170 Best Rat Names for Your Rodent BFF

170 Best Rat Names for Your Rodent BFF

Smart, affectionate, and low-maintenance, rats are social animals that 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 inspired by cultures from Australia to Asia—we’ve curated the best-of-the-best rat names for your furry friend. Let the naming adventure begin!

What Are the Most Popular Rat Names?

These names consistently rank among the top choices in the FurPetVo community:

• Oreo
• Remy
• Pepper
• Remi
• Ruby

Female Rat Names

Find the perfect pick for your girl rat with these feminine, meaningful, and charming options.

• Ami — Say hello to my little friend! This pretty French name means “friend.”
• Amity — Meaning “friendship” and “harmony,” this English-origin name is ideal for a gentle, sociable rat.
• Angelina — Inspired by the beloved children’s book series “Angelina Ballerina,” starring a graceful dancing mouse.
• Anwen — A Welsh name meaning “fair,” perfect for a white-coated rat.
• Arizona — Meaning “small spring,” this state-inspired name suits a petite, lively companion.
• Bellamie — A French name meaning “good friend,” with the sweet nickname Bella.
• Bianca — An Italian name meaning “white,” elegant and timeless.
• Blondie — A playful, lighthearted choice for light-furred rats.
• Charlotte — A classic, trending name of French origin meaning “petite.”
• Cocoa — As sweet as it sounds—ideal for brown-coated rats.
• Cosette — A French diminutive meaning “little thing,” delicate and endearing.
• Dakota — A gender-neutral name meaning “friend” or “ally,” full of warmth and loyalty.
• Darcy — A short-and-sweet Irish name meaning “dark-haired.”
• Demi — Meaning “half” or “small,” this gentle name nods to grace and charm.
• Ebony — A rich, resonant name for black-furred rats—named after the dark, lustrous wood.
• Esme — A trending French name meaning “beloved.”
• Hazel — A warm, earthy name inspired by golden-brown fur tones.
• Keira — An Irish name meaning “black-haired,” striking and strong.
• Kerala — Borrowed from India’s southwestern state—a unique, melodic option.
• Krysa — The Russian word for “rat,” subtle yet distinctive.
• Maisy — From the beloved children’s book series, featuring a curious, kind-hearted mouse.
• Maus — The German word for “mouse”—minimalist, memorable, and modern.
• Minnie — A nod to Disney’s iconic First Lady of rodents, Minnie Mouse.
• Mrs. Frisby — From the acclaimed novel “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH,” honoring a brave, resourceful widowed mouse.
• Nezumi — The Japanese word for “rat,” soft, lyrical, and culturally rich.
• Olivia — From Disney’s “The Great Mouse Detective,” where Olivia Flaversham is a courageous young mouse.
• Paulina — Meaning “small” and “humble,” a tender fit for a petite, loving companion.
• Perla — One of Cinderella’s loyal mouse friends in the Disney classic—elegant and timeless.
• Raven — For rats with deep black fur, evoking the sleek beauty of the bird.
• Raya — A Hebrew name meaning “friend” or “beloved”—warm and heartfelt.
• Rowan — A Scottish name meaning “little red head,” perfect for rust- or copper-toned coats.
• Ruth — A classic Hebrew name meaning “friendship,” enduring and sincere.
• Safiya — Of Indian origin, meaning “best friend” or “pure”—melodic and meaningful.
• Sienna — A light-brown color name—and a lovely, understated girl’s name.
• Sorrel — Often used for red-brown horse coats, it’s also a soft, nature-inspired name.
• Suki — A Japanese name meaning “fond” or “beloved,” simple and affectionate.
• Suzy — Another of Cinderella’s cheerful mouse friends—friendly and familiar.
• Tabby — A nod to mottled or streaked fur patterns, borrowing charm from feline tradition.
• Tawny — A warm, cozy color name (light brown with orange hints) that’s just plain cute.
• Teagan — A Welsh name meaning “beautiful” or “darling,” full of sweetness and spirit.
• Winifred — An Old English name meaning “friend,” with the adorable nickname Winnie.
• Wren — A British name borrowed from a small, brown songbird—delicate, lively, and perfect for a tiny rat.

Male Rat Names

Find the best name for your new rat bro—whether he’s bold, brainy, or just brilliantly mischievous.

