100+ Names Inspired by Snakes & Serpents

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Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson shares some of her favorite snake-related names

Co-authored by Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: March 7, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Boy Names
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• Girl Names
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• Gender-Neutral
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Snakes are fascinating creatures that appear in mythology from all over the world, so it’s no surprise that many names are inspired by them. Whether you’re looking for a snake-inspired name for a baby, a character, or even a pet, you’ve come to the right place. We partnered with a naming expert to help us compile a list of the most popular names that mean “snake” (or are related to snakes), including masculine, feminine, and gender-neutral options. Let’s slither in!

Names Related to Snakes

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson recommends names like Draco, Ophion, Nagendra, and Python for their bold symbolism, depth, and cultural resonance. Other great options include:

• For boys: Drake, Eryx, Tannin, Ormr, Serpens
• For girls: Echidna, Lamia, Medusa, Melusine, Serpentina
• Gender-neutral: Ahi, Fani, Heka, Iara, Ronon

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Section 1 of 4:

Boy Names That Mean “Snake”

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1. 
   Snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica, so it’s no surprise that there are names associated with snakes from all over the world. Some of these boy names mean “snake” or “serpent” directly, while others are closely associated with the animal.

   • Acoatle (Nahuatl for “water snake”)
   • Anguís (Latin for “snake”)
   • Apep (Egyptian for “to slither”)
   • Apophis (Greek form of Apep)
   • Askook (Cree for “snake”)
   • Basilisk (Greek for “little king”; after a mythical serpent king)
   • Cecohuatle (Nahuatl for “one snake”)
   • Chalchiuhcoatl (Nahuatl for “jade snake”)
   • Coanan (Nahuatl for “snake protector”)
   • Coatl (Nahuatl for “snake, serpent”)
   • Draco (Latin for “dragon, serpent”)
     • Dr. Wilson says this name “carries mythic, edgy energy, [and is] often chosen for parents looking for strong, fantasy-inspired names.”
   • Drake (English and Norse for “dragon, serpent”)
   • Eryx (Greek for “boxer”; a genus of snake)
   • Fáfnir (Norse for “mythical dragon”)
   • Fanibhusan (Sanskrit for “one who wears a serpent as an ornament”)
   • Habu (Japanese for “pit viper”)
   • Jörmungandr (Norse for “huge monster”; the Midgard Serpent in Norse mythology)
   • Kundali (Sanskrit for “coiled serpent”)
   • Leviathan (Hebrew for “coiled”; a Biblical sea serpent)
   • Naga (Sanskrit for “serpent”)
   • Nagaraja (Sanskrit for “snake king”)
   • Nagasena (Sanskrit for “army of serpents”)
   • Nahash (Hebrew for “serpent, snake”)
   • Ophion (Greek mythological serpent)
     • According to Dr. Wilson, this name “is rare and literary, [and is] appealing to those who want symbolic or myth-inspired names.”
   • Ophiuchus (Greek for “serpent-bearer”)
   • Ormr (Norse for “serpent, snake, dragon”)
   • Orochimaru (Japanese for “great snake”)
   • Pacoatl (Nahuatl for “medicine snake”)
   • Phaninanth (Sanskrit for “lord of the serpents”)
   • Phanindra (Sanskrit for “king of serpents”)
   • Python (Greek for “to rot”; a type of snake)
     • “Though unusual, [this name] offers a dramatic, literary connection to Greek mythology, which may appeal to parents interested in strong mythic imagery,” notes Dr. Wilson.
   • Rono (Shipibo-Conibo for “snake”)
   • Serpens (Latin for “serpent”)
   • Tannin (Hebrew for “sea serpent”)
   • Tezcacoacatl (Nahuatl for “of the mirrored snake”)
   • Tiamat (Babylonian for “sea serpent”)
   • Vasuki (Sanskrit for “to dwell”; serpent king from Hindu mythology)
   • Yurlungur (Australian Aboriginal serpent deity)
   • Zilant (Tatar for “mythical flying serpent”)

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming expert based in Liverpool, England. She shares name meanings, naming tips, and other inspiration on social media @little_name_library to over 20k followers on Instagram.
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Section 2 of 4:

Girl Names That Mean “Snake”

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1. 
   There are many snake or serpent deities across mythology, so why not choose a name inspired by them? Or, if you prefer something a little less fantastical, choose something inspired by a snake’s scientific name.

