Okapi Name Generator
Striped, shy names for the forest giraffe
Generate names for an okapi, from Stockings, Truffle and Forest Ghost to Sir Stripe-a-Lot, Zebraffe, Ituri and Okapi Dokey. The 1,000 names suit zoo calves, plush toys, mascots, zoo-game animals and story characters.
About okapi names
An okapi looks like a mix-up: a velvety chocolate-brown coat, white stripes on the rump and legs like a zebra's, big ears and a long dark tongue. It is not a zebra at all. It is the giraffe's only living relative, a shy, solitary leaf eater found in the wild only in the rainforests of the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and it is listed as endangered.
The list has stripe and sock names (Stockings, Knee Socks, Sir Stripe-a-Lot), coat names from chocolate, coffee and African timbers (Truffle, Okapuccino, Wenge), rainforest names (Understory, Dappled Light), shy and hidden names (Forest Ghost, Rarely Seen) and names for the ears and tongue (Radar Dish, Eyelid Licker). Mix-up jokes such as Zebraffe and Giraffe in Zebra Pants sit beside puns on the word itself, like Okapi Dokey.
Places come from the animal's home: the Ituri forest, the Epulu river and other rivers of the Congo basin. A small group of Swahili and Lingala words is in the list too, each labeled with its language and meaning, for example Kimya (Swahili for quiet) and Zamba (Lingala for forest). Gentle human names of the kind zoos give calves, grand titles and storybook names round it out. There are no neck or height jokes: those belong to the giraffe.
How to choose okapi names
- Name the feature you see first. Striped legs make a Stockings or a Knee Socks, big ears a Radar Dish, and a glossy brown coat a Velvet or a Truffle.
- For a school project or a zoo-game animal, a place from the Congo basin such as Ituri, Epulu or Aruwimi fits the animal without turning it into a joke.
- The Swahili and Lingala entries show their meaning in parentheses. Use just the word as the name and keep the meaning for the name tag or the report.
- A grand title is funnier the smaller the plush: try Duchess of Cocoa or Her Shyness on a pocket-sized okapi.
- Naming a pair? Stay inside one group, for example Front Half and Back Half, or Business in Front and Party in the Back.
Frequently asked questions
What are good names for an okapi?
Names that pick up the striped legs, the dark coat or the shy nature work well: Stockings, Truffle, Forest Ghost and Velvet Ears are all in the list. For a softer name of the kind a zoo calf might get, look at the human names such as Odette, Kipling and Willa.
Is an okapi related to the zebra or the giraffe?
The giraffe. The okapi and the giraffes are the only living members of the giraffe family, while zebras belong with horses. The stripes only look borrowed, which is why the list has jokes such as Not a Zebra, Zebraffe and Giraffe's Cousin.
Are the Swahili and Lingala words in the list real?
Yes. They are everyday words, each shown with its language and meaning, such as Msitu (Swahili for forest) and Kitoko (Lingala for beautiful). Both are national languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and they make up only a small part of the list.
Are these the names of okapis at real zoos?
No. The list is general name ideas for okapis, and any match with an animal at a real zoo is a coincidence. Use the names for plush toys, mascots, story characters and animals in zoo games.
