Ant Name Generator
Names for Ants, Queens and Whole Colonies
Tap a name to copy itPress Space for a new batch500 names in this generator
Generate names for ants and ant colonies: ant puns like Antony and Antoinette, queen and worker names, famous ants from A Bug's Life and Antz, real genus names such as Formica and Atta, picnic-raid names, and tiny-but-mighty names for a creature that lifts fifty times its own weight.
About ant names
Ant names fall into a few clear families. Puns come first, because the syllable is hiding in so many real names: Antony, Anthony, Antoinette, Antonio, Antigone, Samantha and Atlanta all read as ant names once you look, and Ant-Man, Atom Ant and Adam Ant are the pop-culture versions. Famous fictional ants supply a second layer: Flik, Atta and Dot from A Bug's Life, Z, Bala, Weaver and General Mandible from Antz, Zoc and Hova from The Ant Bully, and Ant-Man's flying ant Antony. Real myrmecology adds names that sound invented but are not, including Formica (wood ants), Lasius, Myrmica, Atta (leafcutters), Solenopsis (fire ants), Camponotus (carpenters), Eciton (army ants) and the Myrmidons, Achilles' soldiers who were said to be ants turned into men.
The third family describes what ants do. One queen rules a colony, so Regina, Her Majesty, Empress and Matriarch suit her; workers get job names such as Forager, Scout, Sentry, Nurse, Digger and Carrier, and the big-headed soldiers are Majors. Picnic-raid names (Crumb, Sugarlump, Syrup, Sticky) and strength names (Atlas, Hercules, Mighty Mite) round out the pool, with deliberately tiny names like Speck, Pip, Mote and Poppy Seed.
For a pet colony, name the queen and the colony itself; individual workers are interchangeable by design, which is exactly why giving one a solemn name like Gerald is funny.
Tips for choosing a name
- Name the queen first and let the colony take her name (Queen Formicia's colony becomes the Formicia Mound); workers can share a job-based naming scheme like Scout, Sentry and Forager.
- For a story or classroom project, pair an ant pun with a job: Antoinette the Nurse, Antony the Forager, Samantha the Scout.
- Match the name to the species: Ember, Cayenne and Scorch for red fire ants, Onyx, Soot and Inky for black garden ants, Timber and Sawdust for carpenter ants, and Cutter or Leafbearer for leafcutters.
- Strength names (Atlas, Hercules, Titan) and tiny names (Speck, Mote, Pip) both work; the joke is funnier when the name is the opposite of the size.
- If you keep a formicarium, name the colony as a whole (Crumb Street Colony, Windowsill Nation, Mound Seventeen) because individual workers are impossible to tell apart.
Frequently asked questions
What are good names for a queen ant?
Regal names fit best: Regina, Reina, Empress, Matriarch, Her Majesty, Queen Formicia or a pun such as Queen Antoinette. Many keepers also name the queen after the month she was caught on her nuptial flight or the species, for example Lasius Niger becomes Queen Niger or Lady Lasius.
Who are the famous ants in movies and cartoons?
Flik, Princess Atta and Dot from A Bug's Life; Z, Princess Bala, Weaver, Azteca and General Mandible from Antz; Zoc, Hova, Kreela and Fugax from The Ant Bully; Antony the flying ant from Ant-Man; and Atom Ant from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon.
What are some funny ant names?
Puns (Antony, Antoinette, Samantha, Ant-Man), oversized names for a tiny insect (Hercules, Atlas, Goliath, Tank), military ranks for six-legged soldiers (Sergeant Sixlegs, Captain Crumb, Private Pebble) and perfectly ordinary names like Gerald, Kevin and Doris on an anonymous worker.
Should I name my whole ant colony or individual ants?
Name the queen and the colony; workers look identical and live only months, so individual names rarely stick. Colony names like The Sugar Hill Colony, Backyard Legion or Mound Seventeen are what most ant keepers use, with the queen's name attached.
