Smart, affectionate, and low-maintenance, rats are social animals that can make wonderful pets. Despite their unfair reputations as sneaky pests, pet rats come with many benefits—including being super fun to name!
From cheesy to classy, sweet to silly, and with inspirations from Australia to Asia, we rounded up the best-of-the-best rat names for your furry friend. Let the rat race begin!
Key Takeaways
- Rats can have names inspired by food, culture, appearance, or personality, giving pet parents many creative options.
- Popular rat names include Oreo, Remi, Pepper, and Ruby.
- Female rat names often highlight sweetness or beauty, such as Ami, Ebony, and Suki.
- Male rat names can draw from pop culture or classic choices, including Basil, Darwin, Elmo, and Remi.
What are the most popular rat names? These names rank among the most common amongst pet parents in the Chewy community.
- Oreo
- Remy
- Pepper
- Remi
- Ruby
Find the perfect pick for your girl rat with these feminine names.
| Female Rat Names | |
|---|---|
| Ami | Say hello to my little friend—named Ami! This pretty French name means “friend.” |
| Amity | Meaning “friendship” and “harmony,” this name of English origin is perfect for a pet. |
| Angelina | The children’s book series “Angelina Ballerina” revolves around the adventures of a dancing mouse. |
| Anwen | If your rat is white, consider this Welsh name meaning “fair.” |
| Arizona | Meaning “small spring,” this state-inspired name is ideal for a petite pet. |
| Bellamie | A French name meaning “good friend,” with a lovely nickname—Bella! |
| Bianca | An Italian name meaning “white.” |
| Blondie | This playful name is another fun choice for white-coated rats. |
| Charlotte | Trending once again, this classic name is derived from French and means “petite.” |
| Cocoa | For brown rats, Cocoa is as sweet as can be. |
| Cosette | Of French origin, this diminutive name means “little thing.” |
| Dakota | A gender-neutral name with plenty of pet potential, Dakota means “friend” or “ally.” |
| Darcy | A short-and-sweet Irish name meaning “dark haired.” |
| Demi | Meaning “half” or “small,” this sweet name was popularized by actress Demi Moore. |
| Ebony | Calling all black rats! Ebony is the name of a dark brown or black wood. |
| Esme | This trending French name means “beloved.” |
| Hazel | For rats with golden-brown fur, consider this color-inspired name. |
| Keira | Of Irish origin, meaning “black haired.” |
| Kerala | Found only in India, Kerala rats aren’t traditionally kept as pets—however, you can still borrow the name! |
| Krysa | The Russian word for “rat,” Krysa could also make for a pretty name. |
| Maisy | In the children’s book series of the same name, Maisy is a curious young mouse with many animal friends. |
| Maus | The German word for “mouse” has minimalist appeal. |
| Minnie | As the First Lady of Disney, Minnie Mouse is a rodent-rific namesake. |
| Mrs. Frisby | In the acclaimed children’s book “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH,” Mrs. Frisby is a widowed mouse who seeks help from her rat neighbors. |
| Nezumi | The Japanese word for “rat,” Nezumi could also be a pretty pet name. |
| Olivia | In Disney’s “The Great Mouse Detective,” Olivia Flaversham is a brave little mouse. |
| Paulina | Meaning “small” and “humble,” Paulina is perfect for little friends. |
| Perla | In the Disney classic “Cinderella,” Perla was one of the mice befriended by Cinderella. |
| Raven | If your rat’s fur is as black as a raven’s feathers, consider borrowing this avian name. |
| Raya | A Hebrew name meaning “friend” or “beloved”—either way, perfect! |
| Rowan | For rats with rust-colored fur, Rowan is a Scottish name meaning “little red head.” |
| Ruth | Meaning “friendship,” this classic Hebrew name stands the test of time. |
| Safiya | Of Indian origin, this musical name means “best friend” or “pure.” |
| Sienna | In addition to being a girl’s name, Sienna is the name of a light-brown color. |
| Sorrel | Often used to describe a red-brown horse’s coat, Sorrel is both a girl’s name and a color. |
| Suki | A Japanese name meaning “fond” or “beloved.” |
| Suzy | Suzy is another mouse friend of Cinderella. |
| Tabby | If your rat’s fur is brown with streaks or mottling, consider Tabby, which is more commonly used to describe patterned cats. |
| Tawny | As a color, tawny is light brown with hints of orange—as a name, it’s just plain cute! |
| Teagan | This adorable Welsh name means “beautiful” or “darling.” |
| Winifred | Meaning “friend,” this Old English name shortens sweetly to Winnie! |
| Wren | This sweet British name is borrowed from the small, brown songbird—but we think it works just as well for small brown rats! |
Find the best name for your new rat bro on this list.
