Rat Names
Fancy rats are clever, clean and surprisingly affectionate. They can learn tricks, come when called and even “brux” (grind their teeth) when they’re happy. Because rats are social animals, most keepers adopt at least two — which means you often need two or three names at once. We’ve collected more than 90 rat names, from famous rodents of film and fiction to cute, funny and genius-level names, plus themed sets for pairs and whole mischiefs (yes, that’s what a group of rats is called).
For more small-pet ideas, see our hamster names, ferret names and guinea pig names. You’ll find more general inspiration on our pet names hub.
Famous rat names
Rats have had some great roles on page and screen. These names are instantly recognizable to fellow rat lovers.
| Name | Where it comes from | Personality |
|---|---|---|
| Remy | The chef rat in Pixar’s <em>Ratatouille</em> | A foodie with big dreams |
| Emile | Remy’s brother in <em>Ratatouille</em> | Eats anything |
| Splinter | Master of the <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em> | Wise and calm |
| Templeton | The greedy rat in <em>Charlotte’s Web</em> | Hoards snacks |
| Scabbers | Ron Weasley’s rat in <em>Harry Potter</em> | Sleepy (with a secret) |
| Roddy | <em>Flushed Away</em> | Posh pet rat |
| Rita | <em>Flushed Away</em> | Brave and scrappy |
| Nicodemus | <em>Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH</em> | Wise elder |
| Justin | <em>The Secret of NIMH</em> | Loyal hero |
| Rizzo | <em>The Muppets</em> | Wisecracking rat |
| Ben | The rat in the 1972 film <em>Ben</em> | Loyal companion |
| Rat | The grumpy star of the <em>Pearls Before Swine</em> comic | Cynical and funny |
| Ratty | The riverbank hero of <em>The Wind in the Willows</em> | Easy-going adventurer |
| Mr. Ratburn | Arthur’s teacher in the TV series <em>Arthur</em> | Strict but kind |
| Ratigan | The villain in <em>The Great Mouse Detective</em> | Dramatic |
| Whiskers | Classic storybook rodent | Any rat |
Cute rat names
Soft, sweet names for baby rats (kittens!) and cuddly adults. See our cute pet names for more.
| Name | Why it’s cute | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pip | Small and quick | Tiny kittens |
| Nibbles | Always chewing | Busy rats |
| Mochi | Soft, round rice cake | White rats |
| Peanut | Small and tan | Fawn or beige rats |
| Button | Round button eyes | Black-eyed rats |
| Squeak | The sound of happiness | Chatty rats |
| Cheddar | Cheese, of course | Orange or golden rats |
| Twix | Candy bar | Brown and cream rats |
| Hazel | Warm brown | Agouti rats |
| Lulu | Playful nickname | Sweet girls |
| Mimi | Short and cute | Petite does |
| Tofu | Soft and pale | White or cream rats |
| Bean | Tiny as a bean | Babies |
| Poppy | The red flower | Pink-eyed rats |
| Sugar | Sweet and white | Albino rats |
Funny rat names
Puns and pop-culture parodies for rat owners with a sense of humor. More laughs in our funny pet names.
| Name | The joke | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ratsputin | Rasputin | A mysterious rat |
| Ratatouille | The dish and the film | Kitchen explorers |
| Rattila the Hun | Attila the Hun | A tiny conqueror |
| Anderson Pooper | Anderson Cooper | A messy rat |
| Ratrick Swayze | Patrick Swayze | A dancing rat |
| Ratticus Finch | Atticus Finch | A noble rat |
| Brad Pitt Rat | Brad Pitt | A handsome buck |
| Cheese Louise | “Jeez Louise” | An excitable girl |
| Rat Damon | Matt Damon | An everyman rat |
| Nibbles McGee | Silly surname | A snack thief |
| Ratman | Batman | A night-time adventurer |
| Sir Squeaks-a-Lot | Knighted for noise | Chatty rats |
| Tail Swift | Taylor Swift | A rat with a long tail |
| Whisker Biscuit | Silly rhyme | A fluffy rex rat |
Genius names for clever rats
Rats solve mazes, learn tricks and have been part of scientific research for over a century. Honor their brains with a scientist’s name.
