small pet names

Chewy Studios

Small Animal Names: 300 Names for Guinea Pigs, Ferrets & More

Are you the proud parent of a new small pet? A ferret or guinea pig, perhaps, or a chinchilla, mouse or hedgehog? Congratulations! Now, it's time to decide what to call your new furry friend. That's where our list of names for small pets—including guinea pig names, ferret names, hedgehog names and more—can help.

When you bring your new pet home, the naming possibilities are nearly endless. Whether you're looking for a more traditional name or something downright hilarious, we've handpicked 300 options for small pets. Will Ferret or Julius Cheesar? We'll let you decide.

Click the buttons below to jump to each section:

Guinea Pig Names

Also known as cavies, guinea pigs come in several different breeds, including Peruvian, Abyssinian and American, and colors from white to brown to black and beyond—all of which can inspire your pet's new name.

OK, so the famous Alvin is a chipmunk, not a guinea pig. But if your guinea pig loves to sing just like Alvin does, feel free to repurpose his name for your pet.

If you have a Peruvian guinea pig, name them after these mountains in the country of Peru.

Part of the Amazon Basin rainforest is in Peru, making this an appropriate name for a Peruvian guinea pig.

No, you shouldn't feed bacon to your pet, but you can give them this moniker that references the "pig" in their name.

In the film "G-Force," Blaster (voiced by Tracy Morgan) is part of the G-Force team of animals trained for special missions like stopping an evil billionaire from taking over the world.

A reference to guinea pigs' ever-chomping buck teeth.

In the 2008 film "Bedtime Stories," Bugsy is a guinea pig with large, animated eyes who belongs to Skeeter's niece and nephew.

This long-haired black and white guinea pig belonged to Gavin Orsay in the TV series "House of Cards."

If your guinea pig is a talker, give them this name.

For Peruvian guinea pigs, this name meaning "boy" also references the Norte Chico civilization dating back to 3500 BCE in Peru.

Some guinea pigs make a chirping sound to communicate.

Your guinea pigs' teeth (aka their "chompers") keep growing throughout their lives.

A play on chocolate for brown guinea pigs, or a nod to Coco Chanel, for effortlessly chic furballs.

Perfect for white guinea pigs who might be mistaken for clouds of fluff.

In the film "G-Force," Sam Rockwell voices Darwin, another guinea pig on the specially trained animal squad.

Guinea pigs are typically most active around dawn and dusk, so if your furry friend has fur the color of the sunrise, give them this name.

If your guinea pig is more gray or black, on the other hand, opt for Dusk as a name.

American writer Ellis Parker Butler's story "Pigs Is Pigs," which tells the story of a railway agent and customer arguing over the correct rate for shipping two guinea pigs, was turned into a Walt Disney cartoon in 1954.

This English boys' name stems from an old English word meaning "young pig."

For the guinea pig with extra soft, fluffy fur.

For the fuzziest guinea pigs.

A classic and beautiful Italian name that's sounds great when you pair it with your pet's species: Gabriella the Guinea Pig. Bella, Ella, Gab or Gabby work as nicknames.

For the guinea pigs who never seem to run out of energy, just like their namesake in the movie "Gremlins."

Perfect for the guinea pig owner who loves beer.

With "ham" right there in the name, Shakespeare's famous play also happens to be a punny reference to your "pig."

This ancient empire originated in the Peruvian highlands, making it a historical name for Peruvian guinea pigs.

Voiced by Penélope Cruz, Juarez is a secret agent guinea pig trained to complete special missions along with his squad in the film "G-Force."

A nod to the capital of Peru for Peruvian guinea pigs.

In the Nick Jr. series Wonder Pets, Linny is a superhero guinea pig.

This name is especially apt for cavies with milky white fur.

For female guinea pigs, this name shared by a famous Muppet fits the bill.

Your guinea pig is unlikely to oink like a pig, but they do make wheeking sounds and hey, that's close enough.

The prize boar from "Animal Farm," this is a good guinea pig name for piggies with a rebellious personality.

In the "Olga da Polga" series of children's books, Olga is a guinea pig who exaggerates the events of her life when she tells her friends about them.

Perfect for a black-and-white guinea pig—but sorry, no dunking this cutie in milk.