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All 1,000 okapi names
A: 19 names
- A Rustle of Leaves
- A-Okapi
- African Unicorn
- Afrormosia
- After the Rain
- Agent Shadow
- All Ears
- Almost a Myth
- Amani (Swahili for peace)
- Ambassador of the Ituri
- Anklets
- Antenna
- Argyle
- Arrowroot
- Aruwimi
- Aruwimi Belle
- Asali (Swahili for honey)
- Auburn
- Auntie Truffle
B: 73 names
- Back Half
- Back Soon
- Back-End Stripes
- Background Character
- Bahati (Swahili for luck)
- Bamboo
- Banana Leaf
- Banded Legs
- Bandy
- Bangles
- Barber Pole
- Barely a Rumor
- Baron von Stripe
- Baroness
- Baroness Truffle
- Bashful
- Basin
- Bass Note
- Bea
- Bean
- Bedtime Story
- Bell-Bottoms
- Below Hearing
- Benji
- Berry
- Best of Both
- Between the Trees
- Beyond the Vines
- Big Ears
- Big River
- Bittersweet
- Blankie
- Blessing
- Blink and Miss
- Bloomers
- Blue Ribbon
B, continued
- Blue Tongue
- Blush
- Bobby Socks
- Bolingo (Lingala for love)
- Bomokandi
- Bonbon
- Bonnie
- Boopsy
- Borrowed Legs
- Both Sides Now
- Box of Chocolates
- Boyoma
- Bracelets
- Bracken
- Bracket Fungus
- Brigadeiro
- Bright Eyes
- Broadleaf
- Bromeliad
- Brown Sugar
- Brownie
- Browser
- Brunch
- Brushstrokes
- Bubinga
- Bud
- Buddy Bud
- Buffet
- Burnish
- Burnt Umber
- Business in Front
- Busira
- Butterscotch Ripple
- Button
- Button Nose
- Buttress Root
- Butu (Lingala for night)
C: 82 names
- Cacao
- Calm
- Camera Shy
- Camo
- Camouflage
- Candy Cane Legs
- Canopy
- Canopy Gap
- Canter
- Cappuccino
- Captain Knee Socks
- Captain Okapi
- Captain Stripes
- Caramel Swirl
- Carbon Okapi
- Carob
- Chapter One
- Cheeks
- Chenille
- Chérie
- Chestnut
- Chevron
- Chew Chew
- Chewy
- Child of the Canopy
- Chocolate Bar
- Chocolate Chip
- Chocolate Drop
- Chocolate Kiss
- Chocolate Milk
- Chocolate Mousse
- Chocolate Pudding
- Chocolate Stockings
- Chocolate Swirl
- Chocolate Unicorn
- Chocolatier
- Cinnamon
- Class Pet
- Clay Lick
- Clearing
- Cleo
C, continued
- Cloud Forest
- Cloven
- Clubmoss
- Coach Kapi
- Cocoa
- Cocoa Bean
- Cocoa Butter
- Cocoa Nib
- Cocoa Socks
- Cocoa Velvet
- Coffee Bean
- Collage
- Combo Platter
- Comfy
- Confluence
- Congo
- Congo Basin
- Congo Belle
- Congo Cocoa
- Congo Queen
- Congo Unicorn
- Connoisseur
- Contessa
- Cora
- Corduroy
- Cortado
- Costume Change
- Count My Stripes
- Country Cousin
- Cousin Okapi
- Coy
- Cozy
- Cradle
- Cream Cheeks
- Cream Stripes
- Crossover
- Crosswalk
- Crowd Pleaser
- Cruncher
- Crushed Velvet
- Cud
D: 42 names
- Dainty Hoof
- Daisy May
- Dapper
- Dapple
- Dappled Light
- Dark as Cocoa
- Dark Chocolate
- Dark Roast
- Darling
- Daughter of the Rain
- Dearie
- Debonair
- Deep Green
- Deep in the Green
- Deep Note
- Deepwood
- Demerara
- Demure
- Den
