Polly wants a cracker.

@Kythe42 (1412)
United States
June 22, 2007 8:46am CST
Why is Polly the stereotypical name for a parrot? Does anyone have any idea as to why this is or how it became the name most associated with parrots?
2 responses
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
22 Jun 07
I think many parrots are called Polly because they both begin with the letter 'p'. Pretty Polly is something I guess many parrots can say. I am looking after my mums parrot. He is a white fronted Amazon. He is quite small compared to other types of Amazon parrot. He belonged to an American lady when she lived in the UK. When she returned home she gave my mum her parrot and four rabbits. She gave him the name Bingo as she was very fond of gambling. He can talk and is very friendly indeed.
1 person likes this
@eadward (140)
• Brazil
23 Jun 07
Well didn't it start with the Polly parrot wich was the protagonist of an american comedy movie? Or THAT parrot had that name because it is the typical name even before? Here in Brazil the stereotypicall is Loro, and I've never seen any native parrot callled polly.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
23 Jun 07
Wow! I am sure you have some gorgeous parrots in Brazil. I am sure that is a lovely place. Most of the parrots have nice name then.
@Kythe42 (1412)
• United States
23 Jun 07
I'm not sure which movie you're thinking of. I know of a movie called Paulie with a parrot as the main character. A different name than Polly, but the two names are pretty close. If that's the movie you are thinking of, then the whole Polly thing was around way before then.
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
23 Jun 07
I have never thought of this. Just seems to of always been there. Even though we associate the name polly with parrots, i dont actually know of a parrot with that name. Best wishes to you, kythe
1 person likes this
@Kythe42 (1412)
• United States
23 Jun 07
Yea I don't know of any actual parrots with that name either, just something I've seen a lot in movies and on tv.