Sweet, fluffy and golden brown—just like your guinea pig, perhaps.

For guinea pigs with differently colored patches of fur.

Give your brown cavy this name and you can call them Little Pea for short.

Too cute to pass up—and an adorable reference to the world of Winnie the Pooh.

Italian for "nap," which your guinea pig will be enjoying throughout their days.

Those little jumps your guinea pig does have a name: popcorning.

A cute nickname that references those popcorn hops.

Pork chops should'nt be on the menu for your guinea pig, but that doesn't mean you can't give them this quirky name.

The name of a classic Looney Tunes pig works just as well for your pet guinea pig.

Did you know that guinea pigs can purr? It's just one detail that makes your pet, well, purr-fect.

For female cavies, it's another take on their tendency to purr. (Try spelling it "Pearla" if your cavy has pearl-white fur.)

A punny revision of the name Ursula, this name is for female cavies who purr.

The language of the Incas, a civilization that originated in the Andes mountains (like guinea pigs).

In the 1998 film "Dr. Dolittle," Chris Rock voices a guinea pig character named Rodney.

President Theodore Roosevelt's family had several guinea pigs, many of which were named after famous historical figures.

The pig from your favorite animated movie, "Sing."

Cavies don't sleep for long periods, preferring to take short naps, aka siestas.

In "The Simpsons," this is the pig mascot of Springfield A&M university.

It may look like snuggling, but if you see your guinea pigs rubbing their chin or cheeks across things in their cage, they may be marking them with their scent.

In a memorable scene in "The Simpsons" movie, Homer pretends his pet pig can walk on the ceiling while singing a song about "Spider-Pig."

Your guinea pig's teeth will grow constantly throughout their lifetime.

One of the best guinea pig names for Trekkies, this name references the guinea pig-like aliens that first appeared in a 1967 episode of "Star Trek."

In "The Fairy Caravan" by Beatrix Potter, a young guinea pig named Tuppenny leaves home and joins the circus.

The famous pig in "Charlotte's Web."


Ferret Names

Closely related to weasels, ferrets are long, slinky, and known for their intellect—and sometimes, their mischief. In fact, their name comes from a word meaning "little thief"! But don't worry, the biggest thing they'll steal is your heart. Check out these names for your new ferret.

This Latin word for "white" suits female albino ferrets.

The male counterpart to Alba, it's a great pick for white boy ferrets.

Because no matter how old they are, they'll always be your baby.

In the "Wild Kratts" children's television series, Bandito is a black-footed ferret who sometimes sneaks up on people.

One meaning of this name is "knowledgeable and skilled," two traits your intelligent ferret certainly has.

These words for "white" in Spanish work great for your ferret, who, like all ferrets, was born with white fur.

In "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," Buck is a weasel who wears a leaf for an eye patch.

In the PBS Kids animated series "The Zula Patrol," Buzzy was a ferret who wears a collar that translates his communications into human language.

For the ferret who's as white as a friendly ghost.

If your ferret has champagne-colored fur, it's a natural pick.

The name of this white wine doubles as a quirky name for a white ferret.

This quirky ferret references a healthy treat for your ferret.

Some ferrets have brown fur, a color commonly referred to as chocolate.

A Gaelic name meaning "scholar" or "learned," it's a nod to your ferret's smarts.

Another name with intelligent connotations, Conroy means "advisor" or "wise man."

In the film "Starship Troopers," Cyrano is Carl Jenkins' pet ferret.

Duke Weaselton, a petty thief, is a weasel who appears in the 2016 film "Zootopia."

A weasel named Dunglap is CatDog's best friend in the animated TV series "CatDog."

Meaning "a woman who has great knowledge," it's a perfect fit for your super-smart female ferret.

Change up the spelling of "Happy" singer Pharrell Williams' name to make it a punny name for your ferret.

As your ferret's namesake Ferris Bueller might say, "Life moves pretty fast (much like a ferret)."

A ferret isn't a fox, but as this name can also mean "sly one"—and your ferret is likely a very sly creature.

If you like alliterative names, Frankie Ferret has a nice ring to it.

The name "ferret" comes from the Latin word "furittus," which means "little thief."

For the most elegant of ferrets.

