Awesome Guinea Pig Names (Ideas On Naming Your Guinea Pig)

Bringing home a new guinea pig is an exciting time, and you’re probably eager to get started caring for your new friend.

Deciding a name for your new furry friend is one of the first things you’ll need to do, but it can be a little tricky choosing the right one.

You’ll want to pick the most unique or creative name – something that really suits your piggy’s personality.

So, to help you get started choosing the best name for your guinea pig, here are some helpful tips and suggestions.

What Should I Name My Guinea Pig?

What you decide to call your guinea pig is completely down to personal preference – there’s no right or wrong name.

If you’re struggling for ideas, you could name them after your favorite character from a TV show, movie, video game, or book. 

My pair of male guinea pigs are named after Jake and Finn from the cartoon Adventure Time. 

Can Guinea Pigs Learn Their Names?

If you’ve never owned a guinea pig before, you might be wondering whether they can learn or respond to their names – the answer is yes! 

Guinea pigs can learn their names, but only when trained to do so.

It’s not as easy as training a dog to come when called.

You’ll have to be extremely patient and consistent when training your guinea pig their name. 

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Whenever you greet, handle, or take care of your piggy, make sure you repeatedly use their name.

Stick To Calling Them By One Name

Try not to confuse them by saying nicknames or other terms of endearment – only use their real name.

Use encouragement, praise, and healthy treats when training your guinea pig to respond to their name.

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If your piggy does start to respond to their name, then make sure you reward them as they will begin to associate that word (i.e. their name) with a positive outcome (e.g. a treat or a back scratch) – the sciency term for this is, ‘positive reinforcement’.

Don’t Overdo It

Although patience, consistency, and repetition are all important when teaching your piggy their name, it’s imperative you keep training sessions short so you don’t overwork your guinea pig as they could become; frightened, stressed, or lose their trust in you.

Just like humans, guinea pigs need a break every now and again to learn and retain information. 

NOTE

It’s worth noting that not all guinea pigs will be able to learn their name, regardless of how much training you give them.

Choosing Guinea Pig Names

For Boys

Did you know that male guinea pigs are formally referred to as boars?

Boys grow larger than female piggies and tend to be a little messier, so you might want to consider a name that fits their bold characters.

For Girls

Female guinea pigs are formally referred to as sows. They are initially a little shy and timid, but they can quickly grow to affectionate little sweethearts once you gain their trust.

Tips for Naming Your Guinea Pig

Personality

Naming your guinea pig after their personality can make for some funny and unique monikers.

I once knew someone who had 7 guinea pigs named after all the dwarves from Snow White, which I thought was a lovely idea. 

If your piggy loves taking naps, then why not try something like Dreamer, Dozy, Sleepy, or Crash.

If your guinea pig always has a big appetite, then consider names like Greedy, Tubby, or Hulk. 

Quirks

Does your guinea pig have any quirks or traits, either adorable or a little annoying? You could create a name based on their individual charms or discharms. 

One of my piggies is a big chewer – he’ll munch down on anything he can get his paws on!

In my household, he’s referred to as Chewbacca. You could use this name or something similar like Chomper or Jaws!

My friend’s guinea pig has a knack for being messy, whether it’s making his cage all untidy by throwing food and hay everywhere, or sitting in the litterbox! This has earned him the title “Pee Wee”.

There’s a lot of silly nicknames you can call your guinea pig based on their quirks, so get creative!

Sounds They Make

Think about whether your guinea pig makes any sounds or noises that could be inspiration for their name.

A few good examples include Squeaky, Piglet, and Purry. 

Color

Guinea pigs come in a huge variety of colors, and their coat type or shade could make the perfect name.

If your pet is a deep brown color, you could call them Chocolate, Fudge, or Hershey. 

Snowy, Ice, Angel are some names that could be perfect for an albino guinea pig. If your pet has multiple colors in their coat, such as black and white, then names like Oreo, Spot, Snoopy, and Speck might be worth considering. 

Cute Guinea Pig Names

Still stuck for ideas on what to call your perfect pig? Naming your guinea something cute, such as after a flower, your favorite chocolate bar/candy, or color could be the way to go.

Funny Guinea Pig Names

If you’re itching to call your guinea pig something punny, then here are some of my top suggestions.

Guinea Pig Names Based on Color

Calling your guinea pig a name based on their coat color can be a lovely idea, and it’s always fun trying to think of things that remind you of your guinea pig’s coloration.

Guinea Pig Names for Twins/Pairs

Guinea pigs are social animals, so they thrive when kept in pairs.

If you have twin piggies or a duo that are as thick as thieves, then here are some names that work well together!

Guinea Pig Names Based on Breed

Guinea Pig Names Based on Breed

If you happen to know the breed of your guinea pig, then thinking of a name that corresponds to this could be a wonderful idea.

Here are a few to get you started…

Final Thoughts

It always takes me a few days to think of names whenever I bring a new pet into my family, so I know how important it is to find the right name for your piggy.

Hopefully, now you’ll have more of an idea of what to call you guinea pig.

Remember, finding your own names is all part of the fun of owning guinea pigs – perhaps there’s a name that’s just perfect for your new friend that I haven’t suggested!

Let us know what name you decided on for your guinea pig, and check out our other pages for more helpful tips on guinea pig care. We also have guides on different guinea pigs such as the abyssinian guinea pig, american guinea pig, and texel guinea pig to name a few.