- Design by Committee
- Detective Dapple
- Dexter
- Dignity
- Discovery
- Distant Relative
- Distant Thunder
- Do Not Disturb
- Do You Okapi
- Doctor Dapple
- Doe Eyes
- Dottie
- Double Fudge
- Double Take
- Dozy
- Dream
- Dreamwalker
- Dress Rehearsal
- Drip Tip
- Drip-Dry
- Duchess of Cocoa
- Duke of Shade
- Dusk
E: 31 names
- Ear Muffs
- Ear Trumpet
- Ear Washer
- Earl of Epulu
- Earned My Stripes
- Earshot
- Easygoing
- Eavesdrop
- Ebale (Lingala for river)
- Echo
- Eclair
- Edie
- Elegance
- Elevenses
- Elila
- Elsie
- Elusive
- Empress Espresso
- Enigma
- Epiphyte
- Epulu
- Epulu Belle
- Epulu Rain
- Equator
- Esengo (Lingala for joy)
- Esme
- Espresso
- Evergreen
- Exhibit A
- Eyelash
- Eyelid Licker
F: 49 names
- Fade
- Fairy Tale
- Family Resemblance
- Family Secret
- Fan Favorite
- Fancy Dress
- Fancy Pants
- Fern
- Fern Whisperer
- Fernando Frond
- Fiddlehead
- Field Notes
- Field Trip
- Fifty-Fifty
- Fig
- Fig Tree
- Figgy
- Figgy Pudding
- Fighting Okapi
- First Edition
- First to Hear
- Flappy
- Flat White Socks
- Fleece
- Flora
- Florentine
- Fogbank
- Folktale
- Fondue
- Footsteps in the Moss
- Forager
- Forest Cousin
- Forest Floor
- Forest Gem
- Forest Ghost
- Forest Giraffe
- Forest Unicorn
- Fresh Shoots
- Friend of the Ferns
- Frog Chorus
- Frond
- Front Half
- Fruit Salad
- Fudge
- Fudge Ripple
- Fun Guy
- Fungi
- Furaha (Swahili for joy)
- Fuzzbutton
G: 34 names
- Gaiters
- Gallop
- Galoshes
- Game Trail
- Ganache
- Garden Variety
- Gem
- Gentle as Mist
- Gentle Soul
- Gentleman
- Ghost of the Glade
- Gingerbread
- Giraffe in Zebra Pants
- Giraffe's Cousin
- Giraffid
- Glade
- Glimpse
- Glossy
- Glossy Coat
- Go Okapis
- Go-Faster Stripes
- Gold Star
- Good Listener
- Gourmet
- Grace
- Grandpa Walnut
- Granny Stockings
- Green Gloom
- Greenleaf
- Greens
- Greenwood
- Guardian of the Understory
- Guava
- Guess Again
H: 46 names
- Habitat Hero
- Half and Half
- Half-Dressed
- Half-Light
- Halfway There
- Hand-Me-Downs
- Happily Ever After
- Hard Okapi
- Hattie
- Hazel
- Hazel Mae
- Hazelnut Swirl
- Hazina (Swahili for treasure)
- He Who Hides
- Headwaters
- Hearsay
- Heart of the Forest
- Henry
- Her Shyness
- Her Stripiness
- Hermit
- Hero
- Hidden Calf
- Hidden Gem
- Hide-and-Seek
- Hideaway
- Hindquarters
- His Shyness
- His Velvetness
- Home Team
- Homebody
- Honor Roll
- Hoofprint
- Hoops
- Hooves
- Hope
- Hot Cocoa
- Hot Fudge
- Huggy
- Hum
- Humble
- Humidity
- Hunker Down
- Hush
- Hush-Hush
- Hybrid
I: 14 names
- Ida
- Identity Crisis
- Imogen
- Incognito
- Infrasound
- Introvert
- Iroko
- Itimbiri
- Itty Bitty
- Ituri
- Ituri Mist
- Ituri Rose
- Ituri Shadow
- Ivory Bands
J: 8 names
- Jani (Swahili for leaf)
- Java
- Jigsaw
- Jodhpurs
- Johnstoni
- Josie
- Judge Fudge
- June