This Italian word might make you think of white wine, but it actually means "gray."

This word for "gray" in Spanish might describe your ferret's fur.

The Basque word for "gray" is another unique choice for a ferret with gray fur.

This name can mean "grey-haired" or "one with wisdom and intelligence"—either way, it's likely to describe your ferret.

Latin for "gray," it's another way to reference your ferret's gray fur.

For the ferret who always gets in trouble.

The name of this Greek god of thieves references your ferret's nature to steal away with your stuff.

If you have a male ferret, also known as a hob, consider this cute name.

Ferrets have been used for hunting rabbits and vermin.

This common girls' name is also a word for a female ferret.

In the webcomic "Sluggy Freelance," Kiki is a sweet-natured talking ferret.

It's not a reference to cats, but to kits, aka baby ferrets!

In the film "The Beastmaster," a ferret named Kodo is a constant companion to the main character Dar.

Loki is the trickster god, and your ferret is a bit of a trickster himself.

Meaning "ponder" or "cunning," it's a reference to ferrets' smarts.

A color-savvy choice for your black ferret.

This Indian name means "light of knowledge," a perfect pick for your smart white ferret.

Because your ferret is likely to get into all kinds of mischief.

Looking for a literal name? The species name of the ferret is Mustela putorius furo.

Ferrets were popular in the Wild West, used to keep vermin away from grain stores. So why not name your ferret for Wild West icon Annie Oakley?

Lyra's daemon in the movie "The Golden Compass" can transform into any animal he wants, and spends much of his time as a white ermine, a cousin of the ferret.

Pickles is the pet ferret of protagonist Nikki Tesla in Jess Keating's "Elements of Genius" book series.

One meaning of this name is "plunder" perfect for ferrets who are always stealing small little items.

In the film "Along Came Polly," Rodolfo is Polly's pet ferret.

This name for a color of ferret fur makes a pretty sweet ferret name, too.

This ferret is the pet of Cruella de Vil in the "101 Dalmatians" TV series.

Because your ferret is hairy, because you love the reggae artist, or all of the above.

Your ferret's body is long and slender, like a snake's.

Did you know the ferrets can spend 18 hours a day sleeping?

For a ferret with fur as white as snow.

No, not the soda—a sprite is a spayed female ferret.

This name's meaning is "bringer of joy"—perfect for a ferret who adds joy to your life.

Harry Potter fans will like this reference to Ron Weasley that's especially apt for ferrets who are part of the weasel family.

A play on actor Will Ferrell's name, and a perfect ferret name for a funny furry friend.

Many people think that ferrets' natural smell has a woodsy quality.


Chinchilla Names

Chinchillas' may be exceptionally soft, but thanks to their natural habitat in the Andes Mountains including Chile, Bolivia and Peru, they also have exceptional speed and jumping abilities. Those are just a few of their qualities that inspired this list of chinchilla names.

A name meaning "one who is smooth, soft and serene," just like your chinchilla.

This Arabic and Hebrew name means "to ascend" or "high," a cute nod to chinchillas' mountain habitat.

This stone has a violet hue, like some chinchillas' fur.

Perfect for the most well-behaved chinchillas.

If your gray chinchilla's fur has a hint of blue in it, why not choose this Spanish word meaning "blue"?

Chinchillas are nocturnal creatures, so why not choose a chinchilla name based on another night-dweller? (After all, your new pet's nighttime antics might just have you feeling a bit batty!)

The Chilean bellflower is the national flower of Chile, home to chinchillas' native habitat.

Some chinchilla's fur has a blue tinge to it.

Your chinchilla's paws have stiff bristles around their claws that are thought to help with traction on rocky terrain—but you'll just find them extra adorable.

For the chinchilla with an exuberant personality.

A word that perfectly describes your chinchilla's tail.

For the chinchilla with dark gray fur.

For when your chinchilla is surprisingly fast.

A name meaning "soft skinned woman," it's a perfect pick for a female chinchilla.

Short for chinchilla, and an ideal name for an easygoing pet.

Why not go literal? This is another cute way to abbreviate chinchilla.

Also short for chinchilla, or a tribute to World Golf Hall of Famer Chi Chi Rodriguez.

A name meaning "soft" or "gentle."

