Names · Hamsters

Hamster names: ideas for every personality

Checked against National Hamster Council: Syrian hamster, National Hamster Council: Winter white hamster, Wood Green: Introduction to hamsters and 1 more on

Good hamster names are short, soft and easy to say quietly: one or two syllables, like Peanut, Mochi, Biscuit, Pip or Hazel. Food names are the classic choice for an animal that spends its nights stuffing its cheeks. Below are over 250 ideas in themed lists, from cute and funny to female, male, colour-based and unique, with tips on choosing.

How to choose a hamster name

A name you will say softly every evening matters more than a clever one. Hamsters are nocturnal, so most of your chats happen at night in a quiet room, and a gentle name fits that. A few tips:

  • Keep it to one or two syllables, with a longer version for fun
  • Pick a name that sounds different from other pets and people in the house
  • Check the sex before you pick a girl or boy name, as young hamsters can be hard to sex
  • Watch your hamster for a day or two: its colour, size and habits often give you the name
  • Say it out loud a few times, quietly, as you would at the cage

Wood Green advises leaving a new hamster alone for a day or two to settle in, which is a perfect window to watch and decide. Then use the name every time you offer a treat. The RSPCA says hamsters learn quickly and can be trained to come when food appears, and our guide on how to tame a hamster shows how to build that routine.

Cute hamster names

Small, round names for small, round animals. These work for any species and either sex.

  • Bean
  • Button
  • Pip
  • Mochi
  • Muffin
  • Dumpling
  • Pebble
  • Sprout
  • Bubbles
  • Pom Pom
  • Teddy
  • Fluffy
  • Snuggles
  • Cuddles
  • Nibbles
  • Squeak
  • Tiny
  • Bitsy
  • Dot
  • Puff
  • Boo
  • Twinkle
  • Wiggles
  • Fuzzy

Food names for hamsters

The name hamster comes from the German hamstern, "to hoard", the RSPCA notes, and a Syrian can carry up to half its body weight in food in its cheeks. A snack name is almost compulsory.

  • Peanut
  • Biscuit
  • Nugget
  • Cookie
  • Waffle
  • Pancake
  • Crumpet
  • Muffin
  • Toffee
  • Fudge
  • Mocha
  • Latte
  • Cashew
  • Hazelnut
  • Almond
  • Pistachio
  • Popcorn
  • Pretzel
  • Noodle
  • Tofu
  • Sushi
  • Wasabi
  • Bagel
  • Scone
  • Custard
  • Butterscotch
  • Marshmallow
  • Brownie
  • Oreo
  • Sesame
  • Sunflower
  • Pumpkin
  • Turnip
  • Sprout
  • Bramble
  • Crouton

A food name is fun, but not a feeding guide. Some of these, like popcorn or toffee, should never go in a hamster's bowl. Our list of what hamsters can eat has the safe foods.

Female hamster names

Pretty, old-fashioned and sweet names for a doe, as female hamsters are called. Wood Green notes female Syrians tend to be the more energetic, so a lively name may suit.

  • Hazel
  • Daisy
  • Poppy
  • Rosie
  • Lulu
  • Coco
  • Bella
  • Willow
  • Maple
  • Ivy
  • Clover
  • Penny
  • Matilda
  • Mabel
  • Winnie
  • Dolly
  • Peggy
  • Nellie
  • Tilly
  • Elsie
  • Florence
  • Primrose
  • Bluebell
  • Pearl
  • Luna
  • Stella
  • Ruby
  • Pixie
  • Fifi
  • Gigi
  • Duchess
  • Queenie

Male hamster names

Names for a buck, from cheerful to grand.

  • Alfie
  • Archie
  • Teddy
  • Ollie
  • Milo
  • Otis
  • Ziggy
  • Rocky
  • Bruno
  • Bertie
  • Monty
  • Percy
  • Stanley
  • Frank
  • Hector
  • Reggie
  • Gus
  • Hugo
  • Barney
  • Winston
  • Gizmo
  • Chester
  • Rufus
  • Basil
  • Ernie
  • Fred
  • Toby
  • Jasper
  • Leo
  • Max

Funny hamster names

The bigger the name, the funnier it is on a tiny animal. Puns and pompous titles both work.