All 500 ant names
Browse the full list
- Scorch
- Doris
- Antony
- Anthony
- Antoinette
- Antonio
- Antonia
- Anton
- Antonella
- Antwan
- Antigone
- Antares
- Antler
- Antsy
- Antenna
- Anthea
- Samantha
- Atlanta
- Grant
- Giant
- Gallant
- Valiant
- Defiant
- Atlas
- Hercules
- Samson
- Titan
- Brute
- Goliath
- Hulk
- Tank
- Mack
- Bruiser
- Crusher
- Brawn
- Mighty
- Mighty Mite
- Tiny Titan
- Little Atlas
- Speck
- Dot
- Pip
- Crumb
- Bitsy
- Smidge
- Mote
- Fleck
- Pepper
- Peppercorn
- Poppy Seed
- Sesame
- Seedling
- Grit
- Grain of Sand
- Pebble
- Nubbin
- Tiny
- Atom
- Atom Ant
- Flik
- Atta
- Princess Atta
- Queen Atta
- Cornelius
- Dr. Flora
- Mr. Soil
- Bala
- Princess Bala
- Weaver
- Azteca
- Mandible
- General Mandible
- Colonel Cutter
- Cutter
- Barbatus
- Foreman
- Zoc
- Hova
- Kreela
- Fugax
- Adam Ant
- Formica
- Lasius
- Myrmica
- Myrmex
- Myrmidon
- Camponotus
- Solenopsis
- Pheidole
- Messor
- Pogonomyrmex
- Eciton
- Dorylus
- Oecophylla
- Tetramorium
- Crematogaster
- Polyrhachis
- Iridomyrmex
- Monomorium
- Cataglyphis
- Harpegnathos
- Myrmecia
- Odontomachus
- Paraponera
- Acromyrmex
- Martialis Heureka
- Sphecomyrma
- Titanomyrma
- Bullet
- Jack Jumper
- Trapjaw
- Leafcutter
- Harvester
- Carpenter
- Sawdust
- Woodrow
- Timber
- Pavement
- Sidewalk
- Picnic
- Sandwich
- Jelly
- Syrup
- Honey
- Honeydew
- Honeypot
- Sugar
- Sugarlump
- Sprinkles
- Cookie
- Biscuit
- Pretzel
- Sticky
- Sweet Tooth
- Nectar
- Aphid
- Aphid Herder
- Fungus Farmer
- Leafy
- Twig
- Acorn
- Pine Needle
- Bramble
- Thistle
- Clover
- Dandelion
- Moss
- Forager
- Scout
- Pathfinder
- Trailblazer
- Sentry
- Carrier
- Heavy Lifter
- Digger
- Miner
- Nurse
- Quartermaster
- Granary
- Major
- Minor
- Soldier
- Sapper
- Grenadier
- Legionnaire
- Centurion
- Captain Crumb
- Sergeant Sixlegs
- Private Pebble
- General Granule
- Queen Regina
- Regina
- Reina
- Queenie
- Her Majesty
- Empress
- Imperatrix
- Matriarch
- Big Mama
- Mama Mound
- Lady Formica
- Dame Dirt
- Madame Mound
- Princess Pip
- Prince Pebble
- Drone
- Alate
- Winged One
- Founder
- Foundress
- Hatchling
- Larva
- Pupa
- Grub
- Eggbert
- Hill
- Mound
- Dirtbert
- Dusty
- Sandy
- Loam
- Muddy
- Tunnel Vision
- Subterra
- Digby
- Diggory
- Delver
- Pincer
- Pinchy
- Nipper
- Chomper
- Snapper
- Clicker
- Clackers
- Stinger
- Zapper
- Formic
- Longlegs
- Scuttle
- Skitter
- Scamper
- Hustle
- Bustle
- Busybody
- Workaholic
- Marching Mike
- Line Leader
- Pheromone
- Trail Mix
- Hive Mind
- Legion of One
- Army Ant Annie
- Bivouac
- Magellan
- Firebrand
- Ember
- Cinder
- Ruby
- Rusty
- Russet
- Cayenne
- Chili
- Tabasco
- Jalapeno
- Onyx
- Soot
- Smokey
- Inky
- Inkblot
- Copper
- Penny
- Gaster
- Petiole
- Chitin
- Carapace
- Sir Speck
- Dame Digger
- Baron von Mound
- Baroness Burrow
- Earl of Earth
- Duke of Dirt
- Lord Leafcutter
- Lady Leafcutter
- Master Mandible
- Mister Mound
- Miss Morsel
- Tidbit
- Nibbles
- Muncher
- Snacky
- Lunchbox
- Crumbsworth
- Pebbleton
- Mudrick
- Dirtwood
- Hillstone
- Loamfoot
- Sandwalker
