so Japanese names that mean owl often connect to fortune, wisdom, and the night. The first five are true owl words. The rest carry owl symbolism. For more Japanese name ideas beyond owl symbolism, explore our guide to Japanese names and kanji.

• Fukurō – owl (梟)
• Mimizuku – horned owl, “eared” owl (木菟)
• Aobazuku – brown hawk-owl (青葉木菟)
• Konohazuku – Oriental scops owl (木葉木菟)
• Shimafukurō – Blakiston’s fish owl, “island owl” (島梟)
• Fuku – luck, fortune; the owl is a good-luck symbol (福)
• Fukuko – child of good fortune (福子)
• Fukuyo – fortunate generation (福代)
• Chie – wisdom (智恵)
• Satoru – enlightened, wise (悟)
• Satoshi – clear-minded, quick-witted (聡)
• Tsukiyo – moonlit night (月夜)
• Tsukiko – child of the moon (月子)
• Yoru – night (夜)
• Yami – darkness (闇)
• Yozora – night sky (夜空)
• Mitsuki – beautiful moon (美月)
• Kaguya – shining night (輝夜)
• Hoshi – star (星)
• Kage – shadow (影)
• Tasogare – twilight (黄昏)
• Yūgure – dusk (夕暮れ)

Surnames and Last Names Associated With Owls

Many surnames come from older names that mean owls. They began as nicknames or place names and still work well for story families and brands. Eulenspiegel is a particularly interesting example because it connects owl imagery with the German prankster Till. For more names with a mischievous side, explore our trickster-inspired name ideas.

• Howlett – “little owl” nickname, or small Hugh (English)
• Owlett – little owl (English)
• Hulett – variant of Howlett (English)
• Uhl – owl (German)
• Uhle – owl (German)
• Eulenspiegel – “owl mirror,” from the trickster Till (German)
• Den Uyl – “the owl” (Dutch)
• Sowa – owl (Polish)
• Sowiński – “of the owl” (Polish)
• Sówka – little owl (Polish)
• Sovák – owl-like person (Czech)
• Pugachev – from “pugach,” eagle owl (Russian)
• Hulot – from Old French for owl (French)
• Corujo – from “coruja,” owl (Portuguese and Spanish)
• Pöllänen – from “pöllö,” owl (Finnish)
• Puchacz – eagle owl (Polish)
• Sychenko – son of “Sych,” little owl (Ukrainian)
• Wiseman – wise man (English)
• Wise – clever, learned (English)
• Sage – wise one (English)

Names That Mean Bird and Reflect Owl Symbolism

Looking for names that mean owl with a softer twist? These bird and wisdom names give you the owl feeling without the exact word.

• Avis – bird (Latin)
• Aviana – bird (Latin-based)
• Zipporah – bird (Hebrew)
• Aderyn – bird (Welsh)
• Fugl – bird (Old Norse)
• Tori – bird (Japanese)
• Chidori – plover, “thousand birds” (Japanese)
• Hibari – skylark (Japanese)
• Tsubame – swallow (Japanese)
• Kotori – small bird (Japanese)
• Wren – tiny songbird (English)
• Robin – songbird with a red breast (English)
• Lark – songbird of the dawn (English)
• Dove – bird of peace (English)
• Sparrow – small brown bird (English)
• Finch – small songbird (English)
• Kestrel – small falcon (English)
• Halcyon – legendary kingfisher; calm (Greek)
• Kuntur – condor (Quechua)
• Aquila – eagle (Latin)
• Corbin – raven (Old French)
• Colm – dove (Irish)
• Paloma – dove (Spanish)
• Merle – blackbird (French)
• Sophia – wisdom (Greek)
• Medha – wisdom, intelligence (Sanskrit)
• Prajna – wisdom (Sanskrit)
• Hikmat – wisdom (Arabic)
• Hakim – wise (Arabic)
• Sapientia – wisdom (Latin)
• Hokhmah – wisdom (Hebrew)
• Binah – understanding (Hebrew)
• Alvis – all-wise (Old Norse)
• Alfred – elf counsel, wise adviser (Old English)
• Raymond – wise protector (Germanic)

Names That Mean Magpie

Magpies are clever, curious birds, much like owls in spirit. These names that mean magpie make a smart alternative to classic owl names.

