The iconic blue Twitter bird actually had a highly specific official name. Which celebrity was the mascot named after?

A basketball name behind the bird

Twitter’s blue bird was called Larry, after basketball great Larry Bird. The connection reflected co-founder Biz Stone’s fondness for the Boston Celtics, the team Bird led to three NBA championships. The name linked a small piece of internet branding to a very recognizable sports icon.

A mascot with an identity of its own

The bird’s name was not as prominent as the logo itself: users saw the silhouette, while “Larry” remained a behind-the-scenes detail. That distinction helped the mascot feel like more than a decorative mark. It had a nickname—and, in a company built around short messages, a surprisingly specific namesake.

The detail is a reminder that brand identities can carry private references even when the public sees only a simple symbol. For years, millions of people recognized Twitter’s bird without knowing that its name pointed back to a Celtics legend.