Dolphins are wonderful and friendly creatures that are adored by human beings. It is obviously impossible to have one as a pet except if you are the owner of a zoo or an aquarium; but you can still look for great names which would suit your dolphin, if you were to have one.

Why You Should Name Your Dolphin

Naming people and pets is necessary. By knowing a person’s name, a stranger can become someone that deserves our decency and sympathy. The same empathizing effect of knowing another person’s names is the same when it comes to other animals or pets. A name distinguishes a person or a pet from a generalized crowd or group of animals. For the same reason, our pets can easily gain access to our affection and endearment that is often reserved only for our own kind once we name them. Therefore, naming your pet dolphin has the same effect. Even dolphins in general have specific whistles, which are equivalent to names, that they use to call each other.  If you decide to adopt a dolphin it is important to name your new family member. Even if a dolphin is not domesticated, naming it will result in it being watched and tended to more carefully and as a result, it will make the animal less stressed. Overall, naming a dolphin whether wild or domesticated is good for the animal’s welfare. It has been proven that giving names to animals moves people to better conserve and care more for them in general.

Good Dolphin Names

Fin: You can name your dolphin Fin, a perfect name which complements the dolphin’s appearance as, dolphins have fins on their backs.

Jumper: Jumper is a good dolphin name which you can give to the dolphin who is always jumping in and out of the water.

Snowflake: Snowflake is a good name for your adorable dolphin. The name is inspired by Snowflake, the dolphin character in the movie ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.’

Loki: Loki is the god of mischief and you can name your dolphin after this god. The name will definitely stick because dolphins are clever.

Natsu: If you prefer giving your dolphin an exotic name; name him Natsu. That is Japanese for ‘born in summer;’ dolphins are fond of summer time.

Flippy: Dolphins flip a lot when they jump into the air, making a great show for their spectators. Flippy is therefore a good name to give to your dolphin.

Dusty: Dusty makes a good dolphin name for a grey dolphin.

Other suggested names which will suit your dolphin are below.

• Squeal
• Dony
• Splash
• Freedom
• Blue
• Mushroom
• Echo
• Squak
• Sandy
• Aran
• Dolly
• Fainne
• Molly
• Ork
• Dingle
• Fungie
• Dorad
• Tarquin

Some Interesting Facts About Dolphins

Dolphins are an interesting species of animals that have some of the most elaborate acoustic capabilities in the animal kingdom. These animals make a variety of sounds such as whistles, clicks, squawks, squeaks, moans, barks, groans, and yelps too. Some types of dolphins such as bottlenose dolphins are some of the few animals, along with apes and humans, that have the ability to recognise themselves in a mirror. Known as ‘reflective’ of their intelligence, dolphins are also amongst some of the few animals that have been recorded using tools. In Shark Bay in Western Australia, these animals fit marine sponges over their beaks in order to protect them from any sharp, harmful rocks as they forage for their meals. Another fascinating fact about Bottlenose dolphins is that they sleep with one half of their brain awake at a time, and they also keep one eye open. It is believed that they do this to keep an eye out for their group. That way they can make sure that they stick together as well as look out for predators such as sharks. Dolphins have an interesting way of hunting too, they produce bubbles to herd their prey to the surface and sometimes they also use a hunting technique called ‘fish-whacking. Fish whacking is when dolphins make use of their tail to hit fish in order to stun them so that they are easier to catch.

Cute Dolphin Names

We have also compiled cute names suitable for your adorable dolphin.

Cuddly: A friendly dolphin deserves to be named Cuddly.

Jumpy: If your dolphin constantly jumps out of the water, Jumpy is a great name for her.

Love: The term love is used on someone or something that is adored. You can consider naming your dolphin Love, that will be cute.

Hopster: Hopster is a cute name for a dolphin who spends a lot of time jumping in and out of water.

Eldoris: Eldoris is a cute dolphin name. The name is Greek for ‘of the sea.’

Ezili: Ezili is a cute and unique name which is perfect for your dolphin. The name is inspired by the Benin goddess of beauty, water and love.

Ula: If you want a short and easy to pronounce type of name for your adorable dolphin; name her Ula. This name means ‘sea jewel.’

Below is a list of other cute names for your dolphin.

• Beck
• Haiti
• Aoi
• Katrina
• Solomon
• Seychelles
• Kona
• Leonora
• Gully
• Lumen
• Naewhal
• Amberjack
• Cliff
• Cilia
• Kent
• Britney
• Negril
• Lunan
• Aqua
• Bellus
• Angel
• Bella

What Do Dolphins Eat

Toothed whales such as dolphins are carnivores meaning that they eat other animals. Dolphins feed on a variety of fish, squid, shrimps, jellyfish as well as octopuses. The types of fish and other creatures that dolphins eat depend on the species of the dolphin, where the dolphins live, and the wildlife that they share their habitats with. Most dolphins are opportunistic feeders, meaning that they eat the fish and other animals that share their homes. Amazon river dolphins consume more than 40 different species of freshwater fish plus they also eat freshwater crustaceans. Although, dolphins are believed to have a keen sense of taste, they lack an olfactory nerve and associated lobes so it is believed that they are not able to smell their food. When it comes to water, dolphins get all of the water they require directly from the food they consume. The dolphin’s main prey which is fish and squid contain a lot of water. Also, dolphins do not lose water by sweating, like we do, and as a result they do not need a lot of water like we do in their diets.

