100 Names for Pet Turtles and Tortoises

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Updated on 04/05/20

Names for Pet Turtles and Tortoises — The Spruce / Catherine Song

In This Article

Top Names
Naming Tips
Girl Names
Boy Names
Unique Names
Funny Names
Names From History and Fiction
A to Z Turtle Names

Picking a name for a pet turtle or tortoise may come easy to you if your pet has unique markings, characteristics, or movements. However, if nothing stands out, it may be hard to pick a fitting name for your hard-shelled friend. Here are 100 names that range from funny names to popular fictional references to inspire a name that's suitable for your reptilian slowpoke.

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Top 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 long-lived animals—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."

How to Tell the Gender of a Turtle

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 Lightning
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.