• Pica – magpie (Latin)
• Urraca – magpie (Spanish)
• Gazza – magpie (Italian)
• Pega – magpie (Portuguese)
• Agasse – magpie (Old French)
• Margot – regional French word for magpie; also a pet form of Marguerite (French)
• Elster – magpie (German)
• Ekster – magpie (Dutch)
• Skata – magpie (Swedish)
• Skjære – magpie (Norwegian)
• Harakka – magpie (Finnish)
• Soroka – magpie (Russian and Ukrainian)
• Sroka – magpie (Polish)
• Straka – magpie (Czech)
• Szarka – magpie (Hungarian)
• Kasasagi – magpie (Japanese)
• Xique – “happy magpie” (Chinese)
• Kkachi – magpie (Korean)
• Saksağan – magpie (Turkish)
• Aqaq – magpie (Arabic)

Names With “Owl” in Their Spelling

Some names hide the letters “owl” in their spelling. They are not names that mean owl, but they look the part. The first ten are real names. The rest are playful modern coinages.

• Rowland – famous land (Germanic)
• Rowlands – son of Rowland (Welsh and English)
• Rowlandson – son of Rowland (English)
• Rowlett – little Rowland (English)
• Rowlinson – son of little Rowland (English)
• Rowley – rough clearing (English)
• Cowley – cow pasture (English place name)
• Fowler – bird catcher (English)
• Knowles – small hill (English)
• Bowler – bowl maker (English)
• Owlet – young owl (English word used as a name)
• Owlie – tiny owl, a pet name (modern coinage)
• Owlivia – owl plus Olivia (modern coinage)
• Owlyn – owl plus “-lyn” (modern coinage)
• Owlbert – owl plus “-bert” (modern coinage)
• Owlina – owl plus “-ina” (modern coinage)
• Owlen – owl plus Owen (modern coinage)
• Owlric – owl plus “-ric,” meaning ruler (modern coinage)

Mythological Names Associated With Owls

Mythological names that mean owl, or carry owl symbolism, come from Greek, Celtic, Aztec, and Mesopotamian stories. Start with the table, then see the full list.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Athena	Greek goddess of wisdom; the owl is her sacred bird	Greek
Minerva	Roman goddess of wisdom; the owl is her symbol	Latin
Blodeuwedd	“Flower face”; a woman turned into an owl	Welsh
Arianrhod	“Silver wheel”; goddess with owl symbolism	Welsh
Nyctimene	“Of the night”; a princess turned into an owl	Greek
Ascalaphus	Underworld figure turned into a screech owl	Greek

• Pallas – Athena’s title, “maiden” or “spear-wielder” (Greek)
• Glaukopis – “owl-eyed” or “bright-eyed,” a title of Athena (Greek)
• Lakshmi – fortune; the owl is her mount (Sanskrit)
• Ereshkigal – “lady of the great below” (Sumerian)
• Lilitu – night spirit tied to owls (Akkadian)
• Tlacatecolotl – “owl man,” a night spirit (Nahuatl)
• Mictlantecuhtli – lord of the underworld, linked to owls (Nahuatl)
• Mictecacihuatl – lady of the dead (Nahuatl)
• Muan – the Maya underworld owl, also called the “Moan bird” (Maya)
• Kotan Kor Kamuy – “god who guards the village,” the fish owl (Ainu)
• Cailleach – “veiled one,” a Celtic winter hag (Irish and Scottish Gaelic)
• Nox – night goddess (Latin)
• Nyx – night goddess (Greek)
• Erebus – darkness (Greek)
• Selene – moon goddess (Greek)
• Ishtar – goddess of love and war; the Queen of the Night relief shows owls (Akkadian)

Owl Names From Ancient Myths and Legends

These owl names from ancient myths and legends belong to gods, seers, and wise figures linked to the owl’s old role as a symbol of knowledge.

• Metis – wisdom, counsel; Athena’s mother (Greek)
• Themis – divine law and order (Greek)
• Mnemosyne – memory (Greek)
• Tiresias – legendary blind prophet of Thebes (Greek)
• Cassandra – Trojan prophetess who spoke the truth (Greek)
• Calchas – seer of the Greek army at Troy (Greek)
• Seshat – goddess of writing and knowledge (Egyptian)
• Thoth – god of wisdom and writing (Egyptian)
• Mimir – wise guardian of the well of wisdom (Old Norse)
• Odin – “frenzy” or inspiration; god of wisdom (Old Norse)
• Saga – “seeress,” goddess of stories (Old Norse)
• Saraswati – goddess of wisdom and learning (Sanskrit)
• Brigid – “exalted one,” goddess of poetry (Irish)
• Cerridwen – keeper of the cauldron of wisdom (Welsh)
• Merlin – wizard and counselor of Arthurian legend (Welsh)
• Taliesin – “radiant brow,” legendary bard (Welsh)
• Orunmila – orisha of wisdom and divination (Yoruba)
• Tsukuyomi – moon god (Japanese)
• Chang’e – moon goddess (Chinese)
• Kvasir – wise being whose blood made the mead of poetry (Old Norse)
• Fionn – “fair”; hero who gained wisdom (Irish)
• Sibyl – ancient prophetess (Greek)

Unisex Names Inspired by Owls

Owls bring to mind feathers, quiet flight, and dusk. These unisex names pick up those details and fit anyone.