Funny Dolphin Names

The funniest of names are made from puns and some are derived from comics. Find a funny name, perfect for your dolphin below.

Jack Sparrow: Jack Sparrow is definitely a funny dolphin name. The name is inspired by Captain Jack Sparrow from the movie, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’

Musha: You can name your dolphin after the little dragon from the movie ‘Mulan,’ who managed to make everyone happy. This name is perfect for a dolphin who is always doing tricks and making everyone happy.

Fintastic: Fintastic makes a good funny dolphin name. The word is a pun for fantastic; you add the dolphin’s fin to its fantastic show and you get Fintastic.

Spouticious: This is a funny name for your dolphin. The name is derived from the word spout which refers to the blowhole from which your dolphin breath.

Tail Body: Tail Body is a crazy name which will suit your dolphin, since he has a tail which sort of takes up half of his body.

Dive Bar: You can name your dolphin Dive Bar since diving into the sea is a dolphin’s favourite sport.

Kisame: Kisame is Japanese for ‘demon shark.’ This is a funny name to give to your dolphin, considering how loving and adorable dolphins are.

The list below is a compilation of other dolphin names which are also funny

• Vitamin Sea
• Dolphinfish
• Dipper
• Fishy
• Somefin
• Cowy
• Dolly
• Silly
• Finnley
• Baja
• Crazy
• Bottle
• Bull Et
• Leo
• Finland
• Porpoise
• Flipped

Where Do Dolphins Live

Dolphins can be found in the world’s seas, oceans and in many cases rivers too. Some other types of dolphins prefer to live in coastal areas, other dolphins like shallow water which may be located further out to sea while some species travel the high seas to get away from land. River dolphins including the Amazon River dolphin and the South Asian river dolphins live in fresh water rivers and lakes only. Some other dolphin species have populations that live in fresh water such as tucuxi, Irrawaddy dolphin and finless porpoise. Other species, such as common bottlenose dolphins, can visit or inhabit estuaries of large rivers and as result they end up living close to cities. Several other species of dolphins can be found in colder waters, such as white-beaked dolphins and hourglass dolphins, however most dolphins prefer tropical and temperate waters because they are warm-blooded mammals. As such, it is easier for them to regulate their body temperature in these warm environments.

Female Dolphin Names

The names below are nice for female dolphins.

Snowflake: Snowflake is perfect for a female dolphin. The name is from a mascot in the ‘Ace Ventura.’

Chirp: Chirp is a great female dolphin name for a dolphin who constantly chirps.

Star: People love a spectacular show performed by dolphins. The word star is usually used to applaud one who does well, so it makes a good name for a female dolphin.

Azure:  You can name your dolphin Azure, a French girl’s name which translates to ‘sky-blue.’

Umiko: Umiko is a great name for your female dolphin. The name is Japanese and it translates to ‘child of the sea.’

Oceania: Oceania is an ideal name for a dolphin living in the ocean.

Hourglass: Hourglass is a cool name for your female dolphin, especially one with a crossed beak.

Below are other female dolphin names.

• Bliss
• Pearl
• Spring
• Bubbly
• Cuddly
• Joy
• Sweetie
• Sandy
• Dahlia
• Cheer
• Blue
• Cutey
• Spirited
• Kind
• Deliria
• Aurora
• Oreo
• Pacifica
• Sunshine
• Eerie

What Makes Dolphins Special

Dolphins can swim through the water as gracefully as any kind of fish, but they cannot be classified as fish. Dolphins are mammals and this puts them in the group of other marine mammals such as whales, seals, and manatees. These animals are seen as one of the world’s most intelligent animals, plus they have several cognitive abilities that sets them apart. Dolphins have been seen displaying a combination of perception, communication, and problem-solving. This is seen in the way the dolphins communicate and use tools. Communication is a huge part of how dolphins socialize and hunt. They have the ability to echolocate with a series of clicks, and it also allows them to find other dolphins or similar species as well as prey even in the low-light conditions of the ocean. Dolphin echolocation also allows them to detect surgically implanted metal in swimming humans. What makes dolphins special is that these animals are a lot like any other pet such as a dog. Dolphins are sociable, playful, and curious too. To top it all, these animals get along well with humans. In addition, dolphins have been seen exhibiting signs of compassion and altruism amongst themselves and other animals.

Male Dolphin Names

If your dolphin is male, you can choose a name for him from the suggested names below.

Drake: You can name your male dolphin after Drake, a famous naval officer and sea explorer.

Kai: The name Kai is a nice name for a male dolphin. Kai is Hawaiian for sea.

