Naming your pet snake can be a fun way to show off your personality as well as your new snake's unique flair! You can think up some good snake names by looking at their coloring and temperament, or use famous names from mythology and folklore. Go beyond the classic names for snakes to find one that's as cool as your new friend.
Mythological Snake Names
The folklore of cultures around the world are full of examples of snake-like beings, both good and evil, which can work well for pet snake names.
- Bai Suzhen - In Chinese mythology, Bai Suzhen, or "Madame White," is a snake who took the form of a woman and marries a human man. The story is told in the opera Baisha Zhuan, The Legend of the White Snake.
- Bashe - In Chinese mythology, a giant python who ate elephants.
- Jörmungandr (or "Jörm" for short) - A snake in Norse mythology that was the child of the god of mischief, Loki.
- Kundalini - In Vedic tales, described as a snake holding its tail in its mouth and represented female divine power.
- Medusa - In Greek mythology, a gorgon who is a human female with snakes for hair. She can turn humans to stone with her gaze.
- Mucalinda - A nāga in Buddhist mythology who was a king and who protected the Buddha.
- Nāga - In Hindu mythology, these beings are half-human and half-snake, and live in the underworld.
- Nāgini - A female nāga.
- Nāgaraja - The king of the nāgas in Hinduism and Buddhism.
- Nidhogg - In Norse mythology, this snake, whose name means "dread biter," coiled around the Tree of Life and tried to unsuccessfully destroy it.
- Ophion - A snake in Greek mythology who helped to give birth to the world.
- Ouroboros (or "Ouro" for short) - A symbol found in Egyptian mythology of a giant snake swallowing its own tail as a symbol of infinity.
- Scylla - In Greek mythology, a monster with six to 12 snake necks, along with the parts of other animals.
- Shesha - In Hindu mythology, a snake with many heads who serves the god Vishnu and is in control of time and the universe.
- Sigurd - From Norse folklore, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye was the son of Ragnar Lodbrok who was born with a snake-like symbol in his eye.
- Xiangliu - In Chinese mythology, a nine-headed snake monster associated with floods.
Snake God and Goddess Names
Many cultures' mythology have gods and goddesses who either were represented as snakes or with snake body-parts, or are associated with snakes as companions and helpers.
- Aesculapius - A Greek god of medicine who healed people by having his snakes move over them.
- Apep - An Egyptian god of chaos who is depicted as a giant snake.
- Coatlicue - An Aztec mother goddess who is depicted as wearing a skirt of live snakes and who has two snake heads.
- Damballa - In Haitian Voodoo mythology, a father god depicted as a snake.
- Eobshin - A Korean snake goddess of wealth who protected farmers from rodents.
- Eurynome - A Greek goddess who created the snake Ophion that gave birth to the world.
- Fuxi - In Chinese mythology, a female snake with a human head who helped to create humans as well as the Chinese written language.
- Mehen - An Egyptian snake god who protected Ra, the god of the sun, during the night.
- Mertseger - An Egyptian goddess who protected artists and workers, she was depicted with the head of a cobra.
- Nehebkau - In Egyptian mythology, a two-headed snake god who was the guardian of the underworld.
- Ninazu - A Sumerian god of the dead and of healing who is often depicted with snakes.
- Nüwa - A goddess in Chinese mythology who created people, she is depicted with the body of a snake and the head of a human female.
- Quetzalcoatl - An Aztec serpent god who represented the wind, air, and education.
- Veles or Volos - A Slavic god of the underworld sometimes depicted as a serpent.
- Wadjet - An Egyptian snake goddess who is the guardian of women giving birth, depicted as a woman with the head of a cobra.
- Zhulong - A Chinese god responsible for day and night and wind, depicted as a man with a snake's body and a human head.
Snake Names From Popular Culture
Popular culture is also a good source for snake names from the ball python to the boa. You can look at snake characters in books, television shows, movies, and video games.
- Asmodeus (Redwall)
- Crawley (Good Omens)
- Ju Ju (Princess and the Frog)
- Kaa (The Jungle Book)
- Karai (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Malcho (Aladdin)
- Mara (Doctor Who)
- Nag (Rikki Tikki Tavi)
- Nagaina (Rikki Tikki Tavi)
- Orochimaru (Naruto)
- Rattly (Donkey Kong)
- Sammy (Sesame Street)
- Severus (Snape from Harry Potter)
- Sir Hiss (Disney's Robin Hood)
- Snake Plissken (Escape from New York)
- Snavely (Pogo)
- Thulsa Doom (Conan the Barbarian)
- Voldemort (Harry Potter)
Cute and Funny Snake Names
Snakes are often feared by people not familiar with them, so choosing a silly name can be a way of expressing what a good pet your new snake is.
