How to Name a Guinea Pig

A guinea pig, or cavy, can live up to 7 years, so you want a name that you will like to repeat for that amount of time. Animal shelter workers know that giving a rescue pet a proper name is key to attract people to adopt the animal. With some guinea pigs, you look at them for the first time and their name pops immediately out of your mouth. But for others, it takes time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nameless guinea pig
• Piece of paper
• Pen or pencil
• Observation
• Patience

Name That Pig

1. Get a piece of blank paper and write out some name suggestions. Some people can do this in their heads, but it does help to be able to immediately see the words and compare them.

2. Pay attention to your nameless guinea pig. Ask yourself if the guinea pig's body, hair style or color remind you of anything like a food, a physical object or another animal. Write those words down on your list.

3. Then pay attention to the guinea pig's movements and actions. Does the guinea pig do anything that really stands out from any other pet you've had? This could be the way the guinea pig squeaks, runs around, waddles, sits up or plays with certain objects. Write those words down.

4. Does the guinea pig's looks, voice or actions remind you of any person you have ever met, seen on television or read about? Write those names down.

5. Take the list and cross out those names that you just don't like for whatever reason--even if you don't have any reason.

6. When you narrow the list down to a few, try them on the guinea pig. Say the name in a high-pitched voice. If the guinea pig turns to look at you, this is a good indication that the name works.

Tips & Warnings

• Guinea pigs (cavies) are not offended if you decide later on that the name is wrong and change it.
• Guinea pigs can and will learn to respond to nicknames based on their actual name. For example, my guinea pig, Cocaine, would also respond to "Cainer" and "Cocoa."
• Don't name your new guinea pig with the name of a guinea pig that's passed away. This is subliminally making your guinea pig into someone she's not. You will be disappointed when your new guinea pig won't act like the one she's named after.
• Keep the name under three syllables (or beats). A guinea pig will never respond to a long name like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The guinea pig will learn to ignore you, instead, thinking that you are a babbling idiot.

Resources

• Choosing the best name for your guinea pig
• Really useful tips on naming your pets