Coming up with good turtle names can be a challenge. However, with a bit of imagination, a lot of creativity, and a list of ideas to get you started, you can choose the perfect turtle name for your shelled pet.
Cool Turtle Names That Play on Words
Using words associated with a turtle can be a fun way to come up with a unique name for your pet. Consider the following play on words:
Shell Shock
MiSHELL
Tuck and Roll
Sneak
Hokey Pokey
Caramel Turtles
Sally Monella (Salmonella - you may or may not find this funny, depending upon your sense of humor)
Famous Turtles Names
There are a few famous turtles that you could name your pet after. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles provide inspiration. There are the four main characters:
Leonardo
Raphael
Michelangelo
Donatello
You could also name the turtle after other characters in the series even though they were not actually turtles. Consider:
Shredder
Splinter
Casey Jones
Other famous turtles include:
Franklin from the Canadian television series
Koopa from the Mario Brothers games
Mock Turtle from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
A pet turtle can be named something funny or silly as well:
Shelly
Speedy
Zoom
Rocky
Doorstop
Mario Andretti
The Flash
Scooter
Jet
Flippy
Hard Hat
Lightning
Bolt
Speedster
Ninja
Serious Turtle Names
Dignified names seem to suit some turtles, particularly large box turtles or snappers. Serious names can be based on famous historical figures, leaders, actors and actresses, literary characters, artists or made up:
Queen Victoria
Mr. Wigglesworth
Napoleon
Charlemagne
Abraham Lincoln
King George
Chancellor
Lady Bertha
Sir Lancelot
Chester
Shakespeare
Washington
Poe
Einstein
King Tut
Cleopatra
Voltaire
Mozart
Picasso
Monet
Personality-Based Names for Turtles
Watch your turtle for a while and you're certain to come up with a nickname or two. Each turtle has a distinct personality. Some are shy and some are outgoing. Some move faster and more often than others. You could even name your turtle the opposite of what he is, such as Zippy for a slow-moving turtle.
Sunny for a turtle that enjoys bathing on a warm rock
Tank for a large sluggish turtle
Hide and Seek for a turtle that goes in and out of his shell a lot
Backspace for a turtle that likes to back up
Appearance-Based Turtle Names
Different types of turtles can inspire names as well. A red-eared slider might be called "Blush", for example. Here are some other ideas that will suit different turtle types.
These names work perfectly for a red-eared slider:
Dumbo
Scarlet
Ruby
White Castle
Crimson
Cherry
T Is for Turtle Names
Another naming option is to use names that start with the letter T. This option has endless possibilities and is a fun way to come up with a name. Some T names to consider include:
Tommy
Tim
Tillie
Taffy
Trent
Truffles
Talon
Tony
Tiger
Trixie
Tina
Tabitha
Ted
Thelma
Tory
Taylor
Titan
Tubby
Thor
Tad
Truman
Tyrell
Tate
Trey
Trinity
Tara
Tessa
Travis
Tamara
Turtle Couple Names
Maybe you have more than one pet turtle and want to name them something as a pair. You can name them based on a famous couple or use names that fit together as a pair. Some catchy naming options include:
Jack and Jill
Salt and Pepper
Mickey and Minnie
Sugar and Spice
Adam and Eve
Rock and Roll
Romeo and Juliet
Hugs and Kisses
North and South
Yin and Yang
Amos and Andy
Ben and Jerry
Bert and Ernie
Donald and Daisy
William and Kate
Turtle Names Based on Size
Though each turtle has its own personality, the size of the turtle might best dictate its name. Big or tiny, every turtle deserves a fitting name.
Big Turtle Names
Hammer
Andre the Giant
Bruiser
Godzilla
Butch
Small Turtle Names
Boop
Baby
Frodo
Peanut
Niblet
Good Tortoise Names
Tortoises are actually turtles - they're just a species falling under the designation of "turtle." The main difference is that tortoises aren't equipped for water, says National Geographic. For this reason, just about any name you use for turtles will work for tortoises, and vice versa.
Snappy
Doris the Tortoise
Ardha (from Ardha-Kurmasana, the "half tortoise" yoga position)
Feng (tortoises and turtles are considered good luck in Feng Shui)
Funny Tortoise Names
Gloria in exc-shell-sis Deo
Aristurtle
Shell Yeah
Paper Weight
Coming Up With Pet Turtle Names
The sky is the limit when naming your new pet. You'll likely find inspiration in things like favorite foods your turtle likes to eat and your favorite television shows and books. Don't rush into a name because you will have to live with your final choice for years to come. Once you feel you've found the perfect nickname for your pet, you'll be ready to dub him Sir Creep Along or whatever else suits your fancy.
