The Best and Most Cutest List of 50 Turtle Names

Coming up with a name for any pet isn’t easy, much less for a more exotic animal like a turtle or tortoise. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of the 50 cutest turtle names to help you narrow down your decision. Read on for some of our favorite adorable names for your very own turtle-y awesome pal.

1. Squirtle

As one of the very first “starter” Pokemon, this cute little water-type turtle ‘mon holds a special place in many fans’ hearts.

2. Bubbles

This cute name doesn’t reference any particular turtle in media or real life, but it’s certainly adorably fitting for a wide range of turtle species.

3. Tortuga

This unique, pretty, and cute name actually is the word for “turtle” in Spanish!

4. Bowser

King of the Koopas, this tough turtle doesn’t mess around. Still, many Mario and Nintendo fans find him endearing and even strangely adorable.

5. Speedy

This ironic name is definitely cute, as well as being humorous and silly. But did you know that some sea turtles are actually quite fast?

6. Yertle

This cute turtle’s name is a reference to Dr. Seuss’ famous 1958 children’s book, Yertle the Turtle.

7. Toby

This sweet, bespectacled turtle comes from Disney’s 1973 animated film, Robin Hood.

8. Turtwig

This name also comes from the Pokemon game series. It’s a grass-type starter Pokemon from generation four, released in 2007.

9. Mandara

This female Hindi name can mean “slow-moving” or “calm,” both of which are very fitting for a turtle.

10. Crush

Disney’s Finding Nemo fans will instantly recognize this adorable and super-chill turtle’s name.

11. Squirt

Perhaps even cuter than Crush himself is his son, Squirt, also from the Finding Nemo movies.

12. Scales

Turtles have a uniquely scaly skin, and this rather fun yet straightforward name suits this trait perfectly.

13. Shelldon

More cute, punny turtle names are coming right up! This pun is pretty self-explanatory, making it fitting for a wide range of turtles, as one trait all turtles share is a shell.

14. Michelle/Mishell

For a more feminine spin on the “shell” puns, consider the name Michelle (or Mishell if you want to be even more direct with it).

15. Raphael

We had to include the names of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stars. First, we have Raphael, the strongest and most aggressive of the group, who is often at odds with his brother Leonardo.

16. Donatello

Continuing with the TMNT-themed names, Donatello is up next, who wears a purple mask over his eyes. He wields a staff and is generally the smartest and most gentle of the four main crew.

17. Leonardo

The next TMNT lead character whose name had to make this list is Leonardo. He’s easily identified by his blue mask and dual-wielding katanas.

18. Michelangelo

Finally, we’ve got Michelangelo, or Mikey for short. While he’s the most lively and energetic of the bunch, he’s also seen as the most immature. He wears an orange bandana and wields nunchucks!

18. Saqal

This masculine Arabic name can also mean “slow-moving.” It’s obviously a fitting name for a turtle.

19. Oogway

Also known as Master Oogway, this elderly turtle comes from the Kung-Fu Panda movie series. Full of wisdom and experience, this kung fu master is also rather adorable.

20. Kamemon

From the Digimon series, this cute and helpful little monster looks like a turtle.

21. Franklin

This name is a reference to the Canadian educational children’s TV series Franklin the Turtle, about the titular turtle’s life in a small village called Woodland.

22. Bayou

This word means a small, slow-moving stream. It most likely comes from the native Choctaw word, “bayuk,” which also means “small stream.”

23. Kappa

The kappa is a mysterious turtle-like creature from Japanese folklore. According to legend, they enjoy eating cucumbers and often engage in sumo wrestling with one another. They are often portrayed as dangerous when not properly respected as deities or “kami” in the Shinto religion.

24. Akupara

Also known as the World Turtle in Hindu and Chinese mythology, this god-like being is said to hold the entire planet on its back.

25. Carracosta

We have yet another Pokemon-inspired name with Carracosta, a dual water- and rock-type ‘mon from Generation 5 of the popular series of games.

26. Morla

Morla the Ancient One is an incredibly large, wise turtle from The Neverending Story novel, film, and TV series. Notably, it’s also a name with Latin and Spanish roots that means “gentle” or “soft-spoken.”