• Talon – claw of a bird of prey (Old French)
• Quill – feather pen (English)
• Plume – feather (French)
• Pinion – wing feather (French)
• Aerie – high bird nest (French)
• Hollow – tree hollow where owls nest (English)
• Echo – repeated sound, like a hoot (Greek)
• Dusk – twilight hour (English)
• Vesper – evening (Latin)
• Sable – black (Old French)
• Lux – light (Latin)
• Rune – secret, mystery (Old Norse)
• Onyx – black gemstone (Greek)
• Phoenix – mythical bird that rises again (Greek)
• Avery – elf ruler (Old English)
• Ember – glowing coal (English)
• Noor – light (Arabic)
• Zephyr – west wind (Greek)
• Skye – sky, island (Scottish)
• Briar – thorny wild shrub (English)
• Lumen – light (Latin)
• Orion – hunter of the night sky (Greek)

Cute and Charming Owl-Inspired Names

Want something soft and playful? These cute names suit pets, nicknames, and little ones, and they echo the owl’s fluffy charm.

• Hootie – playful name from the owl’s hoot (English)
• Hoot – the owl’s call (English)
• Poppy – red flower (Latin)
• Fluff – soft feather (English)
• Puff – soft, round feathers (English)
• Pip – small seed, tiny one (English)
• Peep – tiny chirp (English)
• Wink – quick blink of an eye (English)
• Button – small and round (English)
• Nugget – small treasure (English)
• Mochi – soft rice cake (Japanese)
• Pebble – small smooth stone (English)
• Tuft – feather tuft, like owl ear tufts (English)
• Feather – bird plume (English)
• Downy – soft and fluffy (English)
• Sovushka – “little owl,” affectionate (Russian)
• Wynn – joy (Old English and Welsh)
• Pearl – precious gem (Latin)
• Luna – moon (Latin)
• Ollie – sounds like “owl-ie”; short for Oliver (English)
• Olive – olive tree, sacred to Athena (Latin)
• Whisper – like the owl’s silent flight (English)
• Twinkle – small sparkle (English)
• Biscuit – cute pet name (French)
• Dot – small point (English)

Dark and Mysterious Names Inspired by Owls

Owls move at night and see in the dark. These dark and mysterious names suit fantasy characters, gothic stories, and bold usernames. If you want an even more haunting feel for a fictional character, explore our collection of dark and mysterious lost soul names.

• Lilith – “night creature”; linked to owls in some Bible translations (Hebrew)
• Strigoi – restless night spirit; from Latin strix, “owl” (Romanian)
• Strega – witch; from Latin strix, “owl” (Italian)
• Noctis – of the night (Latin)
• Umbra – shadow (Latin)
• Tenebrae – darkness (Latin)
• Nocturne – night song (French)
• Raven – dark bird of omens (English)
• Rook – black, crow-like bird (English)
• Crow – dark, clever bird (English)
• Corvus – raven, crow (Latin)
• Morrigan – “great queen,” Celtic war goddess (Irish)
• Banshee – “woman of the fairy mound” (Irish)
• Hel – “hidden one,” Norse goddess of the underworld (Old Norse)
• Styx – river of hatred in the underworld (Greek)
• Lethe – forgetfulness (Greek)
• Acheron – river of woe (Greek)
• Belladonna – “beautiful lady”; deadly nightshade (Italian)
• Wraith – ghostly figure (Scots)
• Shade – shadow, spirit (English)
• Cinder – burnt ember (English)
• Obsidian – black volcanic glass (Latin)
• Ebony – black wood (Greek)
• Kali – “black one,” goddess of time (Sanskrit)
• Nightshade – dark flowering plant (English)
• Eclipse – the hiding of a light (Greek)
• Requiem – rest for the dead (Latin)
• Sombra – shadow (Spanish)
• Midnight – the deepest hour of night (English)
• Phantom – ghostly image (Greek)

Nature-Inspired Names Connected to Owls

Owls live in forests, meadows, and night skies. These nature names connect to their home and keep the mood calm.

