It gives its name to and is part of the Arini, or tribe of Neotropical parrots. The genus name Ara is derived from the Tupi word ará, an onomatopoeia of the sound a macaw makes.
The genus Ara, which comprises the Arini tribe of Neotropical parrots, is named after and contains species known for their distinctive call similar to that of a macaw. The Tupi word ará represents this characteristic sound.