Fox Names
Foxes turn up in folklore all over the world as tricksters, shapeshifters and clever survivors, which makes them a favorite for characters in stories, games and roleplay. This list of more than 90 fox names covers famous fictional foxes, names that actually mean “fox” in other languages, names for red, arctic and fennec foxes, and mythological names from Japanese kitsune to Reynard the Fox.
Naming a fox-colored dog or a ginger cat? Many of these work beautifully for pets too; see our names for orange cats. For more wild-animal inspiration, browse our wolf names and bear names.
Famous foxes from books, film and games
From medieval fables to Disney and video games, these foxes are instantly recognizable.
| Name | Where it’s from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reynard | Medieval European fables | The original trickster fox |
| Mr. Fox | Roald Dahl’s <em>Fantastic Mr. Fox</em> | Voiced by George Clooney in the 2009 film |
| Felicity | <em>Fantastic Mr. Fox</em> (2009) | Mrs. Fox |
| Ash | <em>Fantastic Mr. Fox</em> (2009) | The Foxes’ son |
| Kristofferson | <em>Fantastic Mr. Fox</em> (2009) | Ash’s gifted cousin |
| Nick | Nick Wilde in <em>Zootopia</em> (2016) | Smooth-talking con fox |
| Tod | <em>The Fox and the Hound</em> (1981) | Copper’s best friend |
| Vixey | <em>The Fox and the Hound</em> | Tod’s love interest |
| Robin | Disney’s <em>Robin Hood</em> (1973) | The outlaw as a fox |
| Marian | Disney’s <em>Robin Hood</em> | Maid Marian, a vixen |
| Tails | Sega’s <em>Sonic the Hedgehog</em> | Two-tailed flying fox |
| Fox McCloud | Nintendo’s <em>Star Fox</em> | Ace pilot |
| Swiper | <em>Dora the Explorer</em> | “Swiper, no swiping!” |
| Basil | Basil Brush, British puppet fox | Gentleman fox |
| Mr. Tod | Beatrix Potter’s <em>The Tale of Mr. Tod</em> | Potter’s sly fox |
| Foxy | <em>Five Nights at Freddy’s</em> | Pirate animatronic fox |
| Ahri | <em>League of Legends</em> | Nine-tailed fox champion |
| Vulpix | Pokémon | Six-tailed fire fox |
| Eevee | Pokémon | Fox-like evolution Pokémon |
| The Fox | <em>The Little Prince</em> | “Tame me,” he tells the prince |
Names that mean fox
Every one of these names genuinely means fox, or comes straight from a word for fox.
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Todd | English | From Middle English tod, “fox” |
| Renard | French | “Fox”; from Reynard, the fable fox whose name replaced the old French word |
| Kitsune | Japanese | “Fox” |
| Kitsu | Japanese | Short, cute form of kitsune |
| Lowrie | Scots | Traditional nickname for a fox (from Lawrence) |
| Lisa | Russian | Lisa (Лиса) means “fox” |
| Lis | Polish | “Fox” |
| Zorro | Spanish | “Fox” |
| Zorra | Spanish | “Female fox, vixen” |
| Raposa | Portuguese | “Fox” |
| Volpe | Italian | “Fox” |
| Fuchs | German | “Fox” |
| Fox | English | The word itself, also a surname |
| Vixen | English | A female fox |
| Sionnach | Irish | “Fox” (SHUN-akh) |
| Madra Rua | Irish | “Red dog,” a traditional name for a fox |
| Llwynog | Welsh | “Fox” (HLOO-in-og) |
| Tulki | Uzbek | “Fox” |
| Tilki | Turkish | “Fox” |
| Rubah | Indonesian/Malay | “Fox” |
| Foxglove | English | A wildflower with “fox” in its name |
Names for red foxes
The red fox is the most widespread carnivore on Earth, found across North America, Europe, Asia and even Australia. Its fiery coat inspires dozens of names. See also red color names.