| Male Rat Names | |
|---|---|
| Aiden | Meaning “little fire,” this Gaelic name is well-suited for a petite pet with a spicy personality. |
| Basil | In “The Great Mouse Detective,” Basil of Baker Street is the titular rodent gumshoe. |
| Bernard | In Disney’s “The Rescuers,” Bernard is a sweet, pudgy mouse. |
| Bertie | In the Looney Tunes universe, Bertie is a brown, buck-toothed mouse. |
| Botticelli | In the fantasy novel “The Tale of Despereaux,” Botticelli Remorso is the tyrannical leader of the sewer rats. |
| Brutus | In “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH,” Brutus is the strong, imposing guard rat. |
| Buck | Fun rat fact: Male rates are called bucks! |
| Chuck | In honor of the legendary Chuck E. Cheese, of course! |
| Cole | For gray or black rats, consider this play on the word “coal.” |
| Darwin | The name Darwin means “good friend;” it’s also a fun nod to evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin, who studied rats. |
| Despereaux | The fantasy book “The Tale of Despereaux” tells the story of a brave young mouse named Despereaux Tilling. |
| Edwin | Whether or not your rat is rich, this Old English name meaning “wealthy friend” is rich with possibilities. |
| Elmo | In the “Darkwing Duck” franchise, Elmo Sputterspark is a troublemaking rat with the power of electrokinesis. |
| Emile | In the Pixar fave “Ratatouille,” Emile is a lovable rat with an insatiable (and undiscerning) appetite. |
| Fievel | Fievel Mousekewitz is the main mouse in the 1986 animated film “An American Tail.” |
| Finnegan | For white rats, this Irish name meaning “fair” comes with a cute nickname, Finn! |
| Frodo | Frodo is a hobbit in the “Lord of the Rings” universe, but we think the name is fun for any small, woodland-dwelling creature with a fondness for burrowing. |
| Gavin | Meaning “white hawk,” this Scottish name adds a wild wink. |
| Geronimo | “Geronimo Stilton” is an Italian series of children’s books starring a bespectacled mouse. |
| Gus | In “Cinderella,” Gus is the future princess’s chubby, cheese-loving mouse friend. |
| Hoogerwerf | Hoogerwerf’s rat is a species native to Indonesia—but the name is cool anywhere. |
| Hubie | In Looney Tunes, Hubie the mouse is Bertie’s other half. |
| Jaq | Jaq the mouse is Gus’s bestie in “Cinderella.” |
| Jerry | In the animated classic “Tom and Jerry,” Jerry is a clever mouse who outsmarts Tom the cat. |
| Kieran | An Irish name meaning “black haired”—or in this case, black-furred! |
| Lorcan | Meaning “fierce little one,” this Irish name is a strong contender for mighty mice. |
| Mickey | Is there a rodent more famous than Mickey Mouse? These are (literally) some big shoes to fill! |
| Mindoro | The Mindoro rat is native to the Philippines. |
| Miško | A Serbian name meaning “small mouse.” |
| Mordax | The Eastern rat’s scientific name is Rattus mordax. |
| Mortimer | Mortimer Mouse is Mickey Mouse’s longtime rival. |
| Nicodemus | In “The Rats of NIMH,” Nicodemus is an intellectual rat who can read. |
| Pat | Pat the Rat? Classic! |
| Philip | “Philip the Mouse” was a children’s cartoon that followed the adventures of a curious mouse and his toy cat. |
| Ratigan | Professor Ratigan is the main antagonist in “The Great Mouse Detective.” |
| Remi | As fans of “Ratatouille” know, Remi is a rat with a world-class palate who dreams of becoming a chef. |
| Rizzo | Rizzo the Rat is a Muppet beloved for his practical jokes and Brooklyn accent. |
| Roderick | In “Tiny Toon Adventures,” Roderick Rat (aka Roddy) is a trouble-making rodent. |
| Roscuro | In “The Tale of Despereaux,” Roscuro the rat is a kind friend to young Despereaux. |
| Ryan | Meaning “little king,” this Old Irish name is perfect for pampered little pets. |
| Samuel | In Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Samuel Whiskers,” Sammy is a rat who makes his home in a cat’s chimney. |
| Scabbers | In the “Harry Potter” universe, Scabbers is the name of Ron’s shapeshifting pet rat. |
| Smoky | For black or grey rats, look no further than this classic pet name. |
