Tropicbirds are a family, Phaethontidae, of tropical pelagic seabirds. They are the sole living representatives of the order Phaethontiformes.

The scientific name Phaethontiformes comes from the Ancient Greek word Φαέθων (Phaethon), meaning "sun". The order's name is derived from the genus name Phaethon, which refers to the tropicbirds, so the full meaning connects to the "sun".