Names · Mice

Pet mouse names: ideas for every personality

Checked against RSPCA: Mice company, RSPCA Australia: Are mice the right companion animals for me?, National Mouse Club: Breed standards and 5 more on

The best pet mouse names are short, soft and easy to call: one or two syllables such as Pip, Nibbles, Mochi or Pepper. Below are over 200 ideas in groups: tiny names, food names, colour names, storybook mice, nature names, names for girls and boys, and matching sets for pairs and trios, plus tips for telling a group apart.

How to choose a name for your pet mouse

A mouse name gets said quietly, often at night, to an animal that startles easily. Short names with soft sounds work best. Mice also come in groups: the RSPCA says not to keep a mouse alone unless a vet advises it, and the Oxfordshire rescue Crittery recommends at least three does together. So you are usually choosing a set, not a single name.

  1. Check the sex. The National Mouse Club explains that a male's anus and genitals sit further apart than a female's, and does have ten nipples. Ask the rescue or breeder to confirm before you settle on names.
  2. Watch for a few days. New mice need a day or two to settle before handling. Use that time to see who is bold, who is a climber and who hides in the nest.
  3. Match names to looks. In a group of similar mice, a name tied to colour or markings, such as Patch for a broken-marked doe, helps the whole household tell them apart.
  4. Say them out loud together. Pip, Kit and Bit are cute on paper but blur together when you call them. Pick names that start with different sounds.
  5. Plan for a growing group. A theme with room for more, such as spices or berries, makes it easy to name a newcomer later.

Once your mice have names, our guide to taming and handling a pet mouse shows how to get them coming to you.

Tiny names for tiny mice

A pet mouse weighs about 20 to 40 g (0.7 to 1.4 oz), about the same as a slice of bread, so small names suit them. These are short, light and easy to whisper.

  • Pip
  • Dot
  • Speck
  • Button
  • Pebble
  • Bean
  • Tiny
  • Squeak
  • Peep
  • Nib
  • Mini
  • Thimble
  • Teacup
  • Bitsy
  • Smidge
  • Wee
  • Pipsqueak
  • Twiglet
  • Acorn
  • Crumb
  • Sprout
  • Dinky
  • Pocket
  • Titch

Food names for pet mice

Food names are the most popular kind for small pets, and they are fun to theme. Just remember a name is not a menu: some of these, such as chocolate and cheese, are not good for mice. Our safe food list for mice says what is.

  • Peanut
  • Biscuit
  • Cookie
  • Muffin
  • Crumpet
  • Nutmeg
  • Pepper
  • Ginger
  • Cinnamon
  • Toffee
  • Fudge
  • Mochi
  • Dumpling
  • Noodle
  • Waffle
  • Pancake
  • Custard
  • Treacle
  • Marmite
  • Crouton
  • Pretzel
  • Bagel
  • Sesame
  • Poppy Seed
  • Hazel
  • Cashew
  • Pistachio
  • Clementine
  • Blueberry
  • Raisin
  • Bramble
  • Brie
  • Gouda
  • Cheddar
  • Halloumi

Names by colour and markings

Fancy mice come in dozens of colours. The National Mouse Club's self colours include black, blue, champagne, chocolate, cream, dove, fawn, lilac, red, silver and white, and Crittery describes patterns from Dutch and broken to Himalayan. A colour name is the quickest way to tell a group apart. See our guide to mouse breeds and colours to work out what your mice are.

  • Snowdrop
  • Pearl
  • Ghost
  • Marshmallow
  • Coconut
  • Sugar
  • Frost
  • Casper
  • Meringue
  • Moonbeam
  • Ivory
  • Custard Cream
  • Blizzard
  • Lily
  • Ink
  • Shadow
  • Liquorice
  • Midnight
  • Raven
  • Soot
  • Onyx
  • Pepper
  • Espresso
  • Jet
  • Inky
  • Nightshade
  • Hazelnut
  • Caramel
  • Butterscotch
  • Honey
  • Mocha
  • Chestnut
  • Biscuit
  • Russet
  • Toffee
  • Amber
  • Maple
  • Sandy
  • Conker
  • Smoky
  • Dove
  • Slate
  • Pewter
  • Misty
  • Storm
  • Earl Grey
  • Silver
  • Ash
  • Flint
  • Lavender
  • Lilac
  • Patch
  • Domino
  • Freckles
  • Dotty
  • Oreo
  • Panda
  • Pinto
  • Splodge
  • Speckle
  • Socks
  • Bandit
  • Magpie
  • Jigsaw

Storybook and famous mouse names

Mice have starred in books and films for well over a century. We're a little proud of the Lake District link here: Beatrix Potter, who lived and wrote in the Lakes, gave the world several of the best-loved mice of all.

  • Mrs Tittlemouse
  • Hunca Munca
  • Tom Thumb
  • Timmy Willie
  • Johnny Town-Mouse
  • Stuart Little
  • Despereaux
  • Reepicheep
  • Fievel
  • Basil
  • Bernard
  • Bianca
  • Gus
  • Jaq
  • Angelina
  • Maisy
  • Jerry
  • Roquefort
  • Matthias
  • Primrose
  • Wilfred
  • Poppy Eyebright
  • Dusty Dogwood
  • Mrs Frisby
  • Danger Mouse
  • Minnie
  • Mickey
  • Speedy

Nature names

Wild mice live among hedgerows, tall grass and woodland edges, which makes for soft, earthy names. These suit calm mice and big themed groups.

