Pet Name Generator

Naming a pet when you have not chosen the species yet

Most people who search for pet names already have an animal in the house, or one arriving on Saturday, and they want something better than the first three ideas on the fridge door. This generator is built for that case. The names work on a spaniel, a rabbit, a bearded dragon or a guinea pig, because none of them depend on the animal being any one shape.

The difference between species is mostly practical. A dog needs a name it can hear across a field, so short and open wins. A cat will not come when called and does not care, so almost anything works. Small animals like hamsters and rabbits tend to get affectionate, round-sounding names (Pudding, Button, Pip) simply because they are small and round. Birds copy sounds, so a name with hard consonants such as Kiwi or Pico is more likely to be echoed back.

The mistake that most owners regret is choosing a name that only suits the animal at one age. Pip is delightful on a kitten and awkward on a large adult cat, though people rarely mind. If it matters to you, look for names that can be shortened or lengthened: Beatrice becomes Bea, Barnaby becomes Barn or Barney.

Five kinds of pet names

Cute names lean on soft sounds and diminutives, the kind you can say in a baby voice without embarrassment. Funny names take a title such as Captain or Duchess and put it in front of something ridiculous, which is a reliable joke because the animal is always completely unaware. Classic names are the ones vets have heard forty times this month, and there is comfort in that. Nature names borrow plants, weather and landscape, and they work equally well on a fluffy and a scaly pet. Fancy names go the other way, giving a hamster the name of a duke.

You can use the girl, boy and either buttons to narrow the list. For animals whose sex is uncertain, such as a young rabbit or a bird you have not had tested, the either option is safe.

If you know the species

There are dedicated pages for dog names, cat names, rabbit names, hamster names, bird names, fish names and chicken names, each built around what that particular animal is like to live with. This page is the general one, for guinea pigs, lizards, ferrets, geckos and anything else that ended up needing a name.

Tips for choosing a pet name

• Say it aloud a dozen times in the voice you will actually use. If it still sounds good when you are calling it half-asleep, keep it.
• Think about how the name shortens. Most long names turn into a nickname within a week, so check that you like the short version.
• Check the household. A name that sounds like a family member's name, or like a word you say often, will get confusing quickly.
• If the animal's sex is not known yet, choose a neutral name now. Renaming a rabbit or a bird later is possible but awkward.
• Wait a couple of days if you can. A pet's personality tends to appear quickly, and a name from watching it will suit better than one you brought with you.