Selecting a name for a loved one – a child, a pet, or even a plush toy – can be a time-consuming, high-stakes task.
This living creature, or inanimate object, will endure this name for the rest of his or her life. Thankfully, naming a baby panda, otherwise referred to as a cub, is stress-free and very fun!
The panda bear, also called the giant panda, is a lovable, though fierce, bamboo-eating native of China. Forest land serves as the habitat of a panda. It is also common to find pandas at the zoo. These black and white-coated, woolly creatures, with puff ball ears and paws complete with claws are a topic of great debate among scientists.
Professionals dispute over whether the beloved creature, scientifically known as Ailuropoda melanoleuca, is to be categorized as a bear or as a raccoon. This dispute also extends to include the controversy over how the red panda, cousin of the giant panda, should be categorized. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the giant panda is to be classified as a bear, while its equally cute cousin, the red panda, belongs in the raccoon family – who would have thought?
The technical part is covered. Now, take a look at these 50 names, perfect for the giant or red variety, of a real-life, newborn cub or a nonliving, though similarly adorable, plush toy.
For more naming inspiration and ideas take a look at these short boys' names or these earthy boy names.
Sonny (English origin), meaning ‘male descendant’.
Basi (Turkish origin), meaning ‘little chief’.
Coconut (Portuguese origin), meaning ‘head or skull’.
ZhenZhen (Chinese origin), meaning ‘precious’.
Pumpkin (Greek origin), meaning ‘large melon’.
Zen (Sanskrit origin), meaning ‘thought or meditation’.
Rocky (Middle English origin), meaning ‘rock like’.
Cuddles (Middle English origin), meaning ‘to embrace’.
Peter Panda (Greek origin), meaning ‘stone or rock’; of course, this is simply the meaning of the name Peter.
Serenity (Latin origin), meaning ‘calm or peaceful’.
SuLin (Chinese origin), meaning ‘something very cute’; this accurately describes panda babies.
Melody (Greek origin), meaning ‘song or tune for lyric poetry’.
Pinky (Dutch origin), meaning ‘little finger’.
Sundae (unknown origin), there are varying tales of who invented the first ice cream sundae and how it got its name; regardless, the name suits a panda very well.
HuaMei (Chinese origin), meaning "China and USA’.
Pandemonium (Greek origin), meaning ‘evil spirit’; pandas are quite the opposite of evil, but this adorable name matches paradoxically well with their angelic faces.
Petunia (French origin), a beautiful flower name for a girl panda.
PanPan (French origin), meaning ‘failure or breakdown’; despite the negative denotation of the name, its connotation is one that is cutely fitting for a panda.
Tranquility (Latin origin), meaning ‘rest or quiet’.
Flora (Latin origin), meaning ‘plants, flowers, and fertility’; there is a goddess in Roman mythology with the name.
Percy (Greek origin), meaning ‘to destroy’; though it sounds a bit dangerous, it comes from the Greek figure Perseus, Percy sounds so loveable.
GuGu (African origin), meaning ‘precious’.
Pierre (French origin), meaning ‘stone or rock; it is the French version of Peter.
Lulu (German origin), meaning ‘famous warrior’; the name is a shortened version of Louise.
TaoTao (Chinese origin), meaning ‘long life’.
Buttercup (Latin origin), meaning ‘little frog’.
Tiny (Middle English origin), meaning ‘very small’.
Cupcake (English origin), meaning ‘small cake serving one person’; though the word is commonly used in a loving way.
Prince (Middle English origin), meaning ‘behaving in a regal manner’.
TaiShan (Chinese origin), meaning ‘peace in my family’.
Fluffy (English origin), meaning ‘light and soft’.
Peanut (Turkish origin), meaning ‘husk’; though the word is commonly used endearingly towards a loved one.
Barry (Irish origin), meaning ‘fair-haired’.
Cookie (Dutch origin), meaning ‘little cake’.
Darwin (Old English origin), meaning ‘gifted friend’.
Teddy (English origin), meaning ‘divine gift’.
Marshmallow (Old English origin), meaning ‘mallow plant’.
XiangXiang (Chinese origin), meaning ‘soars above others’.
Bashful (Middle English origin), meaning ‘to lose composure’; one of Snow White’s kind-hearted dwarfs holds this name.
Snuggles (Old Danish origin), meaning ‘neat or tidy.’
Blizzard (English origin), meaning ‘driving snow’.
Paulie (Roman origin), meaning ‘humble’; a childlike version of Paul.
Sunshine (Old English origin), meaning ‘a mirror’.
Bamboozle (Scottish origin), meaning ‘confound or perplex’.
Tumbles (Middle English), meaning ‘to fall over and over again’.
MeiSheng (Chinese origin), meaning ‘victory’.
Princess (Old French origin), meaning ‘female ruler’.
Bamboo (Dutch origin), meaning ‘giant grass in the tropics’.
Pumpernickel (German origin), meaning ‘dark rye bread’; despite the word’s meaning being a bit dull, the name itself is very cute for an animal.
Polly (English origin), meaning ‘great sorrow’; but the name Polly sounds so happy.
