Falcon

The falcon is one of the most beautiful and respected birds in the world.

From the Latin surname Falco and the genus name Falco, meaning "falcon." Falconry is the hunting of prey using a trained falcon (which can also be done with hawks and owls). Falconry is still widely practised today. It was a widely used topic, motif, metaphor and hobby written about in medieval and Renaissance literature, although it has survived as a small part of literature to this day. It was also regarded as the hobby/practice of nobility, and the name Peregrine (of the Peregrine falcon) was and still is often used by the English upper-crust.

Many do not know this, but the current meanings of the phrases "fed up," "wrapped around his/her little finger" and to "have someone under your thumb" were all derived from falconry terms.

Falco is also an acceptable baby name, as is Peregrine. In 2010 there were 16 baby boys named Falcon, none named Falco. Variants of Falcon include Falk, Falke, Falconer, Falken, Falkner, Faulconer, Faulkner and Fowler, all common surnames, of which William Faulkner is the most famous namesake.