100 Names for Turtles and Tortoises!

Reviewed and approved by the biologist Samuel Sanchez

Written by Maria Jose Restrepo Gallardo

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Turtles are calm animals that, even though they’re famous as pets, don’t usually have great interaction with humans due to their particular way of life. Even though you don’t interact too much with a turtle as a pet, it would be a great idea to choose a name for it. To help you do this, here are 100 names for turtles and tortoises.

Characteristics of turtles

These animals are reptiles recognized for having a shell that’s welded to their spinal column and is made up of two regions: the back, which is the upper or dorsal part, and the plastron, the lower or ventral section.

In addition, it should be noted that the shell varies in its structure, shape, and color according to the species, but it always fulfills the function of protecting the internal organs of the reptile.

On the other hand, turtles have a metabolic activity that depends on the external or environmental temperature due to their ectothermic condition, so they’re not usually very fast or active at any time of the day. Although they don’t have any teeth, they do have a horny beak that covers their jaw and turns out to be similar to a bird’s beak.

Notes about looking after turtles and tortoises

There are terrestrial, aquatic, marine, and semi-aquatic turtles. Most of those that can be adopted today are the terrestrial or semi-aquatic freshwater types, the most famous being the red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta ), the Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca) and the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii).

Sometimes these reptiles are adopted by inexperienced owners believing that they will stay the same size, but the reality is that almost all species of tortoises grow to over a foot in length and even much more in the case of terrestrial ones. They need very large areas to live in, and a long-term commitment, as some live up to 100 years.

The possession of some species of turtles is illegal due to its invasive potential. Be careful before getting one.

How to choose the correct name for a turtle?

Naming a turtle is a personal decision and any nickname is valid. Although there are no rules to follow when choosing what to call your reptile, if you choose a nickname whose phonetics are clear, you could achieve a certain reaction in the turtle. The animal might be able to recognize its name, if you spend time, patience, and treats trying to do so.

The names for turtles may depend on their gender, but this isn’t the only aspect to take into account when thinking of a possible name. Where they live, for example, can also determine what to call a turtle. We’ll help you make a decision with some examples broken down into categories!

Names for male turtles

Recognizing whether your pet is male or female could make it easier to choose a name for it. Unfortunately, to determine with certainty the sex of a turtle, you’ll ideally need to wait until it’s between 3 and 5 years old. If you’re sure you have a male tortoise, the names listed below may be good options:

• Abulio
• Agapito
• Bertus
• Boggy
• Cecilio
• Cheek
• Chimo
• Durango
• Elmer
• Egbert
• Filbert
• Fred
• Gus
• Honor
• Hunter
• Joey
• Kikiriki
• Lucky
• Mailo
• Milo
• Nicanor
• Puck
• Terri
• Taz
• Yo-yo

Name ideas for female turtles

Female tortoises tend to have longer shells than males, but the claws on their front legs tend to be shorter. With the above, if you can identify that your turtle is female, the following names are excellent options.

• Andrina
• Bonnie
• Pretty
• Spark
• Clancy
• Dory
• Star
• Gretta
• Iggy
• Izzy
• Jenna
• Kristal
• Lilly
• Lina
• Linnette
• Micah
• Misty
• Niceta
• Navi
• Opa
• Pat
• Rainbow
• Sandy
• Siloam
• Titania

Names for turtles: unisex

On the other hand, not recognizing the sex of your turtle doesn’t have to stop you from choosing a name, as there are several unisex nicknames that can work for both sexes. If you aren’t sure of your turtle’s sex then here are some good options:

• Bamblin
• Dynamite
• Tutti
• Humps
• Lumpur
• Zacari
• Ink
• Blue
• Surf
• Mufasa
• Peanut
• Milk
• Tortoiseshell
• Beats
• Poe
• Flash
• Jet
• Crush
• Monet
• Yaga
• Twine
• Turtle
• Darly
• Feng
• Pipe

Names for tortoises

On the other hand, if the turtle is a land turtle i.e. a tortoise, you can choose a nickname that’s related to that element. If you want to add a bit of accessory originality to your pet, these names can help you:

• Sandy
• Bonsai
• Earth
• Flower
• Gaia
• Herbie
• Browny
• Natura
• Root
• Terra
• Volcano

Names for water turtles

Similarly, with a water turtle, you can choose a name that’s related to aquatic life. For example, the following nicknames are possible options:

• Costa
• Hawaii
• Sailor
• Castaway
• Wavy
• Surf
• Treasure
• Titanic
• Turquoise

In general, choosing a name for your turtle doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Although the options are many, you can start by determining if you want the nickname of this animal to be related to its sex, habitat, size or type. In this way, it’ll be easier for you to rule out some of them and get closer and closer to the name you want.

Although these pets – which require access to protected, safe indoor and outdoor facilities – don’t have great interaction with humans, giving them a name can actually help you get close to them. Whether it’s humanization or understanding, we always seem to value more what we have named.

In addition, naming our turtles and tortoises is also a way of showing that they’re part of a home that looks after them and respects them. Keep in mind that these reptiles require very specific environmental parameters and that they’re very long living – so be responsible before getting one.