White-headed munia (Lonchura maja)

The white-headed munia (Lonchura maja) is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family Estrildidae.
This bird species is native to Southeast Asia, including countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.

The name mannikin is from Middle Dutch mannekijn 'little man'.
The family name Estrildidae (estrildid finches) is derived from Estrilda (Genus Name), a genus of the family. It is based on a "literary coinage" from Old Norse, ástareldr, which translates to "love-fire". This name likely refers to the vibrant red coloration found in many species (like the common waxbill).

Lonchura is a genus of estrildid finches (munias) whose name is derived from Ancient Greek, combining two elements to describe the bird's appearance:
  - Lonkhē (λόγχη): Ancient Greek for "spear-head" or "lance".
  - Oura (οὐρά): Ancient Greek for "tail".

"Maja" is a, often Scandinavian, German, or Slavic, variant of the name Maia, which has deep roots in both Classical Greek and Latin traditions, primarily referring to a goddess of spring, growth, and nurturing.