What To Name My Gerbil! Good Ideas for Males, Females + Pairs!

After adopting a new gerbil, one of the first things you’ll need to do is name it. This can be tricky, especially when there are so many good gerbil name ideas out there. Naming a gerbil is a permanent decision: once it’s learned its name, it won’t respond to anything else.

Good gerbil names are short and simple (one or two syllables). Shorter names are easier for gerbils to learn, recognize and respond to. Some of the best gerbil name ideas are based on foods, e.g., Taco, Waffle, or Chip. Gerbils also suit human names like Gina, Bob, and Dave.

The best names for pairs of gerbils are objects that go together. For example, Mac and Cheese, Salt and Pepper, or Sun and Moon. You could also name your gerbils after a famous duo like Shaggy and Scooby, Simon and Garfunkel, or Ben and Jerry.

What Are the Best Gerbil Names?

If you’ve just adopted a gerbil, one of the first things you’ll wonder is: what to name a gerbil. You can call it whatever you like, but take some time to consider what suits it best. Good gerbil names can be:

  • Human names (e.g. Harry, Doug, Bella, Lucy)
  • Based on your gerbil’s personality (e.g. Bouncy, Dash, Digger, Sleepy)
  • Derived from your gerbil’s fur color (e.g. Snowy, Midnight, Cocoa, Honey)
  • Inspired by your favorite fictional characters (e.g. Hermione, Gandalf, Arya)
  • Funny gerbil names (e.g. random household objects like ‘Toaster’, food names like ‘Porkchop’, or puns on real names like ‘Ger-Bill Gates’)

In general, short names for gerbils are better than long ones. It’s easier for gerbils to understand and recognize short, distinctive words (one or two syllables long). For example, a gerbil will have an easier time recognizing the name ‘Meg’ than ‘Millicent Flufferson the Third.’

If you have two or more gerbils and want them to learn their names, avoid rhyming ones. Although it may be cute to call your gerbils Double and Trouble, gerbils have difficulty distinguishing between similar sounds.

Try to give your gerbil pair names that don’t sound similar to the ear. That way, they’ll have the best shot at learning their individual names. For example, a good choice would be something like Bubble and Squeak. These names have a theme, and they go together, but they have different vowel sounds.

Best Gerbil Names for Females

Female gerbils make great pets. They’re smaller than male gerbils, and as a bonus, they don’t smell as much! Here’s a list of some of the best funny and cute names for girl gerbils:

  • Maisy
  • Dot
  • Sally
  • Darling
  • Baby
  • Lucy
  • Button
  • Gina
  • Maddie
  • Tinkerbell
  • Rainbow
  • Lady
  • Suzie
  • Pepper
  • Whiskers
  • Dolly
  • Nina
  • Cuddles
  • Cleo
  • Sparky
  • Angel
  • Bubbles
  • Princess
  • Rosie
  • Lily
  • Paisley
  • Ivy
  • Libby
  • Tina
  • Poppy
  • Pixie
  • Penny
  • Bella
  • Shelby
  • Ruby
  • Lexi
  • Sweetie
  • Sparkles
  • Willow
  • Holly
  • Kiki
  • Chloe
  • Snuffles
  • Smudge
  • Mia
  • Trixie
  • Glitter
  • Sunny
  • Millie
  • Sophie
  • Betsy

Try out a few of your favorite names for a while, and see which one suits your gerbil best.

what to name my gerbil

Best Gerbil Names for Males

Male gerbils are a joy to keep. They’re calmer and cuddlier than females and are more laid back around other gerbils. If you’re getting a boy gerbil, here are some of the best male gerbil names:

  • Bob
  • Benji
  • Sammy
  • Hunter
  • Leo
  • Duke
  • Dash
  • Yoda
  • Thumper
  • Ziggy
  • Dave
  • Gary
  • Nemo
  • Bandit
  • Speedy
  • Spike
  • Archie
  • Chico
  • Scamp
  • Alfie
  • Squeak
  • Jerry
  • Hank
  • Pip
  • Bailey
  • Chewy
  • Gizmo
  • Fidget
  • Barney
  • Hopper
  • Teddy
  • Oscar
  • Cooper
  • Tucker
  • Milo
  • Rufus
  • Bruno
  • Charlie
  • Mickey
  • Stuart
  • Nibbles
  • Gus
  • Ralph
  • Roquefort
  • Max
  • Olaf

Almost any male name would suit a boy gerbil. If you have a sense of humor, you could even choose an old-fashioned name such as Leonard, Ronald, or Herbert.