  • Sir Nibbles
  • Lord Fluffington
  • Professor Pouches
  • Captain Cheeks
  • Hoover
  • Ham Solo
  • Hamlet
  • Hammy Davis Jr
  • Hamtaro
  • Chewbacca
  • Genghis
  • Napoleon
  • Attila
  • Brian
  • Kevin
  • Gary
  • Nigel
  • Derek
  • Steve
  • Doris
  • Brenda
  • Mr Snuffles
  • Count Squeakula
  • Meatball
  • Chonk
  • Pouch Potato
  • Chief Hoarder
  • Bonkers
  • Rambo
  • Tiny Tim

Grey hamster names

For winter whites in their normal shaded grey, sapphire dwarfs (which the National Hamster Council describes as smoky blue-grey) and silver grey Syrians.

  • Smoky
  • Ash
  • Pebble
  • Slate
  • Misty
  • Storm
  • Pewter
  • Silver
  • Dusty
  • Cloud
  • Shadow
  • Flint
  • Sapphire
  • Gandalf
  • Earl Grey
  • Fog
  • Mouse
  • Cinder
  • Graphite
  • Granite

Golden and ginger hamster names

For the classic golden Syrian, which the Council describes as golden brown ticked with black, and for cinnamon, sable and Roborovski sandy gold.

  • Ginger
  • Honey
  • Goldie
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Caramel
  • Amber
  • Sunny
  • Marmalade
  • Apricot
  • Saffron
  • Rusty
  • Copper
  • Sandy
  • Biscuit
  • Butterbean
  • Mango
  • Tiger
  • Simba
  • Sahara

White, cream and black hamster names

For white, cream and pearl hamsters, and for black Syrians and dark dwarfs.

  • Snowy
  • Pearl
  • Frost
  • Blizzard
  • Snowdrop
  • Coconut
  • Vanilla
  • Cream
  • Marshmallow
  • Ghost
  • Casper
  • Polar
  • Ivory
  • Dumpling
  • Meringue
  • Pepper
  • Liquorice
  • Midnight
  • Jet
  • Onyx
  • Raven
  • Inky
  • Sooty
  • Coal
  • Shadow
  • Panther
  • Domino

Names for tiny dwarf hamsters

Roborovskis are only about 4.5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long, the National Hamster Council says, and they never stop moving. Speedy, tiny names suit them.

  • Zippy
  • Dash
  • Bolt
  • Flash
  • Zoom
  • Rocket
  • Sonic
  • Turbo
  • Speedy
  • Pipsqueak
  • Peanut
  • Crumb
  • Jellybean
  • Tic Tac
  • Atom
  • Pixel
  • Sprinkle
  • Smidge
  • Tinkerbell
  • Nano

Unique hamster names

Names you are unlikely to hear in the vet's waiting room, from myth, nature and further afield.

  • Bartholomew
  • Ptolemy
  • Juniper
  • Wren
  • Thistle
  • Fennel
  • Bramwell
  • Ziggy Stardust
  • Orion
  • Nimbus
  • Calypso
  • Odin
  • Freya
  • Loki
  • Persephone
  • Kiwi
  • Yuzu
  • Kimchi
  • Miso
  • Pesto
  • Quinoa
  • Gnocchi
  • Rumi
  • Basho
  • Elvis

Hamster nicknames

Every hamster ends up with a nickname or three, usually from its habits.

  • Hammy
  • Ham Ham
  • Cheeks
  • Pouches
  • Little Bean
  • Fluffball
  • Tiny Boss
  • Wheelie
  • Snoozer
  • Nibbler
  • Squeaker
  • Chubs
  • Potato
  • Fuzzbutt
  • Busy Bee

The names you hear again and again, for good reason: they are short, warm and suit almost any hamster.