| Socrates | In the horror movie “Willard,” the main character has a pet rat named after the philosopher. |
| Splinter | In the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” franchise, Splinter is a mutant rat and martial arts instructor. |
| Stuart | In honor of Stuart Little, the diminutive star of the book and movie of the same name. |
| Sylvester | In Looney Tunes, Sylvester the cat is frequently at odds with rodents. For an ironic name, Sylvester the Rat has a certain ring to it. |
| Templeton | In “Charlotte’s Web,” Templeton the rat helps Charlotte save Wilbur. |
| Timor | The Timor rat is a species of rodent found in Indonesia. |
| Timothy | In Disney’s “Dumbo,” Timothy Q. Mouse is a kindly rodent who befriends the young elephant. |
| Topo | Topo is the Italian word for “mouse.” |
Is your new pet epically adorable? Consider these cute rat names to match their precious vibe.
| Cute Rat Names | |
|---|---|
| Bebe | French for “baby,” Bebe adds a francophile flair to the term of endearment. |
| Biscuit | Perfect for your light brown, fluffy little friend. |
| Blossom | In the Disney classic “Cinderella,” Blossom was one of the mice befriended by Cinderella. |
| Cinderella | The Disney heroine was a friend to many a mouse. |
| Cinnamon | For fawn-colored coats with hints of red, Cinnamon adds a little spice. |
| Cupcake | Sweet as sugar, cute as can be—just like your pet! |
| Boo | Equal parts spooky and cute, Boo is a rat-ready winner. |
| Brie | The cheese also sounds like the nickname for Briana. |
| Brownie | A sweet choice for brown rats! |
| Bubbles | Perfect for the rat with a bubbly personality. |
| Buttercup | The tiny flower is an adorable namesake for pint-sized pets. |
| Cheddar | Could it get any better than Cheddar? This name is perfectly cheesy. |
| Crackers | If you aren’t fond of cheese-inspired names, perhaps Crackers is more palatable. |
| Daffodil | For short, you can call your flowery friend Daffy. |
| Dottie | If your rat has speckles, Dottie fits the bill! |
| Gadget | In “Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers,” Gadget Hackwrench is the crew’s clever mouse inventor. |
| Lottie | A charming nickname for Charlotte, Lottie is perfect for the pet you love a lottie. |
| Marshmallow | For white rats, the puffy confection is a natural namesake. |
| Mighty Mouse | When you think about it, rats are mighty mice, aren’t they? |
| Mischief | Another fun rat fact: A group of rats is called a mischief. |
| Muffin | If Cupcake is a little too sweet, try its cousin—Muffin. |
| Nibbles | Even the way rats eat is cute! |
| Patches | A perfect pick for a rat with a rag-tag coat. |
| Peanut | Rats love eating nuts—and Peanut is too cute to pass up. |
| Petunia | This pretty flower name has “pet” right in it. |
| Pikachu | Pikachu is an electric-type rat Pokémon. |
| Pipsqueak | Take your pick of great nicknames—Pip or Squeak! |
| Pixie | For a magical name, look to the mythical, forest-dwelling creatures. |
| Pumpkin | Perfect for fawn-coated rats, especially those adopted during the fall! |
| Ratoncita | Meaning “little mouse” in Spanish, Ratoncita is a term of endearment. |
| Rattles | With “rat” right in the name, Rattles is cute contender. |
| Rudolph | Rudolph the red-nosed rat? If you adopt your BFF near the holidays, this merry moniker could be just right! |
| Scurry | Rats have an adorable way of hustling—hurry, Scurry! |
| Sniffles | For the rat who is always sniffing around for a snack. |
| Speedy | In honor of Speedy Gonzales, the fast-footed mouse of Looney Tunes fame. |
| Sprinkles | A sweet and cheery name for speckled rats. |
| Squeaky | Rats make a variety of noises, but they’re famous for their squeaks. |
| Thumbelina | In the animated film, itty-bitty Thumbelina befriends a number of rodents and fellow tiny forest dwellers. |
| Twitch | Rats’ noses twitch when sniffing—an adorable quirk that makes for an equally adorable name. |
| Yoda | Yoda’s species isn’t disclosed in “Star Wars,” but we can imagine the little cutie being part rodent. |
Give your rat one of these names, and you’ll also give yourself the giggles every time you address them.