Food Names for Gerbils

Food-based names are popular for gerbils. The best thing about gerbil food names is that they’re unisex – they’re great for both boys and girls. So, if you aren’t sure of your gerbil’s gender, a food name may be the way to go. Some of the best food names for gerbils include:

  • Toast
  • Apple
  • Pancake
  • Cupcake
  • Porkchop
  • Sprout
  • Bagel
  • Pudding
  • Chip
  • Falafel
  • Bean
  • Radish
  • Candy
  • Ginger
  • Nacho
  • Mochi
  • Taco
  • Burger
  • Burrito
  • Dumpling
  • Rhubarb
  • Truffle
  • Pickle
  • Potato
  • Grape
  • Pumpkin
  • Tomato
  • Meatball
  • Sandwich
  • Basil
  • Strawberry
  • Nugget
  • Bon Bon
  • Walnut
  • Noodle
  • Chili
  • Apricot
  • Berry
  • Peach
  • Shortbread
  • Waffle
  • Macaroon
  • Mousse
  • Crumpet
  • Pretzel
  • Fig
  • Banana
  • Spaghetti
  • Sorbet
  • Olive
  • Sardine
  • Cake
  • Tart
  • Pie
  • Gnocchi
  • Donut
  • Clove
  • Custard
  • Mustard
  • Tater Tot
  • Cherry
  • Vanilla
  • Wasabi
  • Sushi
  • Fritter

You could also give your gerbil a longer food name, with a nickname for short. For example, ‘Gus’ is a great nickname for a gerbil called Asparagus. ‘Doodle’ or ‘Dude’ would work well for a gerbil named Snickerdoodle.

Cute Gerbil Names for Pairs

Naming a pair of gerbils is twice as difficult as naming a single gerbil. However, it also offers a great opportunity to use a cute, matching name set. Naming two gerbils is a bit like naming twin babies, except the names can be as funny or silly as you’d like.

Cute gerbil names for pairs can be based around famous duos, foods or drinks that go together, or even opposite words. Here are some of our favorites for boy pairs, girl pairs, and mixed-sex breeding pairs.

Famous Duo Names for Gerbils

You can name your pair of gerbils after real or fictional people or even cartoon characters. For example:

  • Ben and Jerry
  • Sonny and Cher
  • Simon and Garfunkel
  • Lennon and McCartney
  • Batman and Robin
  • Bilbo and Frodo
  • Harry and Ron
  • Hansel and Gretel
  • Jekyll and Hyde
  • Mulder and Scully
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Drake and Josh
  • Cheech and Chong
  • Homer and Bart
  • Itchy and Scratchy
  • Tweedledee and Tweedledum
  • Pinky and the Brain
  • Chip and Dale
  • Shaggy and Scooby
  • Timon and Pumba
  • Phineas and Ferb
  • Ren and Stimpy
  • Harry and Sally
  • Bonnie and Clyde
  • Starsky and Hutch
  • Thelma and Louise
  • Woody and Buzz
  • Mario and Luigi
  • Bert and Ernie
  • Daphne and Velma
  • Mary-Kate and Ashley
  • Anastasia and Drizella
  • Hilda and Zelda
  • Kanga and Roo
  • Little and Large
  • Anna and Elsa


You could also use your favorite cartoon, film, TV, literature, or musical duos as inspiration.

Food and Drink Gerbil Pairs

Just as food and drink names work well for single gerbils, there are many combos perfect for gerbil pairs. For example:

  • PB and J
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Bubble and Squeak
  • Bacon and Eggs
  • Pea and Carrot
  • Apple and Orange
  • Bangers and Mash
  • Bread and Butter
  • Mac and Cheese
  • Fish and Chips
  • Peaches and Cream
  • Tea and Coffee
  • Chips and Dip
  • Gin and Tonic
  • Surf and Turf
  • Cheese and Onion
  • Rum and Coke
  • Taco and Burrito
  • Pizza and Pasta
  • Burger and Fries
  • Biscuits and Gravy
  • Kit and Kat
  • Ketchup and Mustard
  • Tater and Tot
  • Chicken and Waffles
  • Lemon and Lime

Why not use your favorite food and drink combinations as inspiration?