  • Peanut
  • Hammy
  • Teddy
  • Nugget
  • Biscuit
  • Coco
  • Oreo
  • Cookie
  • Ginger
  • Daisy
  • Bella
  • Milo
  • Oscar
  • Charlie
  • Lola

Names to match your hamster's personality

Every hamster has its own character, Wood Green says, so the best name often turns up after a week together. A few pointers:

If your hamster is Try
Bold and nosy Scout, Nosy, Columbus, Indiana
Shy and gentle Whisper, Mouse, Bashful, Willow
A big eater Hoover, Chonk, Gobble, Pouches
A wheel fanatic Turbo, Marathon, Bolt, Rocket
A champion digger Digby, Burrow, Tunnel, Moley
A sleepyhead Snooze, Dozy, Pillow, Dreamer

For more on what your hamster's habits mean, see our guide to hamster behaviour and body language, and for ways to keep a busy one happy, our hamster enrichment guide.

Hamster names: questions

What are good hamster names?

Short, soft names of one or two syllables work best, because you will say them quietly and often. Food names are a favourite, since hamsters spend their nights stuffing their cheeks: Peanut, Biscuit, Nugget, Mochi and Pip are classics. Colour names such as Ginger, Smoky or Pearl suit a hamster you have already met.

What is a funny name for a hamster?

Funny names usually play on the hamster's size or habits. A big, grand name on a tiny animal always works: Sir Nibbles, Lord Fluffington or Duchess. So do names about stuffing cheeks, such as Hoover, Pouches or Cheeky. Ham Solo and Hamlet are popular puns.

What are some nicknames for hamsters?

Most nicknames come from their habits: hammy, nibbles, cheeks, little bean, pouch potato, fluffball, tiny boss, squeak and wheelie. Many owners give a proper name and a nickname, so Peanut becomes Nutty and Bartholomew becomes Barty. Any short, gentle word you say often will stick.

Can a hamster learn its name?

Hamsters respond to sound and routine rather than a name in the way a dog does. The RSPCA says hamsters are intelligent, learn quickly and can be trained to come when food is offered. Say the name softly each evening as you offer a treat, and many learn to come to the front of the cage.

What are cute pet names?

Cute pet names tend to be small, round and soft-sounding: Bean, Button, Pip, Mochi, Muffin, Dumpling, Pebble and Sprout. Names ending in a vowel sound, such as Lulu, Coco or Tofu, sound especially gentle. They suit a dwarf hamster or a fluffy Syrian equally well.

Should I name my hamster before I meet it?

It helps to have a shortlist but wait to choose. You may not know the sex for sure, and the colour and character often suggest a better name. Wood Green advises letting a new hamster settle for a day or two before handling, which is a good time to watch it and decide.

Still choosing your hamster? Our guide to hamster breeds and colours shows every type, our hamster facts page might spark an idea, and our complete hamster care guide covers everything it will need.

Sources

Read next

Hamster care: the complete guide

A hamster needs a cage of at least 100 x 50 cm, 25 cm of bedding, a solid wheel, a measured dry diet with fresh veg, a quiet room and a life alone.

Hamster breeds, types and colours

Five hamster species are kept as pets: Syrian, Campbell's dwarf, winter white dwarf, Roborovski and Chinese. Teddy bear and angora hamsters are long-haired Syrians.

Hamster facts: surprising things about hamsters

Hamsters are named after the German for hoarding, carry up to half their weight in their cheeks, see ultraviolet light and have teeth that never stop growing.

How to tame, handle and bond with a hamster

Let it settle for a few days, then tame in the evening: voice, treats from your hand, letting it climb on, then short, low holds. Most take 1 to 4 weeks.

Hamsters as pets: what to know before you get one

Good pets for adults and older children who are around in the evening: solitary, awake at night, living 1.5 to 3 years, needing a big cage.

Hamster enrichment: toys and boredom busters

Deep bedding to dig in, tunnels and hides, a solid wheel (30 cm for Syrians, 20 cm for dwarfs), a sand bath and scattered food to forage.