   • Ahiya (Sanskrit for “snake, dragon”)
   • Ananta (Sanskrit for “infinite, endless”; a cosmic serpent in Hindu mythology)
   • Anguina (Latin for “serpent”)
   • Basilia (Greek, feminine form of Basilisk, after a mythical serpent king)
   • Basilissa (another feminine form of Basilisk)
   • Blythia (invented name; a genus of snake)
   • Cantoria (Italian for “a singer’s balcony”; a genus of snake)
   • Chumana (Hopi for “young snake”)
   • Chu’si (Hopi for “snake flower”)
   • Coacihuatle (Nahuatle for “serpent woman”)
   • Dracina (a feminine form of Draco, Latin for “dragon, serpent”)
   • Dracinae (another feminine form of Draco)
   • Echidna (Greek for “she-viper”)
   • Eglė (Lithuanian for “spruce”; a serpent queen in Lithuanian folktales)
   • Fiona (Scottish for “white serpent, fair”)
   • Hannah (Hebrew for “grace”; the king cobra’s scientific name is Ophiophagus hannah.)
   • Hydraia (an invented name inspired by the Hydra from Greek mythology)
   • Jormina (an invented name inspired by Jörmungandr from Norse mythology)
   • Lamia (Greek for “female monster”; a mythical monster with the head of a woman and the body of a snake)
   • Lamira (invented name inspired by Lamia)
   • Lilith (Hebrew for “night monster, ghost”; Lilith is a deity associated with serpents)
   • Medusa (Greek for “guardian, protectress”; a mythological being with snakes for hair)
   • Melusine (French for “water serpent”)
   • Nagaia (invented name inspired by the Sanskrit “naga,” meaning “serpent”)
   • Nagashree (Sanskrit for “snake goddess”)
   • Nagini (Sanskrit for “female serpent”)
   • Nampeyo (Tewa for “snake that does not bite”)
   • Ophiane (from the Greek “ophis,” meaning “serpent”)
   • Ophiara (from the Greek “ophis,” meaning “serpent”)
   • Ophidia (from the Greek “ophis,” meaning “serpent”)
   • Ophidra (from the Greek “ophis,” meaning “serpent”)
   • Ophielle (from the Greek “ophis,” meaning “serpent”)
   • Regina (Latin for “queen;” a genus of snake)
   • Renenutet (Egyptian for “nurse, to be nourished”; a goddess depicted as a cobra)
   • Serpa (an invented name derived from “serpent”)
   • Serpentina (Latin for “little serpent”)
   • Serpina (Latin for “little serpent”)
   • Seshani (feminine form of the Sanskrit “Shesha,” a divine serpent from Hindu mythology)
   • Tanit (Phoenician; associated with serpent iconography)
     • “[This name] has historical and mystical resonance, appealing to parents drawn to ancient symbolism,” explains Dr. Wilson.
   • Viperina (an invented name inspired by “viper”)
   • Wadjet (Egyptian for “green one”; a primordial Egyptian cobra goddess)

Section 3 of 4:

Gender-Neutral Names That Mean “Snake”

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1. 
   Many snake-inspired names are unisex, so you can use them for a boy or a girl. Try out one of these serpent names if you’re looking for a unique name with an equally unique meaning:

   • Ahi (Sanskrit for “snake, dragon”)
   • Azcacoatle (Nahuatl for “ant, snake”)
   • Basilan (invented name inspired by “Basilisk,” the Greek serpent king)
   • Draconis (Latin for “serpent”)
   • Ecacoatl (Nahuatl for “whirlwind, wind serpent”)
   • Enhydra (Greek for “water serpent”)
   • Fani (Bengali for “snake”)
   • Heka (Egyptian for “magic, sorcery”; associated with serpent-like deities)
   • Hydran (after the Greek Hydra)
   • Iara (Indigenous Brazilian for “water lady”; linked to river serpents in folklore)
   • Jafar (Arabic for “stream”; associated with serpentine imagery)
   • Kaa (Hindi for “serpent”)
   • Moki (Hopi for “snake, deer”)
   • Nagaro (after the Sanskrit “Naga,” meaning “serpent”)
   • Nagendra (Sanskrit for “lord of serpents”)
     • Dr. Wilson mentions this name is “culturally specific, [and is] often chosen in Indian contexts to reference mythology and power.”
   • Nidhogg (Norse for “malice striker”; a dragon in Norse mythology)
   • Nyoka (Swahili for “snake”)
   • Ronon (Shipibo-Conibo for “snake”)
   • Sarpa (Sanskrit for “snake”)
   • Shesha (Sanskrit for “that which remains”; a divine serpent from Hindu mythology)
   • Tlilcoatl (Nahuatl for “black snake”)
   • Vritra (Sanskrit for “enveloper”; a dragon-like figure from Vedic texts)
   • Zohak (Persian for “serpent”)
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Section 4 of 4:

More Names with Interesting Meanings

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1. Interested in learning about other names with unique meanings? Check out these other wikiHow articles to find even more fun names for your baby, character, or pet:

   • Names That Mean Death
   • Names That Mean Shadow
   • Names That Mean Dragon
   • Names That Mean Blood
   • Names That Mean Fire
   • Names That Mean Time

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