| Name | Who they were | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Einstein | Albert Einstein, physicist | A problem solver |
| Darwin | Charles Darwin, naturalist | A curious explorer |
| Tesla | Nikola Tesla, inventor | A high-energy rat |
| Newton | Isaac Newton, physicist | Always testing gravity |
| Curie | Marie Curie, chemist | A brilliant doe |
| Pavlov | Ivan Pavlov, who studied conditioning | Learns treats fast |
| Skinner | B. F. Skinner, behavioral psychologist | A trick master |
| Hawking | Stephen Hawking, physicist | A thinker |
| Galileo | Galileo Galilei, astronomer | Loves climbing high |
| Ada | Ada Lovelace, computing pioneer | A clever girl |
| Sherlock | The fictional detective | Sniffs out hidden treats |
| Watson | Sherlock’s partner (and DNA scientist) | The sidekick |
Rat names by coat color
Fancy rats come in dozens of colors and markings: hooded, capped, Berkshire, agouti, blue, Siamese and more.
| Name | Color / marking | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oreo | Black and white hooded | Classic hooded look |
| Shadow | Black | Mysterious |
| Ghost | Albino or white | Pink-eyed beauties |
| Smokey | Blue or gray | Soft and cool |
| Ginger | Fawn or orange | Warm and spicy |
| Pepper | Black with white flecks | Speckled rats |
| Mocha | Chocolate or mink | Coffee-colored |
| Cinnamon | Cinnamon agouti | Warm brown |
| Patches | Variegated | Spotty coats |
| Snowball | All white | Round and fluffy |
| Storm | Russian blue | Moody gray |
| Caramel | Beige or champagne | Sweet tone |
| Tux | Berkshire (white belly) | Dressed for dinner |
| Marble | Mottled | Unique coats |
Names for rat pairs and mischiefs
Rats should never live alone, so matching names are practically required. A group of rats is called a mischief — name them as a set.
| Names | Theme | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Pinky & The Brain | <em>Animaniacs</em> lab mice | One genius, one goofball |
| Salt & Pepper | Seasonings | White and black rats |
| Bonnie & Clyde | Famous outlaws | Two escape artists |
| Mario & Luigi | Nintendo brothers | Two brothers |
| Thelma & Louise | Road-trip film | Adventurous girls |
| Frodo & Sam | <em>The Lord of the Rings</em> | Best friends |
| Chip & Dale | Disney chipmunks | Cheeky pair |
| Tofu & Tempeh | Plant proteins | Vegan owners |
| Harry, Ron & Hermione | <em>Harry Potter</em> trio | A mischief of three |
| Leo, Raph, Donnie & Mikey | <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em> | A mischief of four (with Splinter!) |
| Mozzarella & Brie | Cheeses | Two pale girls |
| Rick & Morty | Cartoon duo | Chaotic scientist and sidekick |
Food names for rats
Rats are enthusiastic eaters. These snack-inspired names suit a food-motivated rodent.
| Name | The food | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Nacho | Cheesy tortilla chip | Golden rats |
| Gouda | Dutch cheese | Chunky bucks |
| Brie | French soft cheese | Cream-colored girls |
| Cashew | The nut | Curled-up sleepers |
| Pretzel | Twisty snack | Long-tailed rats |
| Waffles | Breakfast treat | Rex rats with wavy fur |
| Pickle | Tangy and green | Quirky rats |
| Biscotti | Italian cookie | Crunchy chewers |
| Crumpet | British teacake | Soft and round |
| Noodle | Long and wiggly | Energetic rats |
| Dumpling | Soft and round | Chubby rats |
How to name a pet rat
- Choose names that sound different. If your rats live together, avoid pairs like Pip and Kip — rats can learn their own names, but only if they’re distinct.
- Use short names for recall. Rats can learn to come to a one- or two-syllable name paired with a treat or a click.
- Go for a theme. A mischief named after cheeses, scientists or Ninja Turtles is easy to remember and fun to explain. See our trio names for group ideas.
- Remember the short lifespan. Pet rats live about two to three years, so many owners pick a theme they can continue with future rats.
- Borrow from other rodents. Our funny hamster names work beautifully for rats too.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a pet rat?
Popular pet rat names include Remy, Splinter, Templeton, Pip, Nibbles, Einstein, Pepper and Mochi.
Can pet rats learn their names?
Yes. Rats are highly intelligent and can learn to respond to their names, especially when the name is paired with treats during training.
What do you call a group of rats?
A group of rats is called a mischief. Pet rats are social and should always be kept in pairs or groups of the same sex.
What is a funny name for a rat?
Ratsputin, Rattila the Hun, Ratatouille, Ratticus Finch and Sir Squeaks-a-Lot are some of the funniest rat names.
What is the rat’s name in Ratatouille?
The chef rat in Pixar’s Ratatouille (2007) is Remy; his brother is Emile and his father is Django.