Meaning "to tame," there's no better pick for your sweet, friendly chinchilla.

Don't be surprised if you see your chinchilla darting around their enclosure.

Your chinchilla's fur might be beige, like the desert.

It's a synonym for soft, which is apt because chinchilla fur is known for its softness.

Another word for beige. Some chinchillas have ecru-colored fur.

A quirky chinchilla name that's especially apt if your pet has violet-tinged fur.

Because your chinchilla's fur is feathery soft.

In the wild, sometimes chinchillas munch on ferns.

An ideal descriptor for the softest chinchillas.

Meaning "high" in French, it's a reference to the high elevations where chinchillas thrive.

Black Jasper is a type of stone that makes a great name for a black chinchilla.

The Old Welsh meaning for this name is "soft," like your chinchilla's fur.

For the chinchilla whose fur matches the color of your khaki pants.

A Thai name meaning "soft."

Short for Chinchilla lanigera, the species name of the long-tailed variety of chinchilla.

For the chinchilla with violet-tinged fur.

For the chinchilla who loves to run lightning-fast.

This Spanish Word for "mountain" could be an homage to the Andes mountains, chinchillas' native habitat.

If you prefer a French-inspired name, this word for "mountain" has a sophisticated vibe.

A Persian name meaning "soft and gentle."

Because their teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, chinchillas are just about always nibbling on something to help wear them down.

If your chinchilla has blue-tinged fur, name them after the vast blue ocean.

Got a black chinchilla? Name them for the black versions of this stone.

Some pansies are blue, just like some chinchillas' fur.

This one works whether your chinchilla has black fur (for black pepper) or pinkish/white fur (for white pepper).

In the TV show "Bob's Burgers," Princess Little Piddles is the school's pet chinchilla.

Another reference to chinchilla's extra-soft fur.

An adjective to describe chinchillas' native mountain habitat.

Chinchillas can jump about 6 feet in the air, blasting off like a rocket.

Your ferret's fur might be the beige color of sand.

The capital of Chile, one of the countries where the chinchilla's native habitat is located.

Some chinchillas were bred to have fur that's bluish in tone, sometimes called sapphire.

Is there a better word to describe your chinchilla's silky fur?

Your chinchilla's luxurious gray fur can appear silver in the right light.

A nature name inspired by some chinchillas' blue-tinged fur.

An apt name for chinchillas with smoke-gray fur.

Chinchillas' fur is notoriously soft.

Inspired by the alien in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch," this is a good chinchilla name for the pet who's always in trouble.

For the chinchilla who truly lights up your life.

It's what your chinchilla's tail tends to do.

Because your chinchilla's fur is as soft as velvet.

Some chinchillas' fur has a violet tone to it.

An Arabic name meaning "soft" or "delicate."


Mice & Rat Names

From the classic Mickey Mouse to the modern "Pizza Rat" meme, when it comes to mice and rat names, pop culture offers a ton of options to choose from. And that's just the beginning of the inspiration you can draw on to pick the perfect name for your mouse or rat.

Alexander is the sophisticated city mouse who learns to appreciate the simple life in HBO's "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures."

Because your new furry friend is fancy.

The main mouse detective in Disney's "The Great Mouse Detective."

Meaning "low" or "short" in Old French, it's a pretty apt description of most mice.

Voiced by Bob Newhart, Bernard the mouse is part of the Rescue Aid Society that helps rescue an orphan in Disney's "The Rescuers."

Disney superfans will recognize Bert as the name of one of the identical twin mice in the classic animated film "Cinderella."

In Disney's "The Rescuers," Miss Bianca is an elegant Rescue Aid Society agent.

Impress your oenophile friends by naming your mouse after your favorite wine. It has a nice ring to it, right?

This English and Gaelic name means "small son," making it a perfect pick for your boy mouse or rat.

In the 1982 animated film "The Secret of NIMH," Mrs. Brisby is a mama field mouse who sets out to move her family away from the field before the farmer begins plowing.

Because your brown mouse or rat is especially sweet.

In "The Secret of NIMH," Brutus is a guard rat with a temper.

This gender-neutral name is Spanish in origin andmeans "small thing."

You know, after Chuck E. Cheese.