K: 27 names
- Kahawa (Swahili for coffee)
- Kapi
- Kapi the Okapi
- Kasai
- Keeper of the Quiet Path
- Keeper's Pet
- Keira
- Kenzo
- Kibali
- Kiko
- Kimia (Lingala for peace)
- Kimya (Swahili for quiet)
- Kind Heart
- King of the Glade
- Kip
- Kipling
- Kisangani
- Kitoko (Lingala for beautiful)
- Kivu
- Kivuli (Swahili for shadow)
- Knee Socks
- Knee-Highs
- Knickerbockers
- Knobby
- Kola Nut
- Kwango
- Kwilu
L: 57 names
- Lady Listens-a-Lot
- Lady of the Leaves
- Lady Stockings
- Lady Velvet
- Lashes
- Last to Be Found
- Latte
- Leaf Litter
- Leaf Lover
- Leaf Muncher
- Leaf Peeper
- Leaf Whisperer
- Leafy
- Leafy Greens
- Legend
- Legend of the Glade
- Leggings
- Legwarmers
- Liana
- Library Voice
- Licky
- Limited Edition
- Lindi
- Listener
- Listening Post
- Little Bean
- Little Horns
- Little Ituri
- Little Lord Stripe
- Little Miss Shy
- Little Stripe
- Living Fossil
- Lollipop Legs
- Lomami
- Lomami Blue
- Lone Walker
- Long Face
- Long Johns
- Long Tongue
- Long-Lost Relative
- Look Again
- Lopori
- Lord Mocha
- Lord of the Ferns
- Lottie
- Lovebug
- Low Profile
- Low Rumble
- Lowa
- Lowkey
- Loyal
- Lualaba
- Lucky
- Lukenie
- Lullaby
- Lulonga
- Lying Low
M: 73 names
- Macchiato
- Mackintosh
- Madame Mocha
- Mahogany
- Mahogany Grove
- Mahogany Sheen
- Maiko
- Maiko Moon
- Main Event
- Maisie
- Malebo
- Malembe (Lingala for gently)
- Malted
- Mama Mahogany
- Mambasa
- Maringa
- Marquis of Mist
- Marvel
- Mashup
- Masikio (Swahili for ears)
- Mayor of the Forest
- Mbula (Lingala for rain)
- Medley
- Meek
- Mellow
- Midnight Snack
- Mighty Okapi
- Milia (Swahili for stripes)
- Milk Chocolate
- Milkshake
- Millie
- Mineral
- Minnie
- Miracle
- Mismatched
- Miss Epulu
M, continued
- Mississippi Mud
- Mist Walker
- Mister Stockings
- Mister Whispers
- Misty
- Mix and Match
- Mizzle
- Moabi
- Mocha
- Mochaccino
- Modest
- Mongala
- Moninga (Lingala for friend)
- Monty
- Moonface
- Moonwalker
- Morning Mist
- Morris
- Moss
- Mossy Hollow
- Motema (Lingala for heart)
- Mouse
- Mousse
- Msitu (Swahili for forest)
- Mto (Swahili for river)
- Mud Pie
- Mum's the Word
- Mumble
- Muncher
- Murmur
- Museum Piece
- Mushroom
- Muzzle
- MVP
- Mvua (Swahili for rain)
- Mwezi (Swahili for moon)
- Mystery Guest
N: 25 names
- Naptime
- Ndoto (Swahili for dream)
- Ned
- Nepoko
- Nest Calf
- Nestling
- New Leaf
- New to Science
- Nibbler
- Nibs
- Nibs and Bobs
- Niko
- Nineteen-Oh-One
- Nom Nom
- Nora
- Nosh
- Not a Giraffe
- Not a Zebra
- Not Pictured
- Nougat
- Now You See Me
- Nubbins
- Nurse Log
- Nuzzle
- Nyota (Swahili for star)
O: 54 names
- O Kapitan
- Oakley the Okapi
- Odd Couple
- Odd One Out
- Odd Socks
- Odessa the Okapi
- Odette
- Okapella
- Okapi Accident
- Okapi and Paste
- Okapi Birthday