- Danger Noodle
- Darth Viper
- Fluffy
- Kinky
- Linguine
- Nessie (as in the Loch Ness Monster)
- Pasta
- Pretzel
- Silky
- Slim
- Slinky
- Snakey
- Squeezey
- Toothsome
- Twisty
- Willow
- Wily
Cool Male Snake Names
If you prefer to let people know what a strong character your snake is, you can choose some names that make you think of tough male figures.
- Akira
- Alucard
- Anakin
- Ash
- Bane
- Blade
- Bronn
- Caliban
- Coverdale
- Dagger
- Dante
- Draco
- Drax
- Fang
- Guts
- Kane
- Kratos
- Lucifer
- Odin
- Ragnar
- Slash
- Spike
- Steel
- T'Challa
- Thor
Cool Female Snake Names
If your snake is a girl and you want everyone to know how awesome she is, you can choose a name that evokes powerful female characters.
- Anya
- Boudica
- Daenerys
- Diana
- Domino
- Elektra
- Gamora
- Gemma
- Katniss
- Lagertha
- Lyric
- Mikasa
- Mononoke
- Natasha
- Nebula
- Nikita
- Rey
- Ripley
- Tove
- Wanda
- Ygritte
- Xena
Color Names for Snakes
Snakes come in an array of beautiful colors and patterns, especially some of the newer morphs available in the pet trade. You can choose a name that emulates your snake's base color or one that evokes the many colors and patterns of their scales.
- Adham ("black" in Arabic)
- Alba ("white" in Latin)
- Amber
- Amitola ("rainbow" in Sioux)
- Arianrhod ("silver wheel" in Welsh)
- Arjun ("white" in Hindi)
- Arona ("colorful" in Hawaiian)
- Aurelia ("golden" in Spanish)
- Aya ("colorful" in Japanese)
- Banana
- Baroque
- Basil
- Beryl
- Bianca ("white" in Italian)
- Bruno ("brown" in German)
- Bumblebee
- Butter
- Caramel
- Cham ("blackness" in Hebrew)
- Ciara or Ciarán ("black" in Gaelic)
- Cinnamon
- Coal
- Coffee
- Coral
- Ebony
- Emerald
- Fidda ("silver" in Arabic)
- Fiona ("white" in Gaelic)
- Flame
- Frost
- Gina ("silvery" in Japanese)
- Ginger
- Gorria ("red" in Basque)
- Hazel
- Honey
- Hotah ("white" in Sioux)
- Indigo
- Iris
- Ivory
- Jade
- Jasper
- Jett
- Jewel
- Juniper
- Kali ("black one" in Hindi)
- Kamal or Kamala ("red" in Hindi)
- Kapil ("red-brown" in Hindi)
- Kin ("gold" in Japanese)
- Kush ("black" in Hebrew)
- Latte
- Lootah ("red" in Sioux)
- Mezcla ("mixed colors" in Spanish)
- Melanie ("black" in Greek)
- Merlot
- Mocha
- Motley
- Olive
- Opal
- Paisley
- Pearl
- Pecan
- Phoenix
- Pickle
- Raven
- Roderick ("red-brown" in Welsh)
- Rose
- Roux
- Rowan ("little red one" in Gaelic)
- Ruby
- Rusty
- Sable
- Saffron
- Sage
- Salt
- Sangria
- Sapphire
- Scarlett
- Sepia
- Shadow
- Shani ("crimson red" in Hebrew)
- Sienna
- Silver
- Smoke
- Snow
- Sooleawa ("silver" in Algonquin)
- Spice
- Talutah ("blood red" in Sioux)
- Vanna ("golden" in Khmer)
- Viridian
- Xanthe ("yellow" in Greek)
- Topaz
Choosing a Name for Your Pet Snake
While your snake isn't going to come when called no matter what their name is, finding a name that suits both of you is still important. Look for inspiration in things that your snake makes you think of, whether it is emotions, favorite characters, or a play on their vivid coloring. Test a few of your favorite snake names out to see which feels right. When you find the perfect fit, you'll know.
