Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
How to choose a guinea pig name
A good guinea pig name is one you enjoy saying fifty times a day, because you will. A few things make it easier:
- Wait a few days. Let their personality show first. The shy one hiding under the hay and the one shouting at the fridge rarely want the same name.
- Keep it short. One or two syllables is easiest to call. Long names usually end up shortened anyway, so Sir Reginald Fluffington becomes Reggie in a week.
- Make pair names sound different. Bean and Jean will both turn round. Bean and Clover won't.
- Check the sex before you commit. The RSPCA says sexing guinea pigs is hard when they are young and that even pet shops and breeders get it wrong. If in doubt, pick a name that works either way.
- Say it out loud. Try calling it across the room in your "veg is coming" voice. If it makes you smile, it is the one.
Food names for guinea pigs
Guinea pigs are strict plant-eaters who spend much of their waking life chewing, so naming one after a snack feels right. These are the classics.
- Biscuit
- Nugget
- Muffin
- Cookie
- Crumpet
- Pancake
- Waffle
- Toffee
- Fudge
- Brownie
- Cupcake
- Custard
- Treacle
- Marmite
- Butterscotch
- Caramel
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Honey
- Peanut
- Hazel
- Pretzel
- Dumpling
- Noodle
- Teacake
- Scone
- Mochi
- Bagel
- Tofu
Most of these are human foods, not guinea pig foods, so enjoy the names and keep the real biscuits for yourself. Our list of what guinea pigs can eat has the safe ones.
Fruit, veg and herb names
These have a bonus: plenty of them are things your guinea pig will actually eat.
- Pickle
- Pepper
- Parsley
- Basil
- Clover
- Dandelion
- Coriander
- Sprout
- Kale
- Radish
- Turnip
- Parsnip
- Courgette
- Zucchini
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Rocket
- Bean
- Pea
- Sweetpea
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Pumpkin
- Squash
- Plum
- Apricot
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Clementine
- Blueberry
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Bramble
- Olive
Naming one Pepper is the kind of thing you can feel good about: bell peppers are one of the vegetables the RSPCA lists for guinea pigs to eat often, and they are packed with the vitamin C guinea pigs need every day.
Cute names for guinea pigs
Soft, round names for soft, round animals.
- Button
- Pip
- Poppy
- Daisy
- Bluebell
- Buttercup
- Snowdrop
- Willow
- Hazel
- Pebble
- Bubbles
- Squeak
- Squeaker
- Wiggles
- Fluffy
- Fuzzy
- Pudding
- Sugar
- Dimple
- Puffin
- Bunting
- Wren
- Robin
- Bonnie
- Teddy
- Cuddles
- Pom Pom
- Lulu
- Mimi
- Coco
- Marigold
- Tilly
- Nutkin
- Bramley
- Primrose
- Thistle
- Truffle
- Maisie
- Wilbur
- Percy
Funny names for guinea pigs
For the guinea pig who runs the household, or thinks they do.
- Sir Squeaks a Lot
- Captain Wheek
- Lord Fluffington
- Duchess
- Admiral Nibbles
- Professor Potato
- Doctor Hay
- Chief Chewer
- Hay Solo
- Notorious P.I.G.
- Biggie Smalls
- Sir Munchalot
- Tater Tot
- Hash Brown
- Meatball
- Chunk
- Tank
- Brian
- Gary
- Kevin
- Barbara
- Sandra
- Gordon
- Clive
- Nigel
- Big Dave
- Gravy
- Spud
- Noodles
- Mr Potato
Plain grown-up names like Kevin, Barbara or Clive are funny precisely because guinea pigs take themselves so seriously.
Gender-neutral names for guinea pigs
Useful for young guinea pigs whose sex you are not yet sure of. These all work for a boar or a sow.
- Bean
- Pickle
- Clover
- Maple
- Juniper
- Sage
- Rowan
- Ash
- Robin
- Sky
- River
- Charlie
- Sam
- Alex
- Frankie
- Jo
- Morgan
- Riley
- Pip
- Scout
- Toffee
- Mango
- Nugget
- Bramble
- Pebble
- Acorn
- Moss
- Fern
- Echo
- Kiwi
Colour and coat names
Guinea pigs come in black, tan, cream, brown, white and every mix of them, says the MSD Vet Manual, plus patterns from patches to spots. Let the coat do the naming.