27. Gamera

Gamera is a massive turtle-like kaiju creature from the incredible Godzilla film series. The name itself comes from the Japanese word for turtle, “kame,” and the suffix “-ra,” which is used for various other kaiju, such as Gozilla (or, more accurately, Gojira in the original Japanese series).

28. Anana

This African name means “gentle,” a fitting name for many varieties of turtles that tend to have sweet, timid dispositions.

29. Pearl

This name references the turtle character Granny Pearl of the children’s series Pajanimals. It’s also a rather cute name for a pet turtle.

30. Haleema

This cute and pretty Arabic name also can mean “gentle” or “patient.” Both of these traits are quite commonly seen in all kinds of turtle species.

31. Shellby

We didn’t forget to add more cute and punny names to this list! It’s another shell pun, this time with a feminine twist.

32. Myrtle

The name Myrtle is unique for several reasons. First, it’s an obvious punny name, but it’s also a reference to a children’s book, as well as being the name of a green sea turtle at the New England Aquarium. The real-life Myrtle is estimated to weigh close to 550 pounds and is between 70 and 90 years old!

33. Scooter

This silly name doesn’t necessarily reference any famous turtles from the media or real life, but it’s a fun and cute name that suits the way turtles scoot about on land and in water.

34. Lenny Turtletaub

This name is a fun reference to the character Lenny Turtletaub of the hit animated series Bojack Horseman.

35. Bert

This name is cute for a turtle by itself without context, but it has some added meaning if you dig a little deeper. Interestingly, it’s also a reference to the 1951 “Duck and Cover” animation detailing how to react to a nuclear attack.

36. Cecil

This clever Looney Tunes turtle character is something of a rival to the famous Bugs Bunny. He’s also quite adorable!

37. Tank

This fun name is great for a wide variety of turtles with thick, strong, tank-like shells that act sort of like armor. It can also be a reference to the Georgia Aquarium’s resident green sea turtle, which is also named Tank!

38. Malu

This Hawaiian name means “peaceful,” a fitting name for a turtle indeed.

39. Lakitu

The adorable goggles-wearing turtle riding around on an equally cute cloud is actually a rather pesky baddie from the Mario video game series. Still, it’s a cute name for a pet turtle.

40. Tortimer

In the Animal Crossing series of Nintendo life simulator games, the mayor, Tortimer, is always a friendly, helpful presence. Despite his advanced age, he’s also incredibly cute and endearing.

41. George

This name actually references a real-life turtle! It’s an homage to Lonesome George, a male Pinta Island tortoise that famously was estimated to be over 100 years old when he passed away in 2012.

42. Koopa

From the Mario series of Nintendo video games, the Koopas are a species of turtle-like creatures that, while very cute, seem to always be in Mario’s way.

43. Filburt

If you’re a fan of the animated TV series Rocko’s Modern Life, this name should be quite familiar to you. It’s the name of one of Rocko’s best pals, a very anxious and timid yet kind turtle.

44. Jonathan

This name is a fun tribute and reference to the current oldest living turtle on the planet. He’s a Seychelles giant tortoise that, as of 2024, is about 191 years old.

45. Lulu

This cute Hawaiian name can mean “calm,” “peaceful,” and “protected.”

46. Tiptup

This adorable little turtle hails from the Banjo-Kazooie and Diddy Kong Racing Nintendo games.

47. Snappy

If you own a snapping turtle or perhaps any species of turtle that can’t quite keep their beak to themselves, this fun name might be fitting.

48. Archie

In the Land Before Time movies, Archie is an Archelon turtle who helps guide Littlefoot and his friends through a series of caves in the fourth movie in the series.

49. Super-Turtle

This name is a lot of fun without any context. However, Super-Turtle is an actual DC Comics character, created by cartoonist Henry Boltinoff to be a lighthearted parody of the Superman comics.

50. Turbo

We’ll cap off our list with another rather ironic and silly name that, while it isn’t a reference to any media in particular, is both alliterative and a lot of fun to say out loud.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Shutthiphong Chandaeng/iStock via Getty Images