Popular Turtle Names: Both Big and Small

Bringing home a shelled sidekick is exciting, but finding the perfect name can be tougher than their armor. Whether you have a tiny aquatic swimmer, a red-eared slider, or a plodding land tortoise, you need a moniker that fits their vibe.

Skip the generic choices. We have rounded up the best turtle names, ranging from tough and cool to hilarious and cute. Whether you want to honor a famous fictional reptile or pick something ironic like “Speedy,” we have you covered. Let’s dive in.

85 Tough Male Turtle Names

These strong male names represent the sturdy, resilient nature of your pet.

1. Achilles – Named after the Greek hero; a funny, ironic pick for a slow mover.
2. Adam – Hebrew for “son of the red earth,” fitting for land tortoises.
3. Adriel – A unique Biblical name meaning “of God’s flock.”
4. Aesop – Honors the ancient storyteller who wrote The Tortoise and the Hare.
5. Akumal – A famous bay in Mexico that serves as a home for sea turtles.
6. Akupara – The Sanskrit name for the “world turtle” that supports the earth.
7. Alden – Old English for “wise old friend,” perfect for a long-living pet.
8. Aristurtle – A witty pun on the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
9. Aspen – Refers to the tree; great for a turtle with an earthy vibe.
10. August – Based on “Augustus,” meaning “exalted” or “venerable.”
11. Basil – Greek for “kingly,” plus it doubles as a green herb reference.
12. Beckett – Means “dweller at the stream,” ideal for aquatic breeds.
13. Bertie – A cute, casual nickname for Albert.
14. Caspian – A geographical name referencing the sea; also a specific turtle species.
15. Celadon – A pale grayish-green color that matches many shells.
16. Clayton – Old English for “clay settlement,” suited for mud-loving turtles.
17. Conrad – German for “brave counsel.”
18. Corky – A buoyant name for a spirited little swimmer.
19. Dante – Italian for “steadfast” or “enduring,” traits every tortoise shares.
20. Darwin – Charles Darwin famously studied giant tortoises in the Galápagos.
21. Denver – Means “green valley,” fitting for your verdant friend.
22. Donatello – The purple-masked tech genius from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
23. Dylan – Welsh for “son of the sea.”
24. Fastitocalon – A massive sea turtle from Tolkien’s poetry.
25. Fergus – Irish-Gaelic for “man of strength.”
26. Filburt – A quirky name meaning “very bright.”
27. Fillmore – A turtle character from the Comic Strips Wiki.
28. Franklin – The polite protagonist of the beloved children’s book series.
29. Galápagos – A tribute to the islands famous for giant tortoises.
30. Godzilla – The ultimate “king of the monsters” rising from the sea.
31. Gumby – A classic green clay character who matches your pet’s hue.
32. Hercules – Greek hero known for strength, just like a hard shell.
33. Hermes – The swift messenger god; an ironic choice for a slow walker.
34. Hulk – For the pet that is green, bulky, and incredibly strong.
