Penguin Name Generator

Penguin names tend to come from one of a few places: the ice they live on, the tuxedo they appear to wear, the way they move, and the small pool of famous penguins most people grew up with. Waddles, Pebbles and Flippers are the classic pet-style names; Tux, Bowtie and Sir Waddlesworth play on the formal black-and-white plumage; and Pingu, Mumble, Skipper and Feathers McGraw carry instant recognition from film and TV.

If you want something more distinctive, the real world offers plenty. There are 18 penguin species and their names make excellent characters on their own: Adélie, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Macaroni, Chinstrap and Humboldt. New Zealand's Māori names for its native penguins (Hoiho, Kororā, Tawaki) sound lovely and are rarely used. Antarctic explorers (Shackleton, Amundsen, Mawson) and research stations (McMurdo, Vostok, Halley) give a rugged, expedition feel, while ice vocabulary like Floe, Nunatak, Sastrugi and Frazil is unusual enough to stand out at a zoo naming contest.

A good penguin name usually fits the bird's size and attitude. Emperor and king penguins carry grand names well; little blue and rockhopper penguins suit short, bouncy ones like Peep, Nippy or Squidge. Krill, Sardine and Anchovy are cheerful choices for anyone who wants a name with a wink to the diet.