The children's book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" describes the chaos that occurs when its title pet is given a cookie. Best to give your mouse Cookie as a name instead.

A quirky mouse name for a pet whose color matches the white topping.

A pretty girl mouse name meaning "something small."

For the mouse with cream-colored fur.

Give your mouse the name of Hermione's cat from "Harry Potter" and who knows? Maybe they'll turn out magical.

These white flowers could make a cute female mouse name.

This word for a female mouse makes a pretty sweet girl mouse name, too.

If you have a peaceful white mouse, you might want to name them after this white bird that symbolizes peace.

In HBO's animated series "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures," the simple country mouse is named Emily.

The lead mouse in "An American Tail."

For the most playful mouse.

This Spanish name means "small but intelligent one," a perfect pick for an especially smart rat or mouse.

This name could reference a mouse's gray fur, or the fact that mice are colorblind.

After the sweet, cheese-loving mouse in Disney's "Cinderella."

If you have a white girl mouse, consider naming them after this pretty white flower.

The classic cartoon mouse who always outsmarts Tom the cat.

Mice and rats shouldn't eat cheese, but that doesn't mean you can't give them an extremely cheesy pun for a name!

If you adopted your mouse around the holidays, why not name them for the Mouse King in "The Nutcracker"?

This Hebrew name means "little" or "small."

Though you might associate this name with dogs, its meaning is "a girl who is small," making it appropriate for your female mouse, too.

Illustrator Arnold Lobel's "Mouse Soup" is a classic picture book about a mouse who outsmarts a weasel.

Another mouse in Cinderella's friendly, helpful horde.

Small, fluffy and white—all words that could describe your mouse.

This Arabic name meaning "a small pearl" makes a unique choice for a white mouse.

In Disney's "Cinderella," Mary is one of the mice who help Cinderella dress for the day.

A quirky mouse name for a pet who's white like mayonnaise.

Merlin the Magic Mouse is a Looney Tunes character who worked as a magician.

In Disney's "Cinderella," this mouse is Bert's identical twin brother.

As in Mighty Mouse, the superhero whose theme song declared, "Here I come to save the day!"

Mickey Mouse's female counterpart, Minnie Mouse, is a businesswoman these days, running a successful bow and bowtie shop.

The name of this coffee drink can double as a cute name for a brown mouse or rat.

In the 2008 film adaptation of "Horton Hears a Who!," Morton the mouse is Horton's best friend.

In the sequel to "The Nut Job," Mr. Feng is a street mouse and gang leader voiced by Jackie Chan.

In "The Secret of NIMH," Nicodemus is the mystical leader of an advanced colony of rats.

Meaning "little water sprite," it's a cute pick for a mouse or rat who loves water.

This Scottish mouse turns to Basil to find her father in Disney's "The Great Mouse Detective."

Meaning "small" or "humble," this common boys' name is an apt choice for your little mouse.

For the mouse who's full of energy.

Another mouse from Disney's "Cinderella," and a pretty name for a mouse with pearl-white fur.

Did you know that mice are excellent swimmers? Why not name yours after one of the modern greats in the sport, Michael Phelps.

Did you know that baby mice are called pinkies?

In 2015, a video of a brown rat dragging a slice of pizza down the New York Subway steps was uploaded to Instagram, and the well-known "Pizza Rat" meme was born.

Mice are exceptional jumpers, just like American long jump world record holder Mike Powell.

Voiced by Vincent Price, Professor Ratigan is Basil's nemesis in "The Great Mouse Detective."

Because this is about as close as you're likely to get to Matt Damon.

A rat name for fans of both Harper Lee and puns.

In the animated film "The Nut Job," Redline the mouse is known for his catchphrase, "We're all gonna die!"

Another Disney reference, Remy is the central character in "Ratatouille."

The leading Pink Lady of "Grease," sure, but also a famous Muppet rat.

Your rat isn't exactly a toddler, but hey, it's still funny.

Perfect for "Harry Potter" fans, Scabbers is the name Peter Pettigrew used when he disguised himself as a rat.

A perfect name for the mouse who always escapes.

An apt name for a mouse who's white as snow.

Another snow-inspired name for a white mouse.

After Looney Tunes character Speedy Gonzales.