- Okapi Camper
- Okapi Cat
- Okapi Dance
- Okapi Days
- Okapi Dokey
- Okapi Feet
- Okapi Medium
- Okapi Place
- Okapi Power
- Okapi Pride
- Okapi Returns
- Okapi Right
- Okapi That
- Okapi Thoughts
- Okapi Trails
- Okapi-Go-Lucky
- Okapia
- Okapicasso
- Okapow
- Okapuccino
- Okay Okapi
- Okoume
- Old as the Forest
- Old Growth
- Old Man Moss
- Old Soul
- Olive
- Ollie
- Once Upon a Fern
- One of a Kind
- Oona
- Opal
- Ophelia
- Opie the Okapi
- Optical Illusion
- Orchid
- Orla
- Oscar
- Ossicone
- Otis
- Otto the Okapi
- Owen
- Oxbow
P: 45 names
- Pain au Chocolat
- Paint Drips
- Painted Legs
- Painted Stockings
- Pajama Bottoms
- Palm
- Pantaloons
- Papa Praline
- Party in the Back
- Patchwork
- Peanut
- Peckish
- Peekaboo
- Perky
- Petrichor
- Photo Okapi
- Pianissimo
- Picket Fence
- Picky Eater
- Picnic
- Pinstripe
- Pippa
- Pitter Patter
- Placid
- Plantain
- Plot Twist
- Plum Velvet
- Plus Fours
- Plush
- Poise
- Polepole (Swahili for slowly)
- Polished Wood
- Pookie
- Posy
- Praline
- Prance
- Precious
- Prince Charming
- Prince of the Understory
- Princess Stripes
- Professor Whisper
- Profiterole
- Proof of Legend
- Puttees
- Puzzle Piece
Q: 5 names
- Queen of the Quiet
- Quiet as Moss
- Quiet One
- Quiet Rumbler
- Quietude
R: 45 names
- Racing Stripes
- Radar
- Radar Dish
- Raffia
- Rafiki (Swahili for friend)
- Rain Boots
- Rain Dance
- Rain Walker
- Raincloud
- Raincoat
- Raindrop
- Rainforest Rose
- Rainsong
- Rainy Season
- Ranger
- Ranger Stripe
- Rapids
- Rare Breed
- Rare Find
- Rare Spawn
- Rarely Seen
- Rarity
- Refuge
- Regal
- Remix
- Ribbon Legs
- Ribbons
- Riddle
- Ripples
- River Bend
- Riverbank
- Rivulet
- Rocky Road
- Rooibos
- Rookie
- Rootling
- Rosewood
- Ruki
- Rumble
- Ruminant
- Rumor
- Rump Stripes
- Russet
- Rustle in the Bracken
- Rwenzori
S: 128 names
- S'more
- Sable
- Salad Bar
- Salt Lick
- Sangha
- Sankuru
- Sanza (Lingala for moon)
- Sapele
- Sapling
- Satellite
- Satin
- Scout
- Scrumptious
- Second Cousin
- Second Helping
- Secret
- Secret of the Trees
- Seedling
- Seersucker
- Self-Cleaning
- Semisweet
- Semliki
- Semliki Mist
- Serene
- Sergeant Stripes
- Seven Stripes
- Seventy Percent
- Shade
- Shade Seeker
- Shade Walker
- Shadow
- Shadow Dancer
- Shadow on the Trail
- Shady
- Shady Grove
- She Who Listens
- Sheen
- Shelter
- Show and Tell
- Shush
- Shy as Morning
- Shy Cousin
S, continued
- Shy Violet
- Side Salad
- Sidestep
- Sienna
- Silent Night
- Silky
- Sir Hides-a-Lot
- Sir Socks
- Sir Stripe-a-Lot
- Siri (Swahili for secret)
- Skittish
- Sleek
- Slicker
- Slip Away
- Slippers
- Slurp
- Slurpy Tongue
- Smoosh
- Snack Time
- Sneaky Pete
- Snoot
- Snoozy
- Snugglebug
- Snuggles
- Sock Drawer
- Sock Hop
- Sockington
- Sockrates
- Socks
- Soft as Rain