Objects and Opposites

Household objects and random words can make some of the funniest gerbil names. For a pair of gerbils, you may like some of these pairs of matching and opposite words:

  • Pen and Paper
  • Dustpan and Brush
  • Knife and Fork
  • Song and Dance
  • Rain and Shine
  • Shoes and Socks
  • Snow and Ice
  • Thunder and Lightning
  • Blanket and Pillow
  • Trick and Treat
  • Soap and Water
  • Hammer and Nail
  • Hat and Scarf
  • Nuts and Bolts
  • Pins and Needles
  • Bat and Ball
  • Left and Right
  • Table and Chair
  • Dollar and Cent
  • Needle and Thread
  • Sugar and Spice
  • Sweet and Sour
  • Yin and Yang
  • Sunny and Moony
  • Dusk and Dawn
  • Up and Down
  • Climber and Digger
  • Summer and Winter

Any two words that sound good together will work for gerbil pair names. Add some of your own if you can think of any.

Gerbil Trio Names

Gerbils can live in small groups of 3, as well as in pairs. It can be difficult to introduce three gerbils at different ages. So the best thing to do is to buy three gerbils from the same litter.

But this will mean that you have to name three gerbils at once, which can be a challenge. Fortunately, we’ve come up with some excellent gerbil trio names to inspire you. They are:

  • Snap, Crackle, and Pop
  • Parsley, Sage, and Rosemary
  • Milly, Molly, and Mandy
  • Tick, Tack, and Toe
  • Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger
  • Larry, Moe, and Curley
  • Mickey, Donald, and Goofy
  • Meeny, Miney, and Mo
  • Peanut, Butter, and Jelly
  • Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup
  • Huey, Dewey, and Louie
  • Alvin, Simon, and Theodore
  • Athos, Aramis, and Porthos
  • Sirius, James, and Remus
  • Faith, Hope, and Charity
  • Inky, Blinky, and Pinky
  • Do, Re, and Mi
  • Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather
  • Ross, Joey, and Chandler
  • Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe
  • Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Alliterative names also work well for groups of three gerbils. You can choose any three names that start with the same letter, like Bertie, Bob, and Billy.

Gerbil Names by Color

A great way to choose a name for your gerbil is to use its color as inspiration. Mongolian gerbils come in dozens of different coat colors and patterns.

The most popular gerbil colors are black, white, brown (including agouti), and gray. We’ll also include some potential names for black-and-white spotted gerbils.

Names for Black Gerbils

The best black gerbil names are:

  • Guinness
  • Coal (or Cole)
  • Charcoal
  • Onyx
  • Licorice
  • Marmite (or Vegemite)
  • Black Mamba
  • Black Bear
  • Shadow
  • Sooty
  • Midnight
  • Blackberry
  • Blackcurrant
  • Raisin
  • Ebony
  • Ember
  • Espresso
  • Cola
  • Raven
  • Crow
  • Blackbird
  • Spider
  • Ninja
  • Darth Vader
  • Velvet
  • Mystery
  • Blackie
  • Beetle
  • Bat
  • Panther
  • Black Bean
  • Blackjack
  • Inky
  • Noir (French for black)
  • Treacle
  • Molasses
  • Pepper
  • Flint

Any animal or object that’s black will work as a gerbil name. Black gerbils also suit magical and mysterious names.

gerbil name ideas

Names for White Gerbils

Many different gerbil colors involve a white coat (including pink-eyed whites and black-eyed whites). The following names would work for any of them.

  • Cloud
  • Sugar
  • Snowy
  • Snowflake
  • Snowdrop
  • Snowball
  • Snowman
  • Angel
  • Hedwig (the snowy owl in Harry Potter)
  • Glacier
  • Iceberg
  • Daisy
  • Alaska
  • Marshmallow
  • Chalky
  • Cottonball
  • Cream Puff
  • Milky Way
  • Ghost
  • Boo
  • Egg
  • Swan
  • Sheep
  • Sneakers
  • Yeti
  • Luna (means ‘moon’ in several languages)
  • Pearl
  • Casper
  • Ivory
  • Blizzard
  • Moony
  • Diamond
  • Buttermilk
  • Mayo
  • Opal
  • Yuki (Japanese for ‘snow’)

You could also give your white gerbil a name that means ‘white’ in a different language, such as Bianca (Spanish) or Alba (Latin).

