Hedgehog Names
A pet hedgehog is a small bundle of contradictions: spiky on the outside, soft-bellied underneath, shy one minute and snuffling around like a tiny vacuum cleaner the next. Most pet hedgehogs in the U.S. are African pygmy hedgehogs, and they tend to live four to six years, so a name you love matters. Here are more than 100 hedgehog names, grouped into famous hedgehogs, prickly puns, cute picks, boy and girl names, woodland names and snack-inspired ideas.
If you keep other small pets, compare these with our hamster names and ferret names, or wander over to our nature names for more woodland inspiration.
Famous hedgehog names
Hedgehogs have a surprisingly rich history in books, games and cartoons. These characters make great namesakes.
| Name | Famous from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sonic | <em>Sonic the Hedgehog</em> video games (Sega, 1991) | The fastest hedgehog alive |
| Shadow | Sonic's dark rival in the Sonic series | Black-and-white hedgehogs |
| Amy Rose | Sonic's pink hedgehog friend | Girl hedgehogs |
| Silver | Psychic hedgehog from the Sonic series | Pale or white hedgehogs |
| Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle | Beatrix Potter's washerwoman hedgehog (1905) | Tidy, gentle girls |
| Spiny Norman | The giant imaginary hedgehog in <em>Monty Python's Flying Circus</em> | Big personalities |
| Yozhik | Russian for “little hedgehog,” hero of the classic cartoon <em>Hedgehog in the Fog</em> (1975) | Dreamy explorers |
| Hedgie | Jan Brett's picture books, such as <em>Hedgie's Surprise</em> | Kids' favorite |
| Mr. Pokee | An Instagram-famous pet hedgehog | Photogenic hedgehogs |
| Biddy | Another hedgehog star of Instagram | Adventurous travelers |
| Mr. Pricklepants | The thespian hedgehog in <em>Toy Story 3</em> | Dramatic hedgehogs |
| Knuckles | Sonic's echidna buddy (a close spiky cousin) | Tough little guys |
Prickly and spiky hedgehog names
A hedgehog has around 5,000 to 7,000 quills, so leaning into the spikes is always a good idea.
| Name | Meaning | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Quill | A hedgehog's spine; also a feather pen | Classic and clever |
| Prickles | Sharp little points | Grumpy hedgehogs |
| Spike | The classic spiky pet name | Bold boys |
| Pincushion | A padded holder bristling with pins | Round, spiky balls |
| Thistle | Spiky wildflower; the emblem of Scotland | Feisty girls |
| Cactus | The desert's spikiest plant | Prickly personalities |
| Bristle | Short, stiff hair | Tough boys |
| Needles | What quills look like | Sassy hedgehogs |
| Spud | A potato with spikes | Round, lazy hedgehogs |
| Burr | A spiky seed that sticks to fur | Clingy hedgehogs |
| Porcupine | A spiky rodent (hedgehogs aren't related) | A funny mix-up |
| Pokey | Pokes you when annoyed | Defensive hedgehogs |
| Spikey | A spelled-out classic | Playful boys |
| Holly | The spiky-leaved evergreen shrub | Winter babies |
| Pinecone | Scaly, spiky and round | Brown hedgehogs |
Cute hedgehog names
Soft names that contrast sweetly with all those spikes. For more, see our cute pet names.
| Name | Meaning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Button | Small and round | Tiny hedgehogs |
| Pip | A small seed | Babies (called hoglets) |
| Snuffles | The sound of a foraging hedgehog | Noisy sniffers |
| Poppy | The red wildflower | Sweet girls |
| Mochi | Soft Japanese rice cake | Pale, round hedgehogs |
| Bubbles | Light and happy | Cheerful hedgehogs |
| Tater | A small potato | Chunky hedgehogs |
| Twiggy | A thin little branch | Slim hedgehogs |
| Dumpling | Soft, round and filled | Chubby hedgehogs |
| Pudding | Soft dessert | Mellow hedgehogs |
| Snickers | A giggle, and the candy bar | Playful hedgehogs |
| Teacup | Small enough to sit in one | Tiny hoglets |
| Wiggles | For the hedgehog that can't sit still | Busy explorers |
Girl hedgehog names
Pretty names with a little fairy-tale charm for female hedgehogs. Many double as flower names for girls.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel | The hazel tree; its nuts are a woodland staple | Warm brown hedgehogs |
| Penelope | Greek, “weaver” | Elegant girls |
| Clementine | Latin “merciful”; also a small orange | Sweet and playful |
| Matilda | Germanic, “mighty in battle” | Brave girls |
| Beatrix | Latin, “she who brings happiness”; for Beatrix Potter | Storybook fans |
| Willow | The willow tree | Gentle girls |
| Daisy | Old English “day's eye” | Cheerful girls |
| Marigold | Golden flower | Golden or cinnamon hedgehogs |
| Lavender | Purple herb | Calm girls |
| Juniper | Evergreen shrub with spiky needles | Nature lovers |
| Tilly | Short for Matilda | Bubbly girls |
| Primrose | Latin “first rose” | Spring babies |
| Winnie | Short for Winifred, Welsh “blessed peacemaking” | Cuddly girls |
Boy hedgehog names
Friendly, slightly old-fashioned names suit male hedgehogs, who often act like grumpy little gentlemen.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Bilbo | The Hobbit, who loved home and snacks | Homebodies |
| Hector | Greek, “holding fast”; Trojan hero | Strong boys |
| Humphrey | Germanic, “peaceful warrior” | Dignified hedgehogs |
| Oliver | From the olive tree | Classic boys |
| Barnaby | Aramaic, “son of consolation” | Gentle boys |
| Ralph | Old Norse, “wolf counsel” | Grumpy old men |
| Winston | English, “joy stone” | Plump, proud boys |
| Rupert | Germanic, “bright fame” | Distinguished hedgehogs |
| Basil | Greek, “royal”; also the herb | Neat boys |
| Edgar | Old English, “rich spear” | Spiky boys |
| Percy | Norman, place name “Persy” | Posh little boys |
| Otis | Germanic, “wealth” | Easy-going boys |
| Frodo | The brave hobbit from <em>The Lord of the Rings</em> | Small adventurers |
Woodland and garden names
Wild hedgehogs live in hedgerows and gardens across Europe, and those settings inspire some lovely names. Our fox names share the same forest mood.