- Twigbearer
- Leafbearer
- Stonelift
- Seedhauler
- Grainsworth
- Nutkin
- Mossbrook
- Fernwick
- Rootly
- Barkley
- Cobbleton
- Sixfoot
- Quickstep
- Fleetfoot
- Hardhead
- Ant-Bob
- Anthill Annie
- Hormiga
- Hormiguita
- Fourmi
- Formiga
- Ari
- Myrtle
- Emmett
- Pismire
- Ameise
- Bane
- Giant Killer
- Kevin
- Gary
- Greg
- Carl
- Gerald
- Harold
- Norman
- Ernest
- Herbert
- Reginald
- Bartholomew
- Percival
- Montgomery
- Winston
- Wallace
- Clarence
- Horace
- Mortimer
- Chester
- Homer
- Elmer
- Bartleby
- Beatrice
- Mabel
- Myrna
- Agnes
- Hilda
- Gertrude
- Mildred
- Prudence
- Patience
- Temperance
- Ant-Man
- Antsy Pantsy
- Ant Farm Annie
- Mrowka
- Karinca
- Amber
- Ochre
- Sienna
- Umber
- Shadow
- Inkwell
- Crimson
- Scarlet
- Sugarfoot
- Honeystick
- Syrup Sam
- Jellybean
- Marmalade
- Crumbcake
- Picnic Jack
- Picnic Polly
- Breadcrumb
- Steve
- Barbara
- Edna
- The Sugar Hill Colony
- Crumb Street Colony
- Mound Seventeen
- Hill Number Nine
- The Sidewalk Empire
- The Patio Collective
- Backyard Legion
- Picnic Table Raiders
- Kitchen Counter Crew
- Windowsill Nation
- Flowerpot Kingdom
- Compost Heap Commune
- Garden Wall Guild
- Sandbox Syndicate
- Driveway Dominion
- Crabgrass Clan
- Cedar Stump Colony
- Oak Root Nation
- Rotten Log Republic
- Pinecone Parliament
- Tall Grass Tribe
- Queen Formicia
- Queen Crumbella
- Queen Honeydew
- Queen Myrmidia
- Queen Antoinette
- Empress Formica
- Mother Mound
- Mother of Millions
- Queen of the Hill
- Lady of the Mound
- First Worker
- Worker 42
- Forager Fifi
- Scout Sally
- Soldier Sid
- Digger Dan
- Carrier Cal
- Builder Bea
- Mason Max
- Sapper Sue
- Formica Rufa
- Lasius Niger
- Atta Cephalotes
- Solenopsis Invicta
- Camponotus Maximus
- Tumble
- Trundle
- Toddle
- Scurrybrook
- Mandibella
- Pincerella
- Myrmella
- Antennella
- Thoraxa
- Gasterina
- Petiola
- Chitina
- Sugarsnatch
- Crumbthief
- Picnic Pirate
- Jam Jar Jim
- Sugar Bowl Sue
- Windowsill Wanda
- Kitchen Kevin
- Garden Gus
- Pantry Pat
- Stump Stanley
- Pebble Pearl
- Flint
- Sir Nibbles-a-Lot
- Lady Marchalot
- Captain Scuttlebutt
- Sergeant Scurry
- Corporal Crumbsnatcher
- Private Pincher
- Admiral Anthill
- Colonel Sugarcube
- Old Sixlegs
- Big Red
- Little Black
- Half-Pint
- Quarter-Inch
- Thimble
- Teaspoon
- Tea Leaf
- Shortcake
- Pea Shooter
- Sprig
- Sprout
- Seedcase
- Acorn Cap
- Enzo
- Alfie
- Hugo
- Hester
- Queen Lasia
- Antoine
- Anthem
- Sugarline
- Crumbhunter
- Morsel
- Jamface
- Sir Forage
- Lady Larder
- Tunnel Tess
- Brood Mother
- Nestmate
- Trailmaker
- Scent Trail
- Breadline Bill
- Fire Queen Solenopsa
- Red Regina
- Carpenter Cole
- Mandy Mandible
- Sixpack
- Toter
- Pocket Hercules
- Sixer
- Exo
- Tunnelsworth
- Mound Marshal
- Hill Warden
- Burrowbeth
- Dirtwhisker
- Sugar Scout
- Patio Patrol
- The Porch Light Colony
- Clothesline Colony
- Hedge Bottom Mound
- Lawn Edge Legion
- Queen Pebblina
- Queen Scuttlina
- Grandmother Mound
- Worker Ninety-Nine
- Brood Nurse Bettie
- Antsel
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