| Name | Meaning | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Rusty | Rust-colored | Friendly male |
| Ember | A glowing coal | Fiery females |
| Blaze | A bright fire | Bold males |
| Copper | Reddish metal | Classic |
| Ginger | The spice | Playful |
| Scarlet | Bright red | Glamorous females |
| Cinnabar | Red mineral | Rare pick |
| Rowan | Gaelic “little red one” | Unisex |
| Rory | Irish “red king” | Male |
| Flynn | Irish “red-haired” | Male |
| Russell | French “little red one” | Male |
| Autumn | Red-leaved season | Female |
| Maple | Red autumn leaves | Female |
| Paprika | Red spice | Spunky females |
| Sienna | Reddish-brown earth pigment | Female |
| Phoenix | Fiery mythical bird | Unisex |
Names for arctic and fennec foxes
Arctic foxes turn snow white in winter; fennec foxes are the tiny, huge-eared foxes of the Sahara.
| Name | Fox | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Frost | Arctic | White winter coat |
| Yuki | Arctic | Japanese “snow” |
| Nord | Arctic | The far north |
| Tundra | Arctic | Their treeless home |
| Aurora | Arctic | Northern lights |
| Boreas | Arctic | Greek god of the north wind |
| Mist | Arctic | Soft blue-gray summer coat |
| Sahara | Fennec | Their desert home |
| Fennec | Fennec | From Arabic fanak, “fox” |
| Dune | Fennec | Sand dunes |
| Sandy | Fennec | Pale sandy coat |
| Radar | Fennec | Enormous ears |
| Oasis | Fennec | Desert refuge |
| Pip | Fennec | Tiny size |
Mythical and trickster fox names
Foxes are magical in many cultures: kitsune and huli jing gain tails and power with age, and Inari’s messengers in Japan are foxes. More in fantasy names.
| Name | Origin | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Inari | Japanese | Shinto deity of rice whose messengers are foxes |
| Kumiho | Korean | Nine-tailed fox of legend |
| Huli Jing | Chinese | Fox spirit that can take human form |
| Daji | Chinese | Queen of legend said to be a fox spirit |
| Tamamo | Japanese | Tamamo-no-Mae, a legendary nine-tailed fox |
| Kuzunoha | Japanese | Fox wife in a famous legend |
| Loki | Norse | Shapeshifting trickster |
| Coyote | Native American stories | Trickster figure (a cousin of the fox) |
| Sly | English | Classic fox adjective |
| Trickster | Folklore archetype | A fox’s job description |
| Puck | Shakespeare | Mischievous sprite |
| Ruse | French/English | A clever trick |
| Shadow | English | Sneaky night hunter |
Forest and nature fox names
Soft, woodsy names for foxes that live in stories set among the trees. See also forest names.
| Name | Meaning | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Juniper | Evergreen shrub | Gentle vixens |
| Hazel | Hazel tree | Warm-hearted vixens |
| Bramble | Thorny blackberry bush | Scrappy foxes |
| Fern | Forest plant | Quiet vixens |
| Thistle | Prickly wildflower | Feisty foxes |
| Acorn | Oak seed | Small kits |
| Briar | A thorny patch | Mysterious foxes |
| Sorrel | Reddish-brown plant | Russet foxes |
| Birch | White-barked tree | Pale foxes |
| Cedar | Fragrant tree | Calm males |
Tips for naming a fox character or pet
- Foxes are symbols of cunning in most cultures, so names with a sly edge (Sly, Ruse, Reynard) fit fox characters especially well.
- Match the name to the species: fiery names for red foxes, icy names for arctic foxes, desert names for fennecs.
- For a fantasy or anime character, kitsune-inspired names like Tamamo or Inari add depth.
- Keeping a real fox as a pet is illegal or requires a permit in many US states, so check local wildlife laws first.
- For fox-colored pets, see our brown dog names and red-inspired lists.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a fox?
Reynard, Todd, Rusty, Ember, Kitsune and Juniper are popular fox names.
What name means fox?
Todd and Tod come from an old English word for fox. Other names meaning fox include Kitsune (Japanese), Zorro (Spanish), Renard (French), Volpe (Italian) and Lisa (Russian).
What is a female fox called?
A female fox is a vixen, a male is a dog fox or tod, and babies are kits, cubs or pups.
What is the fox in Zootopia called?
The fox in Zootopia is Nick Wilde, a con artist who becomes Judy Hopps’s partner.
What is a kitsune?
In Japanese folklore, a kitsune is a fox spirit that gains magical powers and more tails as it ages, up to nine.