| Funny Rat Names | |
|---|---|
| Anonymouse | For the rodent who wants to protect his privacy. |
| Asiago | This cheesy name has a certain gravitas befitting of a rat who enjoys the finer things in life. |
| Big Cheese | What better name for a VIP? (That’s “very important pet,” of course.) |
| Bitey | In the animated series “Loud House,” Bitey is the family’s pet rat. |
| Brain | As fans of cartoon classic “Pinky and the Brain” will remember, Brain is a mouse fixated on world domination. |
| Catnip | If your rat can take a joke, Catnip could be a funny pick. |
| Catrat | In the children’s series “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” Catrat is an endearingly sneaky blue cat. |
| Danger Mouse | “Danger Mouse” was an ’80s cartoon starring a rodent secret agent. |
| Dolittle | If you share a secret language with your pet, consider naming him after the legendary Dr. Dolittle. |
| Gordonzolla | Rats can’t roll their eyes at bad puns, so feel free to give little Gordon the cheesiest full name possible. |
| The Great Ratsby | You can call him “Old Sport” as a nickname. |
| Itchy | In honor of “Itchy and Scratchy,” the cat-and-mouse cartoon beloved by “The Simpsons.” |
| Julius Cheeser | You can just call him Jules for short. |
| L’il Sneezer | In Looney Tunes, L’il Sneezer is a tiny mouse with a super-sized sneeze. |
| Manchego | If your rat is named after the Spanish cheese, consider the just-as-fun nickname Manny! |
| Megavolt | AKA Elmo Sputterspark, Megavolt is an unhinged rat in the “Darkwing Duck” series. |
| Monterey Jack | Monterey Jack is an Australian mouse with a big appetite in “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers.” |
| Nutcracker | Not only do rats like nuts, but “The Nutcracker” ballet features a Mouse King. |
| Packrat | For the pet who can’t keep his room tidy. |
| Pinky | If Brain is a little too calculating for your pet, consider naming him after the show’s sweet sidekick, Pinky. |
| Rat Boy | If you’re a “Simpsons” fan, Rat Boy is probably at the top of your list. |
| Rat Damon | A nod to actor Matt Damon, of course! |
| Rat King Cole | In honor of legendary jazz singer and pianist, Nat King Cole. |
| Rat Sajack | “Wheel of Fortune” fans, this one is for you! |
| Ratalie | Natalie, but make it rodent-friendly. |
| Ratasha | Not quite as pretty as Natasha, but we think your pet will approve. |
| Ratatouille | Whether named after the dish or the movie, Ratatouille has a certain je ne sais quoi. |
| Ratbert | Ratbert is a character in the “Dilbert” comic strip. |
| Rats Domino | Inspired by rock ‘n roll pioneer Fats Domino. |
| Ratso | Ratso is a character in “The Brave Little Toaster” franchise. |
| Ratsputin | Ratsputin was a humanoid rat-man in the DC Comics universe. |
| Rhubella | Rhubella is Roddy Rat’s girlfriend in “Tiny Toon Adventures.” |
| Roquefort | An unusually distinguished name, for both a rat and a cheese. |
| Rover | If you invite your friends to meet your new pet Rover, they won’t be expecting a rat. |
| Spot | Although common for a dog, Spot is an unexpected choice for a rat. |
| Wererat | In the “Dungeons and Dragons” universe, wererats are humans who can transform into giant rats. |
| Wormtail | Before Scabbers was Ron’s pet rat in “Harry Potter,” he was a human who went by the nickname Wormtail. |
Selecting a name is just one of the many steps in preparing to add a new pet to the family. If you’re new to having rats, be sure to learn about rats’ unique needs and care requirements. Do your pet parent homework and read up on common rat behaviors .
Attributions
Monica Weymouth
Monica Weymouth is a Philadelphia-based writer, editor, animal lover, and rescue advocate. She has a soft spot for senior animals, and she See More
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