How to choose a name for your hamster
Small pet, big personality
Hamsters are tiny, but they are full of character. Some are bold explorers that try to escape every time the cage door opens. Others are sleepy little puffballs that only appear for dinner. Many spend the night running on their wheel and stuffing their cheeks with far more food than seems possible. All of that makes naming one a lot of fun.
Popular themes include snacks and seeds (Cashew, Millet, Crumpet), tiny and cute words (Pipsqueak, Smidge, Pom Pom), old-fashioned classics (Hamlet, Tuppence, Bertie) and funny names about hamster habits (Cheeks, Midnight Snack, Escape Artist).
Do hamsters learn their names?
Hamsters do not learn names the way dogs do, but they can get used to your voice and to sounds that come with good things. If you say your hamster’s name softly every time you offer a treat, many hamsters start to react to it over time. That means the name is mostly for you, so pick something you enjoy saying.
- Keep it short and soft. One or two syllables, said gently, is less likely to startle a small animal.
- Say it quietly. Hamsters have sensitive hearing and are easily alarmed by loud voices.
- Remember they are nocturnal. Your hamster will be most awake in the evening, which is the best time to say hello and offer a treat.
- Use the same name every time so the sound becomes familiar.
Syrian or dwarf?
Syrian hamsters are the larger, golden-coloured kind most people picture, and they must live alone because adults fight. Dwarf hamsters, such as Roborovski, Campbell’s and winter white, are smaller and quicker. A big, laid-back Syrian might suit a grand name like Lord Fluffington or Hamlet the Brave, while a speedy little dwarf hamster could be Turbo, Dash or Pipsqueak.
Because Syrians live alone, there is no need for a matching pair of names. If you keep more than one hamster in separate cages, or a pair of dwarf hamsters that a vet or breeder has confirmed can live together, choose names that sound different from each other.
Look at the coat
Hamsters come in more colours than most people expect: golden, cream, cinnamon, black, white, grey, sable, banded and spotted. A coat can be the easiest place to start. A golden Syrian might suit Granola or Cashew, a white dwarf hamster could be Snowpuff or Cottonball, and a grey one might suit Smidge or Marble. Long-haired Syrians, sometimes called teddy bear hamsters, look great with fluffy names like Fluffball, Puffball or Lord Fluffington.
Keep it kind
Funny names are great, but keep them affectionate. Names about cheeks, snacks and wheels celebrate what hamsters actually do. If children are naming the hamster, let them choose from a shortlist so everyone is happy, and use the moment to talk about gentle handling and quiet voices.
Try it out
Use the generator above to build a shortlist, star your favourites and let the family vote. Then write the name on the cage label, say it softly at treat time, and enjoy your new tiny roommate.