• Oak – strong tree where owls roost (English)
• Elm – tall shade tree (English)
• Ash – ash tree (English)
• Alder – tree that grows near water (English)
• Birch – white-barked tree (English)
• Hazel – hazel tree, a wisdom symbol in Celtic lore (English)
• Rowan – “little red one,” a tree (Irish)
• Willow – flexible tree near water (English)
• Aspen – trembling poplar (English)
• Cedar – evergreen tree (Latin)
• Linden – lime tree (German)
• Juniper – evergreen shrub (Latin)
• Sylvan – of the forest (Latin)
• Silva – forest (Latin)
• Forrest – woodland (Old French)
• Glen – narrow valley (Scottish Gaelic)
• Fern – woodland plant (English)
• Moss – soft forest growth (English)
• Ivy – climbing plant (English)
• Clover – meadow plant (English)
• Bramble – thorny shrub (English)
• Thistle – prickly wild plant (English)
• Stella – star (Latin)
• Astra – stars (Greek)
• Lyra – lyre; a summer constellation (Greek)
• Nova – new star (Latin)
• Aurora – dawn (Latin)
• Dawn – first light (English)

Modern and Unique Owl Names

If you want something rare, try these modern and unique owl names. They mix new blends, wisdom names, and sound-alikes that echo “owl.”

• Noctyra – “night” with an owl-like ending (modern coinage)
• Ulyra – blend of ulula (owl) and lyra (modern coinage)
• Strixa – from strix, “owl” (modern coinage)
• Owlora – owl plus aurora (modern coinage)
• Nyxara – from Nyx, “night” (modern coinage)
• Ulanox – ulula plus nox, “owl of night” (modern coinage)
• Glauxia – from glaux, “owl” (modern coinage)
• Sovanna – sova (owl) plus Anna (modern coinage)
• Sophronia – prudent, sensible (Greek)
• Alethea – truth (Greek)
• Oriel – golden (Latin)
• Orla – “golden princess” (Irish)
• Silas – forest (Latin)
• Lucian – light (Latin)
• Atlas – enduring (Greek)
• Solomon – peaceful; famed for wisdom (Hebrew)
• Nestor – wise old counselor in Homer (Greek)
• Athenais – “of Athena” (Greek)
• Eulalia – well-spoken (Greek)
• Clio – “to make famous,” muse of history (Greek)
• Olwen – “white footprint” (Welsh)
• Owen – well-born, young warrior (Welsh)
• Ulani – cheerful (Hawaiian)
• Ulrich – prosperous ruler (Germanic)

How to Create Original Owl-Inspired Names

Want a name nobody else has? You can build your own in a few simple steps, just like the modern coinages above.

• Start with a root word, such as ulula, strix, glaux, sova, or bubo.
• Add a soft ending like -a, -ia, -ina, or -ora for a feminine feel.
• Try endings like -on, -er, or -ric for a masculine feel.
• Blend the root with a night, moon, or wisdom word.
• Cut long blends down to two or three syllables.
• Say the full name with the surname to check the flow.
• Look up the final meaning so the blend carries nothing unwanted.

Tips for Choosing a Memorable Owl Name

A great owl name is easy to say and easy to remember. These tips help you narrow down names that mean owl and make a final pick.

• Pick a name you can spell and pronounce with ease.
• Choose a meaning that matters to you, such as wisdom, night, or luck.
• Keep it short. Two or three syllables stick best.
• Learn the culture behind the name first, especially for Indigenous owl words.
• Try it with nicknames and initials.
• Mix styles, such as a language word as the first name and a myth name as the middle name.
• Live with your top three for a week before you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are names that mean owl?

They are words or names for the owl in many languages, like Ulula (Latin), Ugla (Icelandic), and Fukurō (Japanese).

What is a girl’s name that means owl?

Ugla is an Icelandic girl name that means owl, and Ulula is its Latin counterpart.

What is a boy’s name that means owl?

Bubo (Latin) and Uluka (Sanskrit) both mean owl and suit boys well.

Which owl name is the most unique?

Gwdihŵ (Welsh), Üki (Kazakh), and Pueo (Hawaiian) are rare picks that few people use.

Can I use an owl word as a baby name if it is not an official given name?

Often yes, but some countries limit unusual names, so check your local registry rules first.

Conclusion

Names that mean owl give you a wide mix of choices. You can go with a true owl word like Ulula or Ugla, a lucky Japanese name like Fuku, or a mythical name like Athena.

Each one carries a clear meaning and a real origin, so you can choose with confidence. Whether you want cute, dark, or modern, there is an owl name here that fits.

Take your time, say your favorites out loud, and pick the one that feels right. Happy naming!