• Aiden — Meaning “little fire,” this Gaelic name suits a spirited, energetic personality.
• Basil — From “The Great Mouse Detective,” Basil of Baker Street is the clever, rodent Sherlock Holmes.
• Bernard — The kind-hearted, dependable mouse from Disney’s “The Rescuers.”
• Bertie — A lovable Looney Tunes brown mouse with big personality and bigger teeth.
• Botticelli — From “The Tale of Despereaux,” the imposing leader of the sewer rats—dramatic and memorable.
• Brutus — The strong, stoic guard rat from “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.”
• Buck — Fun fact: Male rats are called bucks! A strong, simple, and proudly rodent-appropriate name.
• Chuck — A playful tribute to Chuck E. Cheese—perfect for a fun-loving, cheese-obsessed rat.
• Cole — A sleek, grounded name inspired by “coal,” ideal for gray or black rats.
• Darwin — Meaning “good friend,” and a clever nod to evolutionary science—ideal for an intelligent, curious rat.
• Despereaux — The brave, adventurous protagonist of the fantasy novel “The Tale of Despereaux.”
• Edwin — An Old English name meaning “wealthy friend,” rich in history and warmth.
• Elmo — From the “Darkwing Duck” universe, Elmo Sputterspark is a zany, electrokinetic rat.
• Emile — The lovable, food-obsessed rat from Pixar’s “Ratatouille.”
• Fievel — The plucky hero of “An American Tail,” full of heart and resilience.
• Finnegan — An Irish name meaning “fair,” with the charming nickname Finn—great for white rats.
• Frodo — A whimsical, literary choice for any small, burrowing explorer with big dreams.
• Gavin — A Scottish name meaning “white hawk,” adding a touch of wild elegance.
• Geronimo — Inspired by the Italian children’s book series “Geronimo Stilton,” starring a sharp-witted, bespectacled mouse.
• Gus — Cinderella’s cheerful, cheese-loving mouse friend—endearing and eternally hungry.
• Hoogerwerf — A cool, globally inspired name referencing an Indonesian rat species—distinctive and unexpected.
• Hubie — Bertie’s quick-witted counterpart in Looney Tunes—always ready for mischief.
• Jaq — Gus’s loyal best friend in “Cinderella,” clever and compassionate.
• Jerry — The legendary, quick-thinking mouse from “Tom and Jerry”—a true icon.
• Kieran — An Irish name meaning “black-haired,” fitting for a sleek, dark-coated rat.
• Lorcan — Meaning “fierce little one,” this Irish name packs personality into two syllables.
• Mickey — Perhaps the most famous rodent of all time—timeless, joyful, and full of charisma.
• Mindoro — Named after a Philippine-native rat species—unique, geographic, and respectful.
• Miško — A Serbian name meaning “small mouse,” simple and affectionate.
• Mordax — Borrowed from the Eastern rat’s scientific name (Rattus mordax)—bold and biologically grounded.
• Mortimer — Mickey Mouse’s longtime rival—sophisticated, slightly sly, and unforgettable.
• Nicodemus — The wise, literate leader of the rats in “The Rats of NIMH.”
• Pat — Short, snappy, and classic—“Pat the Rat” has undeniable charm.
• Philip — From the vintage children’s cartoon “Philip the Mouse,” following a curious mouse and his toy cat.
• Ratigan — The dastardly, theatrical villain from “The Great Mouse Detective”—ideal for a charismatic, larger-than-life rat.
• Remi — The world-class chef-rat from “Ratatouille,” passionate, refined, and endlessly inspiring.
• Rizzo — The Brooklyn-accented, joke-loving Muppet rat—full of personality and heart.
• Roderick — Also known as Roddy, the trouble-making but lovable rodent from “Tiny Toon Adventures.”
• Roscuro — A kind-hearted rat from “The Tale of Despereaux,” proving even shadow-dwellers have light within.
• Ryan — Meaning “little king,” this Old Irish name suits a pampered, regal little companion.
• Samuel — From Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Samuel Whiskers,” a clever rat who makes his home in a cat’s chimney.
• Scabbers — Ron Weasley’s shapeshifting pet rat from the “Harry Potter” universe—quirky and full of story.
• Smoky — A timeless, evocative name for black or gray rats—mysterious and soft-spoken.
• Socrates — A thoughtful nod to the philosopher, perfect for a calm, observant rat.
• Splinter — The wise, ninja-trained rat sensei from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”