205 Creative Turtle Names: Perfect Choices for Your Hard-Shelled Friend Explore playful, unique, and funny names for your turtle or tortoise By Lianne McLeod, DVM Lianne McLeod, DVM Lianne McLeod, DVM, is a small animal and exotic pet expert with over a decade of experience writing about veterinary care. After caring for animals in her veterinarian practice, Lianne went on to study biology and research water quality and chronic disease at the University of Saskatchewan. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 06/18/25 Top Names and Facts About Pet Turtles 1:03 Credit: The Spruce / Catherine Song In This Article Expand Top Names Girl Names Boy Names Unique Names Funny Names Cute Names Historical Names A to Z Turtle Names Picking a name for a pet turtle or tortoise might be easy if your pet has distinctive markings or behaviors. Yet, if nothing catches your eye, finding the perfect name for your shelled companion can be challenging. Here are 205 names that range from funny names to popular fictional references to inspire a name that's suitable for your reptilian slowpoke. Top Turtle or Tortoise Names Donatello: One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesFlippy: From the book Flippy the Turtle by Edward FrymerLeonardo: One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesMack: From Yertle the Turtle by Dr. SeussMichelangelo: One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesMock Turtle: From Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis CarrollPokey: A reference to turtles being slow, as in slowpokeRaphael: One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesShelly: A reference to your turtle’s shellSnappy: A reference to snapping turtlesSquirt: A sea turtle in Finding NemoTank: The tortoise in My Little PonyTurbo: A Ty Beanie Babies turtleYertle: From Yertle the Turtle by Dr. SeussZippy: From Frogger How to Accurately Identify the Gender of Your Turtle Girl Turtle or Tortoise Names If you have a female turtle or tortoise, take a look at some suitable female titles, including classic, elegant, and whimsical options. AprilArcadiaArielAspenAugustBertieBerylChartreuseCherryDoloresDonnaElphabaEmmaFranFrancescaFrancineGiadaGingerGoldieHollyIvyJadeKellyKenyaKiwiLady BoxworthyLanaLilyMichelleMyrtleMolassesOliveOpalPennyRaffaellaRamonaRubySabrinaSiennaTammy Boy Turtle or Tortoise Names For an exotic male name, consider pulling from Greek mythology, like some of the options on our list below. AchillesApolloAtlasBalboaBaldwinBowserBrunoBubblesCharlesDukeEmmetFrankFergusHarleyHerculesHermesHunterKaiLemmyLeoMalcolmMelvinMikeyMustafaOogwayOscarOzzyPopeyePauliePicklePokePopeye RamoneRomeoRufusTacoWaddles 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. AmarillaAmarilloBulldozerCeladonErinFlippyJauneGiallaGialloHard TopHarlequinKombuLaurelLentaLentoMalachitePokeyRedResedaRosyScooterShell-ShockerShellyShymanSliderSlow PokeSnapperSnappyStretchStumpySwimmerTankTonkaTuckerUmiVerdeVerte 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 a turtle's or tortoise's slower behavior, like calling them Speedy, or some names that get witty with puns about their shell. AppleAristurtleArtichokeDonnashelloGrease LightningHalfshellJetLickety SplitMary ShellyMidoriNitroPeek-a-BooPoptartRockyShelbySheldonShellySir Hides-a-LotSpeedyThe FlashThunderdomeTortelliniTurboTurtleneckTurtle RecallZippyZoom Cute Turtle or Tortoise Names You probably think your turtle or tortoise is adorable. There are so many names that you can give these cute pets to show off their good looks. AriBoltBonsaiBuddyCoralDandyDarwinDorisEmeraldFernForestFrancisFreddyHoneydewIndiaIslaJuniperLightningLuckyMantisMarlinMatchaMimiMintyMoanaMoeMossNeonNibblesOrnaPatiencePistachioPuddlesRaffSappyScootSplinterSunnyTillyWobblesYodaZiggy 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 TurtleChurchy LeFemmeCrushDonatelloFranklinFudukaziGameraJonathanLeonardoMackMichelangeloMock TurtleMudfaceNapoleonRaphaelSeychellesSquirtSquirtleToby the TurtleTom, Dick, and HarryTorturaVerneYertle 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 of your pet can be their 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. A to Z Turtle and Tortoise Names A–B AchillesAmarillaAmarilloApolloAppleAprilArcadiaAriArielAristurtleArtichokeAspenAtlasAugustBalboaBaldwinBertieBerylBoltBonsaiBowserBr'er TurtleBrunoBubblesBuddyBulldozer C–G CeladonCharlesChartreuseCherryChurchy LaFemmeCoralCrushDandyDarwinDoloresDonatelloDonnaDonnashelloDorisDukeElphabaEmeraldEmmaEmmetErinFergusFernFlippyForestFranFrancescaFrancineFrancisFrankFranklinFreddyFudukaziGameraGiadaGiallaGialloGingerGoldieGrease Lightning H–L HalfshellHard TopHarlequinHarleyHermesHerculesHollyHoneydewHunterIndiaIslaIvyJadeJauneJetJonathanJuniperKaiKellyKenyaKiwiKombuLady BoxworthyLanaLaurelLemmyLentaLentoLeoLeonardoLickety SplitLightningLilyLucky M–O MackMalachiteMalcolmMantisMarlinMary ShellyMatchaMelvinMichelangeloMichelleMidoriMikeyMimiMintyMoanaMock TurtleMoeMossMudfaceMustafaMyrtleMolassesNapoleonNeonNibblesNitroOogwayOliveOpalOrnaOscarOzzy P–R PatiencePauliePeek-a-BooPennyPicklePistachioPokePokeyPopeyePoptartPuddlesRaffRaffaellaRamonaRamoneRaphaelRedResedaRockyRomeoRosyRubyRufus S SabrinaSappySeychellesScootScooterShelbySheldonShell-ShockerShellyShymanSiennaSir Hides-a-LotSliderSlow PokeSnapperSnappySpeedySplinterSquirtSquirtleStretchStumpySunnySwimmer T TacoTammyTankThe FlashThunderdomeTillyToby the TurtleTom, Dick, and HarryTonkaTortelliniTorturaTuckerTurboTurtleneckTurtle Recall U–Z UmiVerdeVerneVerteWaddlesWobblesYertleYodaZiggyZippyZoom Explore more: Reptiles & Amphibians Tortoises