Names That Mean Snake or Serpent
Why bother with typical ‘garden-variety’ names when I’m here to give you ingenious ideas inspired by serpents- here are all the names that mean snake that I could find!
Snakes are one of the oldest and most commonly used mythological symbols. Derived from the latin word “Serpens”; which means a creature which crawls, snakes are known for their dual manifestation of good and evil.
Due to their ability to shed skin, snakes have also been associated with rebirth, fertility and transformation. On the flip side, they also represent death in some cultures.
Let’s get started!
Boy Names That Mean Snake or Serpent
Apophis
The name Apophis is inspired by the Egyptian god of chaos. This entity is also a personification of a giant snake or serpent. Not only is this name quite unique, but also symbolises vitality and enthusiasm.
Open-minded nature, inclination towards the creative arts and diversity are some of the characteristics of individuals with this name.
Asit
Originating from Bengal, India, the name Asit translates to snake, black stones and dark colors. It is also a symbol of tranquility and peace. This name is rather short and easy to pronounce.
People with this name often have a positive energy which represents their joyful attitude towards life.
Aravanan
Aravanan, also meaning ‘snaker’ is a name originating from India. People who go by this name are often seen as trailblazers and researchers. This name also fits right for motivators and idealistic dreamers who are conscious of their own intrinsic abilities.
Furthermore, according to Indian mythology, this name is also associated with fire and strength.
Arqam
Arqam, a rather unique name, is one of my personal favorites! It loosely translates to ‘speckled snake’. Due to its Arabic origin and modern vibe, this name is truly an original choice.
Askook
The name Askook has a Native American origin and means snake. This delightful name is perfect for those with enthusiastic personalities.
Balanag
Yet another name with an Indian origin, Balanag is a snake that is often associated with the Hindu god “Shiva”. The first half of the name, that is, bala translates to strong and fierce whereas the latter half means snake in Sanskrit.
People with this name are born leaders and are also intellectually active with loads of drive.
Darvi
The name Darvi refers to the hood of a snake and also loosely translates to wooden ladle.
As per naming astrology, this name is said to be of great significance due to the rare combination of letters used to put it together. This is symbolic of positive traits such as responsibility and success.
Draco
Potterheads, where are you?! This is probably the most well known yet stylish name for your baby that resonates with snakes.
The word Draco means dragon and has Ancient Greek roots. In fact, there’s also a constellation in the northern sky named Draco.
Related post: Awesome Nerdy Baby Names
Drake
Drake is a highly popular name, especially due to the Canadian singer Drake. It means “snake” and originates from Britain.
This name has a strong, masculine vibe to it and is also easy to pronounce. People named Drake are often associated with being fearless and tough.
Fani
The word Fani was first coined in Bangladesh and is an easy to pronounce and short name for a baby boy. It is worth noting that it is also often connected to a dangerous cyclone which ties this name with traits like strength, agility and domination.
Frann
The baby boy’s name Frann originates from Old Norse and means “flashing of serpents and weaponry”. This name was quite popular in the early 20th century but is not as prevalent now, thus, giving it a unique spot in my list.
This name also hints towards characteristics like free will and self-sufficiency.
Fuyuki
The direct meaning of Fuyuki is cold blooded/winter snow. However, since this name is inspired by Japanese Kanji, its meaning alters as per the choice of Kanji characters.
The cold-blooded portion of this name represents snakes since they are cold blooded creatures. Winter and cold weather is also a sign of peace, balance and hope.
Humban
The name Humban comes from Elamite mythology and translates to “god on a serpent throne”. It is worth noting that Humban was also the name of a powerful deity in the Elamite pantheon.
He was the god of sky and was exclusively known for his wisdom and fearlessness.
Hymir
This name was taken from the Norse mythology in which Thor wants to trap a giant serpent using an ox skull as bait but Hymir cuts the line. Other meanings of this name are “darkening one” and “twilight”.
Isami
This is a unisex name and is quite popular in Asia. Isami means serpent or snake in Japanese. Heroism, courage and bravery are some of the associations people have with this name.
Another variation of this name is Isamu.
Itzcoatl
Itzcoatl was the fourth ruler of Tenochtitlan, the ancient capital of the Aztec empire. This name means “obsidian snake” in the Aztec language of Nahuatl. The ruler Itzcoatl ruled the Aztecs from 1427 to 1440 when they were considered to be the most powerful society in the Valley of Mexico.
