Guinea Pig Names
Guinea pigs are chatty, gentle and happiest in company, which means most owners end up naming at least two of them at once. That’s double the fun and double the decision-making. Below are more than 100 guinea pig names we love, grouped into boy names, girl names, veggie names, coat-color names, funny puns and matching pairs.
A tip before you start: guinea pigs “wheek” loudly when they hear the fridge open, and they learn names best when the name is short and linked to food. For more small-pet inspiration, compare our hamster names, bunny names and cute pet names.
Popular guinea pig names
These names come up again and again among cavy owners: short, soft and usually a little bit edible.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut | The legume; a classic nickname for anything small | Tiny, round piggies |
| Biscuit | Old French, “twice-cooked” | Tan or golden coats |
| Coco | From cocoa or coconut | Brown guinea pigs |
| Nibbles | What they do all day | Constant snackers |
| Pumpkin | The squash | Orange or red coats |
| Cookie | Dutch koekje, “little cake” | Sweet-natured piggies |
| Hazel | The hazel tree; warm brown | Brown-eyed girls |
| Teddy | Pet form of Theodore, “gift of God”; also a curly-coated guinea pig breed | Teddy and Rex breeds |
| Mocha | The coffee (named after the port of Mocha, Yemen) | Coffee-colored coats |
| Honey | The golden sweetener | Golden or buff coats |
| Cinnamon | The spice | Red-brown coats |
| Charlie | English, “free man” | Boys or girls |
| Milo | Germanic, possibly “merciful” | Curious boars |
| Rosie | From the rose flower | Friendly sows |
| Oscar | Irish, “deer lover” | Confident boars |
| Pepper | The spice (and a favorite veggie) | Speckled or roan coats |
Cute girl guinea pig names
Female guinea pigs are called sows. Soft, bouncy names with an “ee” sound suit them well. Browse our cute girl names for more ideas.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Why we like it |
|---|---|---|
| Poppy | The red flower | Bright and cheerful |
| Bonnie | Scottish, “pretty” | Sweet for a gentle sow |
| Dottie | Pet form of Dorothy, “gift of God” | Great for spotted coats |
| Pippa | Pet form of Philippa, “lover of horses” | Short and bouncy |
| Tilly | Short for Matilda, “mighty in battle” | Tiny but bossy |
| Olive | The olive tree | Calm, easy-going |
| Luna | Latin, “moon” | White or silver coats |
| Penny | From Penelope, possibly “weaver” | Copper-colored coats |
| Millie | Pet form of Millicent or Amelia | Classic and cute |
| Daisy | Old English “day’s eye” | Cheerful piggies |
| Flossie | Old pet form of Florence, “flourishing” | Fluffy Peruvians |
| Minnie | Pet form of Wilhelmina, “protector” | Smallest of the herd |
| Ruby | The red gemstone | Red-eyed or red-coated sows |
| Winnie | Pet form of Winifred, “blessed peace” | Round and cuddly |
| Clementine | Latin, “merciful, mild” | Orange coats |
Boy guinea pig names
Male guinea pigs are called boars — which is funny, because they’re usually huge softies. Pick something with a bit of character.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Why we like it |
|---|---|---|
| Gus | Short for Augustus, “great” | For a chunky boar |
| Winston | English, “joy stone” | A dignified gentleman pig |
| Rupert | Germanic, “bright fame” | Very British |
| Alfie | Pet form of Alfred, “elf counsel” | Friendly and playful |
| Bruno | German, “brown” | Brown boars |
| Ziggy | Pet form of Siegfried, “victory, peace” | Energetic popcorners |
| Ollie | Pet form of Oliver | Easy to say |
| Jasper | Persian, “treasurer”; also a red gemstone | Ginger boars |
| Remy | French, “oarsman” | A little bit fancy |
| Toby | From Tobias, “God is good” | Gentle lap pigs |
| Archie | Pet form of Archibald, “genuine, bold” | Brave explorers |
| Henry | Germanic, “home ruler” | The boss of the cage |
| Louie | From Louis, “famous warrior” | Loud wheekers |
| Monty | Pet form of Montgomery | Posh Abyssinians |
| Frankie | Pet form of Francis, “Frenchman” | Cheeky boars |
Veggie and herb names (with a feeding note)
Guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C, so fresh veggies are part of their daily diet. These names double as a shopping list — see our herb names and fruit names for more.
| Name | Food | Feeding note |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy | Timothy hay | Should make up most of a guinea pig’s diet |
| Cilantro | Leafy herb | Fine a few times a week |
| Basil | Leafy herb | A tasty occasional treat |
| Dill | Feathery herb | Safe in small amounts |
| Parsley | Leafy herb | High in calcium, so only occasionally |
| Romaine | Romaine lettuce | A good daily green (avoid iceberg) |
| Dandelion | Leaves and flowers | A favorite if pesticide-free |
| Carrot | Root vegetable | Sugary; give as a treat |
| Cucumber | Watery veggie | Refreshing on hot days |
| Zucchini | Summer squash | Safe in moderation |
| Blueberry | Berry | A few as a treat |
| Strawberry | Berry | Occasional treat, rich in vitamin C |
| Apple | Fruit | Small slices only, never the seeds |
| Clover | Meadow plant | In moderation |
| Kale | Leafy green | Occasional; high in calcium |
Guinea pig names by coat color
Guinea pigs come in dozens of colors and patterns, from Dalmatian spots to tortoiseshell patches.