One of John Steinbeck's most famous novels is "Of Mice and Men," making this a unique literary name choice.

As in classic literary mouse-turned-movie protagonist, Stuart Little.

For a sweet, white mouse, it's a perfect pick.

Along with Perla and Mary, Suzy the mouse helps Cinderella get ready for the ball in the Disney animated film.

In Disney's "Dumbo," Timothy is one of the big-eared elephant's only friends.

A great name for a mouse who loves the water, especially if their fur is white like the flower of this plant.

Mice and rats use their whiskers to sense what's around them.

This name works whether your mouse is brown like the vanilla bean or white like vanilla ice cream.

A more obscure Muppets reference, Yolanda is Kermit's assistant.


Hedgehog Names

Equal parts spiky and adorable, hedgehogs' self-protecting quills haven't made them any less popular among pet parents. Check out this list of hedgehog names to find the perfect pick for your thorny friend.

This Greek and Latin name means "thorn" or "sharp-pointed object," just like those spines covering your hedgehog's back.

Sonic the Hedgehog's self-proclaimed pink-furred girlfriend is super-sweet, but can pack a punch if she needs to.

It's half of the scientific name for the hedgehog species, Atelerix Albiventris.

In Sanskrit, this boys' name means "sharp as a dagger."

Meaning "hair as sharp as a sword," this Indian boys' name seems like it was created especially for hedgehogs.

As solitary animals, it's likely that your male hedgehog will live like a bachelor (aka alone).

When your hedgehog curls into a ball, they might even resemble one.

An Arabic name meaning "sharp sword," this name could reference the many tiny "swords" on your hedgehog's back.

In the 2016 animated film "Bobby the Hedgehog," Bobby (who sports a rainbow-hued hairdo) teams up with his friends to save their habitat.

Meaning "sword" or "a weapon with a sharp blade," it's perfect for a pet with thousands of built-in sharp blades.

Hedgehogs are naturally nocturnal, so you'll often catch them sleeping during the day.

In author Brian Jacques' "Redwall" series, Durry Quill is a hedgehog keeper of the Abbey.

Harry Hedgehogs are characters in the "Super Mario" universe, showing up in caves to thwart Yoshi.

A sophisticated take on the "hog" in your pet's name.

This magical beast from "Harry Potter" greatly resembles a hedgehog.

This character name from "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" is especially apt for your spiky hedgehog.

In the "Super Mario Bros" video games, these turtles sometimes have spikes—just like your hedgehog.

In "Latte & the Magic Waterstone," Latte the hedgehog and her squirrel friend Tjum go on a journey to take back a magic stone that was stolen by a bear.

The name of the hedgehog character, voiced by Eugene Levy, in DreamWorks' film "Over the Hedge."

Meadows are one type of natural habitat for hedgehogs.

This hedgehog name needs no explanation.

In "Toy Story 3," Mr. Pricklepants is a stuffed hedgehog toy.

Why not name your pet after the title character in Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle" (who is a hedgehog, of course).

Another favorite from "Over the Hedge," Penny is Lou's wife.

You might think your hedgehog resembles a pincushion—but with the pointy ends sticking out, not in.

Because those spines just might poke you!

A cute but honest hedgehog name—they are prickly, after all!

It's another name for your hedgehog's spines.

Beautiful but thorny. Perfect for your feisty female hedgehog.

In the TV series "Littlest Pet Shop," Russell Ferguson is a hedgehog who can be uptight about keeping things organized.

One of the hedgehog's natural habitats.

When your hedgehog rolls into a ball, they'll likely resemble these spiny undersea creatures.

In the "Sonic the Hedgehog" universe, Sebastian's skills include a hypnotic gaze.

Also known as "Anti-Sonic" or "Evil-Sonic," Scourge is the green hedgehog character in the "Sonic the Hedgehog" universe.

Sonic the Hedgehog's black-and-red counterpart.

After perhaps the world's most famous hedgehog character, Sonic the Hedgehog.

You might hear your hedgehog making snuffling sounds—it's one of their forms of communication.

Hey, don't say we didn't warn you.

An Indian name meaning "one sharp like the knife."

In the animated film "Ferdinand," Una is a purple hedgehog voiced by Gina Rodriguez.

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