Names for Brown Gerbils

Brown is the most common gerbil color. A gerbil’s natural coat color is a sandy, speckled brown called ‘agouti.’ Here are some of the best brown gerbil names.

  • Brownie
  • Sandy
  • Tawny
  • Woody
  • Mahogany
  • Hazel
  • Cedar
  • Oak
  • Muddy
  • Latte
  • Chocolate
  • Cocoa
  • Honey
  • Caramel
  • Biscuit
  • Sausage
  • Nutmeg
  • Fudge
  • Toffee
  • Cookie
  • Peanut
  • Butterscotch
  • Grizzly
  • Moose
  • Otter
  • Monkey
  • Beaver
  • Bourbon
  • Whiskey
  • Brandy
  • Scrumpy
  • Wookie

Alternatively, name your brown gerbil after a character with ‘Brown’ in their name. For example, Doc Brown or Charlie Brown.

Names for Gray Gerbils

Gerbils with gray coats include lavender, blue, sapphire, and dove. Here are some of the best gray gerbil names.

  • Silver
  • Nickel
  • Dime
  • Steel
  • Earl Grey
  • Smokey
  • Stormy
  • Blade
  • Blue
  • Blueberry
  • Lavender
  • Bluebell
  • Ash
  • Cinders
  • Dusty
  • Dove
  • Squirrel
  • Gandalf the Grey
  • Murky
  • Misty
  • Graphite
  • Phantom
  • Sapphire
  • Anchovy
  • Bullet
  • Dolphin
  • Koala
  • Dumbo
  • Slate
  • Cobalt
  • Granite
  • Graybeard
  • Bluebeard
  • Pebbles
  • Rocky
  • Sterling
  • Wolfy
  • Owl
  • Seal
  • Bunny
  • Raccoon
  • Foxy
  • Gracie
  • Grayson


Gray and Grey are also common last names. So, you could name your gerbil after someone famous or fictional like Macy Gray or Meredith Grey (from Grey’s Anatomy).

Names for Black And White Gerbils

Black and white gerbils carry the spotting gene and can come in a huge variety of unique patterns. For a black and white gerbil, consider one of these cute and fitting names.

  • Domino
  • Moo
  • Zebra
  • Penguin
  • Badger
  • Dalmatian
  • Skunk
  • Panda
  • Magpie
  • Lemur
  • Orca
  • Patches
  • Blotches
  • Spot
  • Dotty
  • Felix
  • Chess
  • Checkers
  • Oreo
  • Tuxedo
  • Butler
  • Barcode
  • Crossword
  • Keyboard
  • Piano
  • Yin-Yang
  • 8-Ball
  • Soccer Ball
  • Dice
  • Snoopy

You could even name your gerbil after a favorite character from a black-and-white film (like Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird).

Can Gerbils Learn Their Names?

Gerbils probably don’t understand the concept of a ‘name’ in the same way humans do. But gerbils can learn to recognize and respond to specific words – including their names.

According to the Journal of Physiology, gerbils have exceptional hearing, even when compared to other rodents. Most rodents can only hear high-pitched sounds, but gerbils can hear frequencies as low as 200 Hz.

The normal range of human speech is between 500 Hz and 2 kHz. So, gerbils can hear their owners talking. Not only this, but gerbils are intelligent enough to recognize individual words. According to an article published in Nature, gerbils can distinguish between vowel sounds, such as ‘oo’ and ‘ee.’

Gerbils don’t usually learn their names spontaneously. But by training your gerbil, you can teach it to come when called. Not only will this impress your friends, but it’s a useful safety measure. If your gerbil escapes its cage, you can call it back.

How to Teach a Gerbil Its Name

To teach your gerbil its name, you’ll need to do some basic gerbil training. This means offering your gerbil a treat whenever it responds to its name. According to Psychonomic Science, gerbils learn remarkably fast when offered a food reward. 

When you’re near the cage, repeatedly call your gerbil. If it comes over to you – which it may do out of pure curiosity – immediately give it a treat. Good gerbil treats include sunflower seeds, nuts, and dried fruit.

If you have two or more gerbils, teach each one separately. Otherwise, they’ll learn to respond to each other’s names, as well as their own.

You’ll have to repeat the training process over days or weeks. But eventually, your gerbil should learn to come when you call it, even if you don’t have a treat. To learn more skills, you can teach your gerbil; see our guide on teaching gerbils tricks.

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