  • Fern
  • Moss
  • Heather
  • Thistle
  • Clover
  • Willow
  • Hazel
  • Rowan
  • Bracken
  • Juniper
  • Sorrel
  • Bluebell
  • Primrose
  • Daisy
  • Meadow
  • Wren
  • Robin
  • Sparrow
  • Pebble
  • Brook
  • Tarn
  • Skye
  • Birch
  • Barley

Names for girl mice

Does are often the busiest climbers in the cage, and Crittery describes them as quicker and more active than bucks. These names have a bit of spark.

  • Mabel
  • Daisy
  • Rosie
  • Tilly
  • Millie
  • Lottie
  • Poppy
  • Matilda
  • Clementine
  • Florence
  • Winnie
  • Peggy
  • Pippa
  • Hattie
  • Ivy
  • Luna
  • Nell
  • Dolly
  • Edie
  • Minnie
  • Agatha
  • Beatrix

Names for boy mice

Bucks tend to be calmer in the hand, according to Crittery, and many owners find them the more cuddly of the two. These names suit a laid-back gent.

  • Archie
  • Alfie
  • Monty
  • Percy
  • Reggie
  • Stanley
  • Bertie
  • Ziggy
  • Otis
  • Hugo
  • Fred
  • Albert
  • Gus
  • Basil
  • Rupert
  • Winston
  • Ernie
  • Clyde
  • Barnaby
  • Louis

Deciding between does and bucks? Our guide to male or female mice explains how each sex lives in groups.

Personality and funny mouse names

Wait a week and one mouse will be the explorer, one the escape artist and one the snoozer in the nest. These names fit what they do.

  • Houdini
  • Zoom
  • Turbo
  • Nibbles
  • Scamper
  • Whiskers
  • Snooze
  • Dozy
  • Captain
  • Boss
  • Bandit
  • Rascal
  • Mischief
  • Sneaky
  • Wiggles
  • Ziggy
  • Professor
  • Duchess
  • Sir Squeaks
  • Mouse Almighty
  • Lord Nibbleton
  • Cheesecake

Name sets for pairs and trios

A matching set is the neatest way to name a group, and it leaves room to add a newcomer later if your group needs topping up.

  • Salt and Pepper
  • Bubble and Squeak
  • Pip, Squeak and Wilfred
  • Snap, Crackle and Pop
  • Tea, Toast and Jam
  • Fish, Chips and Peas
  • Sugar, Spice and Nutmeg
  • Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry
  • Earl Grey, Darjeeling and Assam
  • Brie, Gouda and Stilton
  • Pebble, Shell and Sand
  • Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe
  • Larch, Birch and Rowan
  • Huey, Dewey and Louie
  • Bernard and Bianca
  • Hunca Munca and Tom Thumb
  • Timmy Willie and Johnny
  • Mochi, Bao and Dumpling

How to tell your mice apart

Several mice of the same colour can be hard to tell apart in a busy cage. Look for small differences: a nick in an ear, a slightly longer tail, a tail with a white tip, or a bigger body. The MSD Veterinary Manual says males are usually larger than females, and within a group of does there is often one clear "big sister". Weighing each mouse weekly, which is a good health habit anyway, also helps you match names to bodies. Write a short description of each mouse on a card by the cage until everyone in the house knows who is who.

Take a clear photo of each mouse from above on the day you name them. Markings on broken and variegated mice are as individual as fingerprints, and the photos settle any argument about who is who.

Ready to set up a home for your newly named group? Start with our full pet mouse care guide, and read our pet mouse facts for more about what makes them tick.

Pet mouse name questions

What should I name my pet mouse?

Pick something short and easy to say softly, ideally one or two syllables, and wait a few days to see each mouse's character before you decide. Colour and markings are a good starting point when you have a group, because a name that matches the coat helps everyone in the house tell the mice apart.

Do mice learn their names?

There is no good evidence that mice understand names the way dogs do. RSPCA Australia describes mice as quick learners with excellent memories, and many learn that a particular sound means food is coming. Say a mouse's name, then offer a treat, and over time it may come to you when it hears that sound.

How many mice should I be naming?

At least two, and ideally three or more. The RSPCA says not to keep a mouse alone unless a vet advises it, and Crittery recommends a minimum of three does. A trio also means that when one dies, the others still have company. That is why sets of three names are so handy.

How can I tell if my mouse is a boy or a girl before naming it?

Look at the gap under the tail. The National Mouse Club explains that a male's anus and genitals sit further apart, while a female's look almost joined. Does have ten nipples, easiest to see in young mice, and males show testicles from about four weeks. Ask the rescue or breeder to confirm.

What are good names for white mice?

Try Snowdrop, Pearl, Ghost, Marshmallow, Coconut, Sugar, Frost, Blizzard, Casper, Meringue, Lily, Moonbeam or Dumpling. White is one of the standard self colours of fancy mouse, so you may well end up with several white mice. If so, a themed set such as Salt, Sugar and Flour helps you tell them apart by name.

What are famous mouse names?

Classic storybook and film mice include Stuart Little, Despereaux, Reepicheep, Fievel, Basil, Gus and Jaq, Bernard and Bianca, Angelina, Maisy, Jerry, Danger Mouse and Roquefort. Beatrix Potter, who lived and wrote in the Lake District, gave us Mrs Tittlemouse, Hunca Munca, Tom Thumb, Timmy Willie and Johnny Town-Mouse.

Sources

Read next

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