| Name | Inspiration | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Bramble | The blackberry bush where hedgehogs hide | Wild and scruffy |
| Acorn | The oak tree's nut | Small brown hedgehogs |
| Chestnut | Spiky-cased nut | Brown hedgehogs |
| Moss | Soft forest floor | Calm, quiet types |
| Fern | Woodland plant | Gentle girls |
| Hedgerow | A hedgehog's natural habitat | Explorers |
| Toadstool | Woodland mushroom | Quirky hedgehogs |
| Conker | The horse chestnut seed British kids play with | Round boys |
| Rowan | Tree with red berries | Unisex |
| Nettle | Stinging plant | Prickly girls |
| Aspen | Quaking tree | Nervous shakers |
| Birch | White-barked tree | Pale hedgehogs |
| Clover | Three-leaf plant | Lucky hedgehogs |
Food names for hungry hedgehogs
Pet hedgehogs are insectivores that also nibble high-quality cat food and small treats. These names are all about their love of eating.
| Name | Food | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Truffle | The prized mushroom (and the chocolate) | Hedgehogs that root around |
| Cinnamon | Warm spice | Cinnamon-colored hedgehogs |
| Nutmeg | Warm brown spice | Brown-and-cream hedgehogs |
| Pretzel | Curls up in knots | Ball-rollers |
| Biscuit | Baked treat | Tan hedgehogs |
| Cookie | Sweet round treat | Speckled hedgehogs |
| Mealworm | A hedgehog's favorite treat | Foodies |
| Waffle | Crosshatched breakfast | Textured quills |
| Brownie | Chocolate square | Dark hedgehogs |
| S'more | Toasted campfire treat | Salt-and-pepper coats |
| Macaron | French sandwich cookie | Fancy girls |
| Hash Brown | Crispy and golden | Golden hedgehogs |
| Churro | Spiky-looking fried dough | Long, sugary boys |
Names by quill color
African pygmy hedgehogs come in many colors, from classic salt-and-pepper to snowflake, cinnamon and albino. Browse our color names for more shades.
| Name | Color | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper | Salt-and-pepper | The most common hedgehog coloring |
| Salt | White or pale | Pairs with Pepper |
| Snowflake | Snowflake (mostly white quills) | A recognized hedgehog color |
| Ghost | Albino or white | Pink-eyed hedgehogs |
| Caramel | Cinnamon or light brown | Warm tones |
| Ash | Grey | Quiet hedgehogs |
| Smudge | Mottled or pinto | Patchy coats |
| Ember | Reddish cinnamon | Fiery personalities |
How to choose a hedgehog name
- Give your hedgehog time. Hedgehogs are often huffy and shy for the first weeks, so their true personality may take a while to show.
- Talk to your hedgehog often. They have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell and hearing, so a consistent name spoken softly helps them get used to you.
- Look at the quill color: salt-and-pepper, cinnamon, snowflake or albino all suggest different names.
- Consider a storybook name. Hedgehogs have a long literary history thanks to Beatrix Potter and folk tales.
- Choose something you'll enjoy saying for years. Hedgehogs live about four to six years in captivity.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a hedgehog?
Popular hedgehog names include Sonic, Quill, Spike, Hazel, Bramble, Prickles and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.
What is the most famous hedgehog?
Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega's speedy blue mascot since 1991, is by far the most famous hedgehog. Beatrix Potter's Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle is the best-known in literature.
What is a baby hedgehog called?
A baby hedgehog is called a hoglet. A group of hedgehogs is sometimes called an array or a prickle.
Do hedgehogs recognize their names?
Hedgehogs don't respond to names like dogs do, but they learn to recognize their owner's voice and scent, which helps them relax when handled.
What is a good girl hedgehog name?
Hazel, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Poppy, Clementine, Thistle and Beatrix are all charming names for a female hedgehog.