What Are The Turtles Names

Let’s get one thing straight. Everyone knows the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They are Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. But wait—why those names?

Blame the Renaissance

Their creator, Kevin Eastman, just jotted down some artist names. No deep meaning. He thought it was funny. And honestly? It is.

Leonardo da Vinci. Donatello. Michelangelo. Raphael. These guys painted chapels. These turtles fight aliens. The contrast is pure gold.

But There Are More Turtles

Oh, you thought it stopped there? Nope. The TMNT universe has a fifth turtle named Venus de Milo. She is female. She uses mystical powers. She debuted in a 1997 live-action show that fans pretend doesn’t exist.

Then there’s Jennika. She joined the comics in 2019. She’s canon. She wears purple like Donnie, but she’s way more aggressive. And yes, she has a human name before mutation.

Don’t forget Slash. He’s a giant, mutated snapping turtle. He’s technically a villain-turned-ally. And his name? It comes from a skateboard trick. Gnarly.

Real Turtles, Real Weird Names

Now let’s talk about the real world. People name their pet turtles the wildest things. I met one called Shelly. Another called King Snappy. A third was just “Tank.” Zero creativity, maximum respect.

There’s a famous sea turtle named Bubba. He lives at an aquarium in Florida. He waves at visitors. He has his own Instagram. Bubba is more famous than you.

7 Types of Sea Turtles - Key Features, Habitats & Facts

And let’s not ignore the Galapagos tortoise named Lonesome George. He was the last of his subspecies. He died in 2012. But his name? Poetic and sad.

Why the Name “Turtle” At All?

Here’s a weird fact. Turtles are not tortoises. Tortoises live on land. Turtles live in water. But everyone calls everything a “turtle.” It’s cultural chaos. And I love it.

The word “turtle” comes from the French tortue. That’s also where we get “tortoise.” So blame the French. They started the confusion.

Meanwhile, the scientific name for the green sea turtle is Chelonia mydas. That sounds like a fancy pasta dish. But it just means “shelled sea creature.” Boring.

Pop Culture Turtles You Forgot

Remember Bowser from Mario? He’s a turtle. Or a koopa. Nobody is sure. His full name is King Koopa. But literally everyone calls him Bowser. Why? Because some Nintendo exec thought it sounded tough.

List of Turtles with Names and Types in English with Pictures - ilmish

There’s also Franklin. Yes, the children’s book turtle. He loves counting. He always solves problems. He is the opposite of a ninja. And we still adore him.

And who can forget Crush from Finding Nemo? He’s a sea turtle who surfs the East Australian Current. His voice is by a surfer dude. His catchphrase? “Righteous.” Pure 90s magic.

The Point of Naming Turtles

Naming a turtle is weirdly personal. You choose something that makes you smile. Or laugh. Or roll your eyes. There’s no wrong answer.

So next time you see a turtle, ask its name. If it doesn’t have one? Give it one. Something silly. Something big. Because turtles carry their names on their backs—slowly, but with style.

And remember: even a plain old box turtle can be a Leonardo. Or a Shelly. Or a Tank. The name is just the start of the story.