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205 Names for Pet Turtles and Tortoises

November 19, 2025

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 Turtles
Flippy: From the book Flippy the Turtle by Edward Frymer
Leonardo: One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Mack: From Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss
Michelangelo: One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Mock Turtle: From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Pokey: A reference to turtles being slow, as in slowpoke
Raphael: One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Shelly: A reference to your turtle’s shell
Snappy: A reference to snapping turtles
Squirt: A sea turtle in Finding Nemo
Tank: The tortoise in My Little Pony
Turbo: A Ty Beanie Babies turtle
Yertle: From Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss
Zippy: 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.

April
Arcadia
Ariel
Aspen
August
Bertie
Beryl
Chartreuse
Cherry
Dolores
Donna
Elphaba
Emma
Fran
Francesca
Francine
Giada
Ginger
Goldie
Holly
Ivy
Jade
Kelly
Kenya
Kiwi
Lady Boxworthy
Lana
Lily
Michelle
Myrtle
Molasses
Olive
Opal
Penny
Raffaella
Ramona
Ruby
Sabrina
Sienna
Tammy

Boy Turtle or Tortoise Names

For an exotic male name, consider pulling from Greek mythology, like some of the options on our list below.

Achilles
Apollo
Atlas
Balboa
Baldwin
Bowser
Bruno
Bubbles
Charles
Duke
Emmet
Frank
Fergus
Harley
Hercules
Hermes
Hunter
Kai
Lemmy
Leo
Malcolm
Melvin
Mikey
Mustafa
Oogway
Oscar
Ozzy
Popeye
Paulie
Pickle
Poke
Popeye
Ramone
Romeo
Rufus
Taco
Waddles

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.

Amarilla
Amarillo
Bulldozer
Celadon
Erin
Flippy
Jaune
Gialla
Giallo
Hard Top
Harlequin
Kombu
Laurel
Lenta
Lento
Malachite
Pokey
Red
Reseda
Rosy
Scooter
Shell-Shocker
Shelly
Shyman
Slider
Slow Poke
Snapper
Snappy
Stretch
Stumpy
Swimmer
Tank
Tonka
Tucker
Umi
Verde
Verte

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.

Apple
Aristurtle
Artichoke
Donnashello
Grease Lightning
Halfshell
Jet
Lickety Split
Mary Shelly
Midori
Nitro
Peek-a-Boo
Poptart
Rocky
Shelby
Sheldon
Shelly
Sir Hides-a-Lot
Speedy
The Flash
Thunderdome
Tortellini
Turbo
Turtleneck
Turtle Recall
Zippy
Zoom

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.

Ari
Bolt
Bonsai
Buddy
Coral
Dandy
Darwin
Doris
Emerald
Fern
Forest
Francis
Freddy
Honeydew
India
Isla
Juniper
Lightning
Lucky
Mantis
Marlin
Matcha
Mimi
Minty
Moana
Moe
Moss
Neon
Nibbles
Orna
Patience
Pistachio
Puddles
Raff
Sappy
Scoot
Splinter
Sunny
Tilly
Wobbles
Yoda
Ziggy

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
Jonathan
Leonardo
Mack
Michelangelo
Mock Turtle
Mudface
Napoleon
Raphael
Seychelles
Squirt
Squirtle
Toby the Turtle
Tom, Dick, and Harry
Tortura
Verne
Yertle

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.