35. Hunter – Great for a snapper or a turtle always hunting for snacks.
36. Indy – Short for the Indianapolis 500; a sarcastic speed name.
37. Irving – Scottish for “green river” or “sea friend.”
38. Killian – Celtic for “little warrior” or “bright-headed.”
39. Kurma – The second avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, appearing as a tortoise.
40. Leo – Latin for “lion,” giving your reptile a ferocious edge.
41. Leonardo – The katana-wielding leader of the TMNT squad.
42. Mack – The rebellious turtle from Dr. Seuss’s Yertle the Turtle.
43. Malcolm – A strong royal name from Scottish history.
44. Maturin – The massive guardian turtle from Stephen King’s It.
45. Maximillian – After the Hydromedusa Maximiliani, a Brazilian snake-necked turtle.
46. Melvin – Gaelic for “gentle ruler.”
47. Michaelangelo – The party-loving, pizza-eating Ninja Turtle.
48. Mikey – The casual nickname for Michelangelo.
49. Moray – A distinct twist on Murray; references the eel.
50. Murphy – Gaelic for “sea warrior.”
51. Mustafa – Arabic for “the chosen one.”
52. Orin – Hebrew for “pine tree,” connecting to nature.
53. Orwell – Means “branch of the river.”
54. Oscar – A classic name meaning “champion warrior.”
55. Paulie – Latin for “small,” perfect for a hatchling.
56. Paxton – Old English for “peace town.”
57. Phillip – Greek for “lover of horses,” or in this case, lover of lettuce.
58. Popeye – A tough sailor man who loves his greens.
59. Raphael – The tough, red-masked brawler from TMNT.
60. Reed – A nature name fitting for a pond dweller.
61. Ridley – After the Olive Ridley sea turtle.
62. Rocky – A tough boxing name that nods to a hard shell.
63. Romeo – For the turtle who loves to flirt with his reflection.
64. Rowan – Irish for “little redhead,” great for a Red-Footed Tortoise.
65. Rufus – Latin for “red-haired.”
66. Samuel – Hebrew for “God has heard.”
67. Sheldon – A punny name that highlights the shell.
68. Sipadan – A Malaysian island famous for its turtle population.
69. Slash – The mutant snapping turtle from the TMNT universe.
70. Soren – Danish for “stern” or “severe.”
71. Testudo – The Latin word for tortoise; also a Roman military formation.
72. Thaddeus – Aramaic for “courageous heart.”
73. Timmy – Greek for “honored by God.”
74. Toby – The timid turtle from Disney’s Robin Hood.
75. Tokka – The mutant snapping turtle villain from TMNT II.
76. Tommy – Refers to Tommy Turtle from the Sonic the Hedgehog comics.
77. Tony – Short for Anthony; Latin for “priceless.”
78. Trevor – Welsh for “large homestead.”
79. Triton – The Greek messenger of the sea.
80. Tucker – Occupational name for a cloth weaver; sounds like “tuck” (into a shell).
81. Tyler – An occupational name for a tile maker.
82. Varden – French for “green knoll.”
83. Wade – To walk through water; exactly what aquatic turtles do.
84. Walter – Honors W. Grey Walter, a robotics pioneer who built “turtle” robots.
85. Zale – Greek for “sea strength.”

