Picking a name for a pet turtle or tortoise may come easy to you if your pet has unique markings, characteristics, or movements. If nothing stands out, you can think back to some famous fictional turtles in books, movies, comics, or history. Or, even, let the names of the species, such as red-eared slider (Rosy) or a snapping turtle (Snappy), be your guide. Take a look at some masculine and feminine names, funny names, and references from fiction and the past to inspire a name that works for your reptilian slowpoke.
1:03Top Names and Facts About Pet Turtles
Top Turtle or Tortoise Names
- Donatello
- Flippy
- Leonardo
- Mack
- Michelangelo
- Mock Turtle
- Pokey
- Rafael
- Shelly
- Snappy
- Squirt
- Tank
- Turbo
- Yertle
- Zippy
Tips for Naming Your Turtle or Tortoise
Turtles and tortoises are a long-lived animal-most aquatic turtles can live up to 40 years, while larger tortoises can live for more than 100 years. For such a long-lived creature, pick a name that can stand the test of time. Also, think about going to the veterinarian or telling the name to friends and family. Does the name make you cringe or smile? Other ways to help you think about the name for your pet can be its shell or unique behaviors. You can think of names based on the turtle's sex or even pull inspiration from famous turtles from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or "Dr. Seuss."
Is Your Turtle a Boy or a Girl?Girl Turtle or Tortoise Names
If you have a female turtle or tortoise, and you want to give your pet a name fit for a lady; take a look at some suitable female titles.
- April
- August
- Bertie
- Cherry
- Ginger
- Goldie
- Holly
- Ivy
- Jade
- Kenya
- Kiwi
- Lady Boxworthy
- Lily
- Myrtle
- Molasses
- Opal
- Penny
- Ruby
- Sienna
- Tammy
Boy Turtle or Tortoise Names
Masculine names for turtles or tortoises reflect the animal's tough exterior and strong, steadfast behavior. It's not surprising that some gods from Greek mythology crept into this story list.
- Achilles
- Apollo
- Atlas
- Balboa
- Baldwin
- Bruno
- Duke
- Fergus
- Hercules
- Hermes
- Malcolm
- Melvin
- Mustafa
- Oscar
- Ozzy
- Popeye
- Paulie
- Romeo
- Rufus
- Taco
Unique Turtle or Tortoise Names
If you think about the characteristics that are unique to turtles and tortoises, the first things that usually come to mind are their slower speed and their shells. Some scoot around and bump into things, while others slide into the water and swim using flippers. All of these qualities inspire unique names for these marvelous cold-blooded creatures.
- Bulldozer
- Flippy
- Hard Top
- Pokey
- Red
- Rosy
- Scooter
- Shell-shocker
- Shelly
- Shyman
- Slider
- Slow Poke
- Snapper
- Snappy
- Stretch
- Stumpy
- Swimmer
- Tank
- Tonka
- Tucker
Funny Turtle or Tortoise Names
Some pet owners love to bring humor into the naming of their pets. Take a look at a few names that make fun of its slower behavior, like calling it Speedy, or some names that get witty with puns about its shell.
- Donnashello
- Grease Lightening
- Lickety Split
- Mary Shelly
- Nitro
- Peek-a-Boo
- Poptart
- Rocky
- Shelby
- Sheldon
- Shelly
- Sir Hides-a-lot
- Speedy
- The Flash
- Thunderdome
- Tortellini
- Turbo
- Turtleneck
- Turtle Recall
- Zippy
- Zoom
Names From History and Fiction
The names "Tom," "Dick," and "Harry" were the first Galapagos tortoises that naturalist Charles Darwin collected; these names work well if you have a trio of turtles. Or, if you have four turtles, then the ever-popular "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" foursome might be an obvious choice. From Godzilla and Pokemon to "Dr. Seuss" and "Finding Nemo," there are numerous references you can draw from.
- Br'er Turtle
- Churchy LeFemme
- Crush
- Donatello
- Franklin
- Fudukazi
- Gamera
- Leonardo
- Mack
- Michelangelo
- Mock Turtle
- Mudface
- Raphael
- Squirt
- Squirtle
- Toby the Turtle
- Tom, Dick, and Harry
- Tortura
- Verne
- Yertle
A to Z Turtle and Tortoise Names
A-B
- Achilles
- April
- Apollo
- Atlas
- August
- Balboa
- Baldwin
- Bertie
- Br'er Turtle
- Bruno
- Bulldozer
C-G
- Cherry
- Churchy LaFemme
- Crush
- Donatello
- Donnashello
- Duke
- Fergus
- Flippy
- Franklin
- Fudukazi
- Gamera
- Ginger
- Goldie
- Grease Lightening
H-L
- Hard Top
- Hermes
- Hercules
- Holly
- Ivy
- Jade
- Kenya
- Kiwi
- Lady Boxworthy
- Leonardo
- Lickety Split
- Lily
M-O
- Mack
- Malcolm
- Mary Shelly
- Melvin
- Michelangelo
- Mock Turtle
- Mudface
- Mustafa
- Myrtle
- Molasses
- Nitro
- Opal
- Oscar
- Ozzy
P-R
- Peek-a-Boo
- Popeye
- Pokey
- Poptart
- Paulie
- Penny
- Raphael
- Red
- Rocky
- Romeo
- Rosy
- Ruby
- Rufus
S
- Scooter
- Shelby
- Sheldon
- Shell-shocker
- Shelly
- Shyman
- Sienna
- Sir Hides-a-lot
- Slider
- Slow Poke
- Snapper
- Snappy
- Speedy
- Squirt
- Squirtle
- Stretch
- Stumpy
- Swimmer
T
- Taco
- Tammy
- Tank
- The Flash
- Thunderdome
- Toby the Turtle
- Tom, Dick, and Harry
- Tonka
- Tortellini
- Tortura
- Tucker
- Turbo
- Turtleneck
- Turtle Recall
V-Z
- Verne
- Yertle
- Zippy
- Zoom