Jataro
Jataro is composed of multiple Kanji characters which mean snake, healthy and son. People with this name are often quite shy, composed and possess a hidden talent for the creative arts.
Karkodan
The name Karkodan means “King of Snakes” and originates from Asia. The ability to express oneself clearly and being socially adept are two of the many characteristics linked with this name. Imagination is their greatest asset for children with this name.
If you are inclined towards travelling or writing, then this could be a good name.
Katraj
Katraj is a Hindi word which means “snake”. People with this name are often versatile and astute. This name also represents physical attachment and has ties with intellectuals.
Katsuki
This is a unisex Japanese name with Kanji characters, so the meaning changes according to the characters used. Some common meanings of the name Katsuki are serpent, snake, entertainer, and rare.
This name is also used as a middle name and surname. Film director Katsuki Iwauchi is one of the bearers of this name.
Lindorm
This is a combination of two smaller words ‘linnr’ and ‘ormber’ which mean dragon and snake respectively. Lindorm originates from the Old Swedish language.
Lindorm was also the name of a fierce creature which resembled a wingless wyvern, as per Danish mythology.
Related post: Magical names
Manidhar
The name Manidhar is a combination of two smaller words from the Hindi language, ‘Mani’ which means precious gem and ‘Dhar’ which means keeper. Manidhar means a mystical snake which has a jewel in its hood.
This meaningful yet attractive name has been seen quite commonly in ancient scripts and is often linked with magic which facilitates rebirth.
Mihiro
Mihiro is a Japanese name which means “sign of a snake or serpent”. This name also has some other associations such as sea, space and the color blue. Mihiro is also the name of a well known celebrity from Japan.
Nahash
Nahash is a name derived from Hebrew language and means “serpent”. This name has also been mentioned in the bible twice as a personal name and once as the name of a city.
This name has a royal touch to it since it was also quite prevalent among opulent families in the biblical era. Other meanings of this name include intuitive, divine and made from bronze.
Nathair
This is a Scottish name which means snake. Aside from its root-meaning, the name Nathair usually depicts high levels of intelligence and longevity of life.
Related post: Ethereal names
Nyoka
Nyoka is a name taken from the famous novel ‘Nyoka the Jungle Girl’ by Edgar Rice Burrough and translates to ‘snake’ in Swahili language.
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Girl names that mean snake or serpent
Aspelenie
Aspelenie was the Lithuanian goddess of stoves and more specifically, stove corners. In ancient times, dark stove corners were a common place of hiding for snakes. Owing to this, there are numerous theories that link the goddess to the ‘snake cult’.
Astrite
Astrite is an Albanian name which means dragon snake. This is a rather unique and rare name which also idiomatically refers to ‘agile person’.
Belinda
Coming from an old Germanic origin, Belinda roughly translates to ‘bright serpent or snake’. Furthermore, Linda means beautiful in Spanish.
Belinda Carlisle also happens to be the name of a famous American musician.
Donelle
Featuring an old English origin, the name Donelle has a serpent-like connotation. It is worth noting that this name is especially popular among Gaelic and English speaking countries.
This name is also a combination of two sub-names Don and Elle and also synonymously means ‘world leader’.
Chiyumi
The Japanese name Chiyumi can be bifurcated into three separate parts which have their own meaning. While ‘mi’ means ‘the sign of the snake’, chi and yu stand for qualities like wisdom, beauty, truth and reason respectively.
Chumana
Chumana is a word which comes from the Hopi language. It is spoken by the native people of northeastern Arizona. The literal meaning of this name is “young snake”.
Coatlicue
Coatlicue is the name of the Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon and Huitzilopochtli, who is the god of war and sun. The meaning of this name is “snake woman”
Coaxoch
Coaxoch is an amalgamation of two Nahuatlian words “coatl” and “xochitl” which mean snake and flower.
Isami
Isami is a catchy yet meaningful name which comes from the Japanese language. This is a unisex name which has multiple meanings ranging from shapeless, agile and brave to serpent.
Japako
Pronounced ha-pako, Japako is a Japanese name which means “large snake”. The latter part of this name, i.e; “ko” means child which makes it ideal for your adorable newborn.
Mikina
Looking for a name which screams glamour and confidence? Your search ends here! As per a certain kanji combination, the name Mikina name corresponds to boneless and cold-blood creature, which obviously means snake.