Skipper: Skipper is a good name to give to your male dolphin. This name refers to a Captain; it’s like saying Captain Dolphin.

Earwyn: Earwyn is a nice name for your dolphin. The name means ‘friend of the sea.’

Grouper: You will hardly find a dolphin swimming alone, so the name Grouper is suitable for your dolphin.

Jonah: You can name your dolphin after Jonah the man from the Bible who was swallowed by a fish.

Hector: If you have a dolphin who is of the hector species, the name will be perfect for him.

You can also find the right name for your dolphin from the names below.

• Thor
• Alexander the Great
• Achilies
• Hercules
• Odysseus
• Poseidon
• Harvey
• Lush
• Typhoon
• Sydney
• Bali
• Aruba
• Bartholomew
• Edward
• Kellick
• Fraser
• Einstein
• Loki
• Kobe
• Natsu

Cool Dolphin Names

Dolphins are cool sea creatures and they need to be identified by cool names.

Poseidon: Poseidon is a Greek god of the ocean and naming your dolphin after him would be cool.

Leo: You can name your dolphin Leo, which is short for Leonidas; a Greek general who was feared by all. The name is cool but ironic, since dolphins are not feared but loved by all.

Topaz: Topaz is a cool name for your dolphin. This is a name taken from the gemstone dolphin in the ‘Barbie film series.’

Alpha: If your dolphin is a male, the name will suit him. You will have named the dolphin after a dolphin character in the movie ‘The Day of the Dolphin.’

Snorky: Snorky is a cool name to give to your dolphin who is good at doing stunts and tricks. This name is inspired by Snorky the character in ‘Simpsons.’

Flip Flip: This name is good for your active dolphin who does acrobatic tricks in water.

Bubbles: Bubbles is a cool name for your dolphin.

Below are cooler names for your dolphin.

• Clicker
• Jumper
• Trickster
• Kisser
• Happy
• Cuddly
• Fin
• Chirp
• Hopster
• Jumpy
• Aqua
• Summer
• Azul
• Oceana
• Crystal
• Sparkle
• Odes
• Hotshot
• Delphine
• Hydra

Nicknames for Dolphins

Nicknames need to be interesting enough to suit an adorable creature like a dolphin. Here are great bynames for your dolphin.

Buddy: Buddy is a perfect nickname to give to your dolphin. It is a term usually used to refer to a friend. Since dolphins are friendly, this is the right name.

Sparkle: Dolphins look sparkly because of the water droplets that will be on their bodies when they jump out of the water. Sparkle is therefore a good moniker for your dolphin.

Paradise: If you have ever watched dolphins spin and flip inside of a blue sea, you know this name is the best because the view looks and feels like paradise.

Bliss: Bliss means joy and if your dolphin brings you joy, why not name her Bliss.

Crystal: Crystal is a nice moniker which definitely suits that dolphin whose beak is white.

We have compiled a list of interesting bynames which you can also consider.

• Summer
• Ocean
• Hotshot
• Captain
• Pirate
• Azula
• Odessa
• Blue
• Azul
• Princess
• Samos
• Chios
• Santorini
• Kos
• Delos
• Psara
• Aegina
• Bella
• Xenios
• Thasos
• Yoko
• Dot

Pet Dolphin Names

Pets are usually given great names. We have listed nice pet dolphin names.

Flipper: You can name your pet dolphin after Flipper, the iconic wild dolphin that was filmed in the early 1960s. The name suits a lovable pet dolphin.

More pet dolphin names are below.

• Dixie
• Lester
• Copper
• Rascal
• Maria
• Hayley
• Rose
• Clipper
• Luna
• Kyla
• Lola
• Emerald
• Hops
• Agape
• Spinner
• Aqua
• Flash
• Neptune
• Triton
• Cutey
• Silly
• Dolly
• Bubbles
• Joy
• Fin
• Shelly
• Summer

Species of Dolphins

For you to be able to choose a proper name for your dolphin, you need to know what kind of a dolphin it is. There are eight distinct kinds of dolphins.

Bottlenose: They are most familiar, since they adapt easily to captive life.

Common Dolphin: These can be long beaked or short beaked.

Amazon River Dolphin: This one looks more like a cat food sculpture and it has miniscule eyes and it inhabits fresh water.

Ganges River Dolphin: They are at risk of extension and little is known about them.

Commerson’s Dolphins: These are also known as aquatic pandas because they are black and white. They are 5 feet long.

Rough Toothed Dolphins: This kind hangs out with pilot whales. It has no noticeable forehead.

Risso’s Dolphin: It has a grey hide which lightens as it ages. It is also known as the grampus.

Killer Whales: These are giant dolphins.

What are Signature Whistles?

Dolphins are said to choose their own names by their whistles. Each dolphin has his or her signature whistle which is different from that of the next dolphin. Expects have gathered that these whistles are a way in which dolphins call one another; individuals only respond to their own calls by sounding their whistle back.