| Name | Color or pattern | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel | Golden brown | Sweet and warm |
| Snowball | White | Great for Himalayans and albinos |
| Smokey | Grey or slate | Classic for dark coats |
| Patches | Tortoiseshell or tricolor | Perfect for mixed coats |
| Dalmatian | White with dark spots | Named after a real guinea pig pattern |
| Domino | Black and white | Dutch-marked piggies |
| Marble | Swirled roan | Unique coats |
| Toffee | Buff or tan | Soft and sweet |
| Truffle | Dark chocolate | Rich brown coats |
| Pebbles | Speckled or agouti | Small, grey-brown piggies |
| Butterscotch | Cream and orange | Nickname “Scotch” |
| Midnight | Black | Sleek American guinea pigs |
| Sandy | Beige | Easy-going piggies |
| Rusty | Red | Red Abyssinians |
| Ghost | Pale or hairless | Skinny pigs |
Funny guinea pig names
Guinea pigs “popcorn” (jump straight up) when they’re happy, and they are neither pigs nor from Guinea. That alone is funny enough. For more laughs, see our funny pet names.
| Name | The joke | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Popcorn | Happy guinea pigs jump and twist, called popcorning | Bouncy youngsters |
| Sir Wheeks-a-Lot | Sir Lancelot + their loud “wheek” | Noisy boars |
| Mr. Squeakers | Formal title, tiny squeaker | Chatty piggies |
| Hamlet | Shakespeare, and a tiny “ham” | Dramatic pigs |
| Piggy Smalls | Biggie Smalls | Tiny rap stars |
| Notorious P.I.G. | The Notorious B.I.G. | Cage bosses |
| Squeakspeare | Shakespeare + squeak | Poetic pigs |
| Potato | Shaped like one | Round, lazy piggies |
| Chunk | Self-explanatory | Big boars |
| Zoomie | Sudden bursts of running laps | Energetic pigs |
| Fuzzbutt | Fluffy rear end | Long-haired breeds |
| Julius Cheeser | Julius Caesar | Emperors of the hay pile |
Famous guinea pigs
A few well-known cavies from books, TV and film.
| Name | From | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Olga da Polga | Michael Bond’s children’s books (1971 onward) | By the creator of Paddington |
| Linny | The Wonder Pets! animated series | Leader of the classroom pets |
| Darwin | G-Force (2009 film) | Leader of the spy squad |
| Blaster | G-Force | The action-hero guinea pig |
| Juarez | G-Force | The team’s martial-arts expert |
| Hurley | G-Force | The lovable slacker |
Matching names for guinea pig pairs
Guinea pigs are social herd animals and should always live with at least one companion — in Switzerland it’s even required by law. Matching names make the introduction official. See our twin names for more duos.
| Pair | Theme | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bubble & Squeak | British leftovers dish, and the noise they make | Any pair |
| Salt & Vinegar | Chips | White and brown pair |
| Tweedledum & Tweedledee | Alice in Wonderland | Identical brothers |
| Laurel & Hardy | Comedy duo | One big, one small |
| Mario & Luigi | Video game brothers | Two boars |
| Bangers & Mash | British comfort food | Chunky pair |
| Fish & Chips | British classic | Gold and white pair |
| Peaches & Cream | Dessert | Two sweet sows |
| Wallace & Gromit | Claymation friends | Odd couple |
| Holmes & Watson | Detectives | Curious explorers |
| Thunder & Lightning | Weather | Loud, fast pair |
| Fudge & Brownie | Chocolate treats | Two brown piggies |
How to choose a guinea pig name
- Keep it short. Guinea pigs respond to sounds and routines; a one- or two-syllable name repeated at feeding time is learned fastest.
- Name them together. Since guinea pigs should live in pairs or groups, pick names that sound good side by side and that are easy to tell apart (avoid Millie and Tilly together).
- Check the sex first. Pet stores often mis-sex young guinea pigs. A vet check can save you from a surprise litter and a name change.
- Look at the breed. A rosetted Abyssinian suits a spiky name like Ziggy, while a long-haired Peruvian suits Flossie or Fuzzbutt.
- Wait a week. Personalities — shy, bossy, greedy, loud — show quickly and often inspire the perfect name.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a guinea pig?
Popular choices include Peanut, Biscuit, Coco, Nibbles, Pumpkin and Teddy. Food names are especially common because they’re short, cute and often match a guinea pig’s color.
What are cute names for two guinea pigs?
Try Bubble & Squeak, Salt & Vinegar, Peaches & Cream or Fudge & Brownie. Guinea pigs should always be kept in pairs or groups, so matching names are very popular.
What is a male and a female guinea pig called?
Males are called boars, females are called sows, and babies are called pups.
Do guinea pigs know their names?
Many do. Guinea pigs learn to associate their name with food and attention and will often “wheek” or come to the front of the cage when called.
Why is a guinea pig called a guinea pig?
No one knows for sure. They come from the Andes of South America, not Guinea, and aren’t pigs. The “pig” likely comes from their squeals and stocky shape; “guinea” may refer to a far-away place or to the price of a guinea coin.