- Soft Snoot
- Soft Tread
- Softfoot
- Softheart
- Softie
- Softy Socks
- Solo
- Solo Stroll
- Son of the Shade
- Sonar
- Sophisticate
- Sotto Voce
- Spare Parts
S, continued
- Spats
- Spirit
- Spirit of the Thicket
- Sprout
- Squeegee
- Stage Fright
- Stampede of One
- Star Attraction
- Star Pupil
- Stay Put
- Steady
- Stealth
- Stepping Stone
- Still Air
- Stillness
- Stockings
- Stomp
- Storybook
- Stranger in the Clearing
- Stripe a Balance
- Stripe a Pose
- Stripe Force
- Stripe Hype
- Stripe It Lucky
- Stripe Up the Band
- Striped Britches
- Striped Stockings
- Striped Unicorn
- Stripeling
- Stripes
- Stripey Legs
- Stripy Pajamas
- Subwoofer
- Suede
- Sundae
- Sunfleck
- Surprise Ending
- Surround Sound
- Sweatbands
- Sweet Tooth
- Swish
- Swivel
- Swivel Ears
T: 76 names
- Tail Tuft
- Tale of the Thicket
- Tall Socks
- Tall Tale
- Tall Timber
- Tamu (Swahili for sweet)
- Tassel
- Tastebud
- Teak
- Team Okapi
- Team Spirit
- Teeny
- Tender Shoot
- Tenderfoot
- Tendril
- Tess
- The Gentle Browser
- The Green Door
- The Hidden Prince
- The Honorable Stockings
- The Leaf Thief
- The Listening One
- The Long Way Home
- The Midnight Nibbler
- The One Nobody Saw
- The Puddle Jumper
- The Quiet Traveler
- The Secret Glade
- The Shy Princess
- The Striped Stranger
- The Velvet Wanderer
- Theo
- Thicket
- Thicket Dweller
- Through the Green
- Tickles
- Tiger Tights
- Tights
T, continued
- Tilly
- Timid
- Tippytoes
- Tiptoe
- Tiramisu
- Toadstool
- Toby
- Toddle
- Tongue Tied
- Tongue Twister
- Top Secret
- Torte
- Totter
- Trail Scent
- Tranquil
- Treasure
- Tree Fern
- Treefall
- Trekker
- Tributary
- Trick Question
- Tropic
- Trot
- Truffle
- Truffle Box
- Truffle Hunter
- Tshopo
- Tshuapa
- Tube Socks
- Tucked Away
- Tufty
- Tumaini (Swahili for hope)
- Twenty Stripes
- Twig
- Twiggy
- Twilight
- Twinkle Toes
- Two for One
U: 15 names
- Uele
- Uele Dawn
- Ukungu (Swahili for mist)
- Ulimi (Swahili for tongue)
- Ulindi
- Umber
- Umbrella Leaf
- Uncle Mocha
- Under the Fig Tree
- Undercover
- Undergrowth
- Understory
- Unicorn of the Ituri
- Upole (Swahili for gentleness)
- Usiku (Swahili for night)
V: 14 names
- Vanishing Act
- Velour
- Velvet
- Velvet Ears
- Velvet Nose
- Velvet Underfoot
- Velvet Unicorn
- Velveteen
- Verdant
- Victory
- Vine
- Vine Dodger
- Virunga
- Visitor Favorite
W: 24 names
- Wait Here
- Walker in the Green
- Wallflower
- Walnut
- Wary
- Washcloth
- Watcher by the River
- Watchful
- Waterproof
- Wee One
- Wenge
- Where the Ferns Grow
- Whisper
- Whisper in the Leaves
- White Ankles
- Whoopie Pie
- Wide Eyes
- Wild Berry
- Wildwood
- Willa
- Windshield Wiper
- Wish
- Witness Protection
- Worth the Wait
Y: 5 names
- Yangambi
- Yawn
- Young Master Fern
- Your Quietness
- Yum Yum