88 Beautiful Female Turtle Names

These lovely names salute the elegance and longevity of female turtles.

1. Adelaide – German for “noble kind.”
2. Alana – A mermaid friend of Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
3. April – Honors April O’Neil, the reporter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
4. Arcadia – A reference to the play featuring a pet tortoise named Plautus.
5. Ariel – The famous Disney mermaid; perfect for a swimmer.
6. Athena – Greek goddess of wisdom, fitting for an old soul.
7. Beryl – A light green mineral.
8. Celeste – Latin for “heavenly.”
9. Cassidy – After Mrs. Cassidy Shells from The Fantastic World of Louise.
10. Constance – Latin for “steadfast” or “constant.”
11. Coraline – A spin on Coral, a jewel of the sea.
12. Costa – Nods to Costa Rica, a nesting ground for Leatherbacks.
13. Doris – Greek for “gift from the sea.”
14. Elphaba – The green-skinned witch from Wicked.
15. Emerald – A deep green gemstone.
16. Esmeralda – Spanish for “emerald”; also a famous hunchback’s friend.
17. Everleigh – Old English for “wild boar clearing.”
18. Fern – A classic green plant name.
19. Frida – German for “peaceful,” also honors artist Frida Kahlo.
20. Giada – Italian for “jade.”
21. Ginger – Means “liveliness,” perhaps ironic for a tortoise.
22. Goldie – Perfect for a yellow-bellied slider.
23. Halley – Old English for “dweller at the meadow.”
24. Hisako – Japanese for “longevity,” celebrating a long lifespan.
25. Holly – A prickly green plant name.
26. Ivy – A vine plant symbolizing fidelity.
27. Jade – A green ornamental mineral.
28. Jasmine – Persian for “gift from God” or the flower.
29. Jocelyn – A German name for a member of the Gauts tribe.
30. Juniper – An evergreen shrub with berries.
31. Kaia – Hawaiian for “the sea.”
32. Kiwi – A fuzzy brown fruit with a bright green inside.
33. Lana – From The Loud House, who owns a turtle named Snappy.
34. Liberty – Latin for freedom; can refer to the green Statue of Liberty.
35. Lilith – Akkadian for “belonging to the night.”
36. Lily – Represents purity and innocence.
37. Malaysia – A country hosting Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles.
38. Malena – A Panamanian beach famous for nesting turtles.
39. Mallory – French for “unlucky,” but you can flip the script.
40. Mandana – Persian for “everlasting.”
41. Margarita – A bright green cocktail name.
42. Mary Shelley – A literary pun on the author of Frankenstein.
43. Matcha – A vibrant green tea powder.
44. Midori – Japanese specifically for the color green.
45. Mikayla – Hebrew for “who is like God.”
46. Minerva – Roman goddess of wisdom.
47. Moana – Polynesian for “ocean.”
48. Morla – The giant, ancient turtle from The NeverEnding Story.
49. Myrtle – Rhymes perfectly with “turtle.”
50. Nessie – A cute nod to the Loch Ness Monster.
51. Olivia – Latin for “olive tree,” matching a shell’s color.
52. Opal – A stone symbolizing hope and confidence.
53. Orna – Irish for “little pale green one.”
54. Paloma – Latin for “dove,” a symbol of peace.
55. Patience – A virtue every slow-moving tortoise possesses.
56. Paz – Spanish for “peace.”
57. Priscilla – Latin for “ancient” or “venerable.”
58. Ramona – Spanish for “wise protector.”
59. Renata – Latin for “born again.”
60. Rosy – A sweet floral name.
61. Ruby – A precious red stone; great for Red-Eared Sliders.
62. Sabira – Arabic for “patient.”
63. Scarlet – Nods to the Pokémon Terapagos from Scarlet and Violet.
64. Sela – Hebrew for “rock,” like a sturdy shell.
65. Selena – Greek moon goddess.
66. Serenity – Describes a calm, quiet temperament.
67. Shannon – Irish for “wise river.”
68. Shelby – A classic pun on “shell.”
69. Shelly – The most popular female pun name.
70. Sienna – An earth pigment; reddish-brown.
71. Sisu – Finnish concept of grit and determination.
72. Summer – For a turtle who loves sunbathing.
73. Sydney – Honors the Australian city.
74. Sylvia – Latin for “spirit of the wood.”
75. Tammy – Palm tree or twin.
76. Tatum – Old English for “cheerful bringer of joy.”
77. Thalia – Greek muse of comedy; means “to flourish.”
78. Thea – Greek for “goddess.”
79. Tilly – Short for Matilda, meaning “mighty in battle.”
80. Tippi – Refers to Tippi Turtle, an SNL character.
81. Tricia – Latin for “noble.”
82. Umi – Japanese for “ocean.”
83. Vanessa – Associated with butterflies and the goddess Venus.
84. Venus – Roman goddess of love.
85. Verna – Latin for “spring green.”
86. Vivienne – French for “alive” or “lively.”
87. Winifred – Welsh for “blessed peacemaking.”
88. Wren – A small bird, but a cute nature name for a pet.

87 Bizarre Unisex Turtle Names

Want something different? Try these gender-neutral options that cover food, traits, and pop culture.