- Snowy
- Snowball
- Blizzard
- Frosty
- Ghost
- Pearl
- Coconut
- Marshmallow
- Sooty
- Smudge
- Inky
- Shadow
- Midnight
- Liquorice
- Espresso
- Mocha
- Cocoa
- Hazelnut
- Rusty
- Copper
- Amber
- Ginger
- Biscuit
- Oreo
- Patch
- Patches
- Domino
- Freckles
- Dotty
- Calico
- Tiger
- Mosaic
Curly, rosetted and long-haired guinea pigs suit names like Fuzz, Mop, Tufty and Ziggy. Our guide to guinea pig breeds and colours shows the coat types.
- Fuzz
- Mop
- Tufty
- Ziggy
- Swirl
- Curly
- Shaggy
- Wispy
- Bedhead
- Elvis
- Dolly
- Mozart
Names for pairs and groups
The RSPCA says guinea pigs should live with at least one other friendly guinea pig, so most owners need two names at once. Matching sets are half the fun.
- Salt and Pepper
- Bubble and Squeak
- Fish and Chips
- Tea and Biscuit
- Cheese and Pickle
- Strawberries and Cream
- Peaches and Cream
- Bangers and Mash
- Pip and Squeak
- Cookie and Cream
- Sweet and Sour
- Mac and Cheese
- Toast and Jam
- Ant and Dec
- Wallace and Gromit
- Bert and Ernie
- Laurel and Hardy
- Thelma and Louise
- Holmes and Watson
- Mario and Luigi
- Sun and Moon
- Salt and Vinegar
- Rhubarb and Custard
- Jelly and Ice Cream
- Pudding and Pie
For a trio, try Snap, Crackle and Pop, or Huey, Dewey and Louie. Read our guide to guinea pig pairs and groups before you choose who lives with whom.
- Snap, Crackle and Pop
- Huey, Dewey and Louie
- Larry, Curly and Moe
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Hay, Veg and Pellets
Names inspired by what guinea pigs do
Guinea pigs leap and twist in the air when they are happy (owners call it popcorning, says the MSD Vet Manual), and they squeak, chirp and rumble all day. Plenty of names write themselves.
- Popcorn
- Zoomer
- Zippy
- Dash
- Bounce
- Jumper
- Wheeky
- Chirp
- Chatter
- Rumble
- Purr
- Nibbles
- Muncher
- Chomper
- Snuffles
- Sniffy
- Dozy
- Snooze
- Rustle
- Burrow
If you want to know what each squeak and rumble means, our guide to guinea pig sounds explains them.
What are other names for guinea pigs?
The other common name is cavy, from the guinea pig's scientific name, Cavia porcellus, and it is the word breeders and show clubs use. Adult males are boars, adult females are sows, and the babies are pups. Purdue's vet hospital points out that guinea pigs are neither from Guinea nor pigs; one popular story is that British sailors sold them in the 1600s for a guinea, an old English coin. Our guinea pig facts page has more like this.
Guinea pig names: common questions
What is another name for a guinea pig?
Cavy. It comes from the guinea pig's scientific name, Cavia porcellus, and it is the word breeders and show clubs use. Males are called boars, females sows, and babies pups. The name guinea pig is a puzzle: Purdue's vet hospital notes they are not from Guinea and are not pigs at all.
What is a good name for a guinea pig?
A short name of one or two syllables, easy to say in a sing-song voice, tends to work best. Food names are a favourite because guinea pigs spend so much of their day eating. Wait a few days to see their personality first: a bold, noisy guinea pig might suit Biscuit Boss better than Bluebell.
Can guinea pigs learn their names?
Many seem to. Guinea pigs have good hearing, says VCA, and they are quick to link sounds with food, which is why so many wheek at the fridge door. Say their name in the same tone each time you bring veg, and many will start to respond to it, or at least to you.
Should I choose a gender-neutral name for a guinea pig?
It is a good idea for young guinea pigs. The RSPCA says sexing guinea pigs is hard, especially when they are young, and that even pet shops and breeders get it wrong. A name like Pickle or Clover still fits if Princess turns out to be a boy, which happens more often than you'd think.
What should I name two guinea pigs?
Matching pairs are popular: food pairs like Salt and Pepper, story pairs like Bubble and Squeak, or names that share a first letter. Give each a name that sounds different, so they can tell which one you are calling. Guinea pigs should live in pairs or groups, so you will probably need two names at once.
