How to Name Your Hamster

Determine your hamster's gender and breed. Though many names can be gender neutral, knowing your hamster's gender can influence what name you might choose. Consider doing some research on your hamster's breed to find some more inspiration. For example, in the wild Russian dwarf hamsters are found in the cold region of Siberia. You could choose a traditional Russian name like Dimitri or a name like Snowflake for the snowy climate.

Get to know your hamster's personality. Take some time to understand how your hamster acts. Maybe they're a friendly and cuddly hamster, or maybe they're a bit shy and prefer to be left alone. Is your hamster especially brave or adventurous? Perhaps they're more clever or smart? Consider your hamster's unique traits when thinking of names.

Choose a name based on your hamster's appearance. Use your hamster's physical characteristics for some possible name ideas. Amber or Ginger could suit a hamster with golden fur. A hamster with long, fuzzy hair might be a good Fluffy or Puff. Oreo or Panda could work for a black and white hamster.^[1]

• Find different adjectives to describe your hamster, like Tiny, Chubby, Hairy or Cutie. Try saying them until you find one you might like as a name. Think of items or foods that your hamster looks like, such as Potato or Biscuit.

Observe their behavior. Spend some time simply watching your hamster going about their daily business. If you notice your hamster likes to chew on stuff a lot, a name like Nibbles or Chewy might suit them. If they like to stuff their cheeks full of food you could name them Cheeks or Cheeky. An active hamster that likes to zoom around their cage might make a good Bolt or Scooter.^[2]

Read a book of baby names for inspiration. If you have trouble choosing, try a book or online list of baby names to help you discover what would suit your hamster best. Skim through a variety of different names and their meanings. Make a note of any names that stand out to you or that you feel would be fitting for your hamster.

Think about your favorite fictional characters. Looking through your favorite movies, television shows, video games or books can be a great source of potential names for your hamster. Create a list of some memorable characters and names. Does your hamster remind you of your favorite protagonist or villain? Do you have a brave hamster that deserves to be named after your favorite superhero?

Name your hamster after something important to you. Think about your hobbies and interests for some naming inspiration. A name like Robin could be fitting if you're a birdwatcher or Amethyst if you like gemstones and crystals. If you collect coins maybe your hamster could be a Penny or Lincoln. Write down your favorite flowers or colors and see if anything sticks out as a potential name. Maybe name your hamster after a dream vacation spot or a city you want to visit.

Avoid overused names. While you don't need to come up with something completely unique, try to give your hamster a name as special as they are. Try not to use popular names such as Hammy or Teddy. Come up with something new to help your pet stand out from the rest.

Keep the name short. Try to avoid names longer than three syllables. It can get annoying saying such a long name every time you refer to your hamster! A shorter name will also make it easier for your hamster to learn their name. Animals often learn two syllable words much more easily.^[3]

Avoid names that sound too similar. If you have other pets or more than one hamster, try to choose names that don't sound the same to help avoid confusion. Tic and Tac are fine. Bolt and Volt are not.

• If you plan to train your hamster to recognize verbal commands, avoid names that sound like words you might use. If you want to teach your hamster to stand up by saying "Stand" then you should avoid a name like Stan or Dan.