1. Apple – Sweet, crunchy, and a favorite turtle snack.
2. Avocado – A trendy food name for a bumpy-skinned green pet.
3. Bonsai – A miniature Japanese tree; implies small and slow-growing.
4. Broccoli – A quirky veggie name.
5. Bubbles – Perfect for aquatic turtles who blow air underwater.
6. Camo – Short for camouflage.
7. Creeper – For the quiet crawler in the terrarium.
8. Cruiser – Implies a laid-back, slow drive.
9. Crush – The surfer-dude sea turtle from Finding Nemo.
10. Crwban – The Welsh word for turtle.
11. Dumbletort – A wizardly pun on Dumbledore.
12. Edamame – Soybeans that come in a bright green pod.
13. Esiotrot – “Tortoise” spelled backward; from Roald Dahl’s book.
14. Ewok – The small, forest-dwelling creatures from Star Wars.
15. Ferrari – An ironic name for a slow walker.
16. Flatback – A literal description and a type of Australian sea turtle.
17. Fleetfoot – Another ironic speed name.
18. Flipper – Classic aquatic name, famous for the dolphin but fits turtles too.
19. Freckles – Great for speckled shells or skin.
20. Fudukazi – Zulu word for tortoise.
21. Goji – A sweet red berry.
22. Honeydew – A soft green melon.
23. Jet – For the turtle that “zooms” around the tank.
24. Kai – Hawaiian for “sea,” Japanese for “shell.”
25. Kale – A leafy green superfood.
26. Kermit – The most famous green amphibian.
27. Koopa – The enemy troops from Super Mario Bros.
28. Leggs – For a tortoise with sturdy walking limbs.
29. Mambo – A dance name for a turtle with rhythm.
30. Molasses – Slow, sticky, and sweet.
31. Mossback – An old nickname for snapping turtles with algae on their shells.
32. Muddy – For the reptile that loves digging in the substrate.
33. Natura – Spanish for nature.
34. Nibbles – For the pet that tests everything with their mouth.
35. Nixie – A German water spirit.
36. Nugget – A cute name for a small, golden-brown tortoise.
37. Peekaboo – Describes the head-tucking action perfectly.
38. Pickles – A bumpy, green, sour snack.
39. Pika – Hawaiian for “rock.”
40. Pistachio – A green nut protected by a hard shell.
41. Pokey – A slow-moving character; Gumby’s best friend.
42. Poppy – A red flower; or “Pop” for short.
43. Puddles – A cute water-themed name.
44. Punk – For a turtle with attitude (or a mohawk-shaped shell).
45. Racer – Sarcastic speedster name.
46. Reptar – The T-Rex from Rugrats.
47. Safari – Swahili for “journey.”
48. Scooter – Describes a shuffling walk.
49. Shamrock – A lucky green clover.
50. Shelbow – The turtle drummer from The Little Mermaid.
51. Shellington – A distinguished, upper-class sounding pun.
52. Shellshock – A high-impact name for a cool pet.
53. Slowpoke – The ultimate descriptive name.
54. Snail – Naming an animal after another slow animal is meta-funny.
55. Sonic – The blue hedgehog known for speed.
56. Speedy – The classic ironic choice.
57. Sprout – Great for a tiny hatchling.
58. Squint – For a turtle with beady eyes.
59. Squirt – The playful little sea turtle from Finding Nemo.
60. Stompy – For a heavy-footed tortoise.
61. Stretch – Ironic for a creature with a short neck.
62. Sunny – For the turtle that loves the heat lamp.
63. Swimmer – Literal and effective.
64. Tank – Describes a built-tough creature.
65. Tardy – Because they are never in a rush.
66. Tipsy – Describes a wobbly walk.
67. Tonka – Like the indestructible toy trucks.
68. Tortellini – A delicious pasta pun.
69. Torti – Short for tortoise.
70. Tortura – Latin for “twisting.”
71. Treasure – Because your pet is valuable to you.
72. Truffle – A chocolate treat (often shaped like a turtle).
73. Tua – Maori for “spine” or “back.”
74. Tuck – Short for Tucker; refers to hiding in the shell.
75. Turbo – A racing snail movie reference.
76. Turtleneck – A fashion-forward name.
77. Twix – A candy bar; implies “two” or a pair.
78. Urtle – “Turtle” without the T; unique and weird.
79. Vettel – After Sebastian Vettel, the F1 driver.
80. Viper – A tough snake name for a harmless turtle.
81. Waddles – The cutest walking style.
82. Waterloo – A famous battle; great for history buffs.
83. Wobbles – Similar to Waddles but shakier.
84. Yertle – The king of the pond from Dr. Seuss.
85. Yoda – The wise, green Jedi Master.
86. Zippy – Implies energy and speed.
87. Zoom – For the turtle that thinks he’s a racecar.

FAQs

What Are Famous Turtle Names?

Pop culture is full of famous turtles. The most iconic are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael). Other favorites include Crush and Squirt from Finding Nemo, Franklin from the children’s books, and Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda.

What Is a Cool Name for a Turtle?

Cool names often highlight the turtle’s tough exterior or ironic speed. Names like Tank, Dozer, Spike, or Titan emphasize strength. For a more laid-back vibe, try Marley, Jax, or Kai. Ironic names like Flash, Bolt, or Rocket are also very popular for these slow movers.

What Are Good Tortoise Names?

Since tortoises live on land and grow very old, names that sound ancient or earthy work best. Consider Gaia, Atlas, Sage, or Forest. References to their longevity, such as Century, Methuselah, or Grandpa, are also fitting choices for these wise reptiles.

What Are Funny Names for a Pair of Turtles?

Naming a duo is double the fun. You can go with famous pairings like Mario & Luigi, Thelma & Louise, or Bonnie & Clyde. Weather themes work well too, like Thunder & Lightning. For a funny food twist, try Gin & Tonic, Salt & Pepper, or Mac & Cheese.