Related post: Rare baby girl names
Nagini
This word was found in ancient Buddhist and Hindu scripts and later adapted into English in the late 1700s. Nagini comes from the word ‘Naga’ which is a Sanskrit derivative of snake.
Nagini was also the name of a character in the ‘Harry Potter’ series.
Nampeyo
Nampeyo, which is pronounced as “Num-pa-yu” is a part of Tewa terminology that translates roughly to “snake that does not bite”.
Sesha
The name Sesha originates from Bengal, India and means “the serpent who symbolizes time”. According to Hindu mythology, Sesha was one of the primal beings of creation and was also a serious devotee of Lord Vishnu.
Seshagiri
Seshagiri directly transcribes the “living place of Lord Vishnu”. This name is also quite significant in Astrology, it is said that girls with this name are likely to have extraordinary dedication towards their goals and an inclination towards spirituality.
Shuman
Shuman means ‘rattlesnake handler’ and bears a Native American origin. Compared to other names on the list, this name is rather rare and is also quite catchy.
Tanita
Tanita is a name which strikes the perfect balance between elegance and eloquence. It bears a Latin origin and has multiple meaningful connotations, serpent lady, king of the Sabines and the fairy princess being a few of them.
Tanita can also be used as a short form for girls named Tanya and Tatiana.
Yumie
Last but not the least, we have Yumie. This is a Japanese name which means Help + Serpent.
86 More Names That Mean Snake or Serpent
Here are more snake-inspired names!
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Names Inspired By Snake Species
These names refer to certain types of snakes, and similar-sounding names:
- Adder
- Anaconda
- Boa
- Boiga
- Boomslang
- Bushmaster
- Canebrake
- Cantil
- Cascabel
- Cat snake
- Cobra
- Constrictor
- Copperhead
- Coral snake
- Cottonmouth
- Desert
- Egg eater
- Fang
- Fer-de-lance
- Garter snake
- Habu
- Hiss
- Hognose
- Hundred pacer
- Keelback
- Kingsnake
- Krait
- Lancehead
- Lora
- Mamba
- Moccasin
- Naga
- Python
- Racer
- Rattlesnake, Rattler
- Savane
- Sea snake
- Sidewinder
- Taipan
- Viper
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Names inspired by famous and mythological snakes:
Here are just a few snake names I came across:
- Adrozani– water snake guardian spirits from Lugbara mythology in Africa
- Akurra– giant, bearded water snake in Aboriginal mythology whose movements shape the land
- Alicante– mythical Mexican snake
- Amphisbaena– legendary serpent with a head at each end of its body
- Antaboga– the World Serpent in ancient Javanese mythology
- Apep, Apophis– Egyptian chaos deity depicted as a snake
- Arkaroo– Aboriginal mythological serpent that drank all of the water from Lake Frome
- Basilisk– European serpent king
- Biscione– serpent found on the heraldry of Milan, Italy. It means “big grass snake”
- Bunzi– multicolored serpent and rain goddess in African mythology
- Cerastes– legendary snake that hides in the sand and eats unsuspecting victims
- Coily– the snake from video game Q*bert
- Crowley, crawly– thanks for the idea, Good Omens!
- Dipsa– tiny snake from medieval bestiaries that was so venomous, the victim died before realizing they’d been bitten
- Echidna– half-woman and half-snake in Greek mythology, and mother of many monsters
- Falak– giant serpent from One Thousand and One Arabian Nights
- Gorgon– Medusa, Stheno and Euryale were legendary Greek women with venomous snakes for hair
- Grootslang– elephant-sized serpent that dwells in a bottomless pit filled with diamonds
- Hydra– multi-headed mythical snake or dragon-like beast
- Ilomba– it is rumored that Zambian witch doctors create these soul-consuming sea snakes
- Jörmungandr– serpent from Norse legend who will kill Thor in Ragnarok
- Kaa– from The Jungle Book
- Lamia– child-eating serpent monster or spirit in Greek mythology
- Leviathan, Lotan– mythological sea serpent
- Lindworm– half-man, half-snake from Scandinavian folklore
- Mara– a being from Doctor Who that can manifest as a snake
- Ouroboros– the snake eating its own tail, symbolizing infinity
- Scytalis– medieval serpent rumored to have such beautiful markings that they stunned its victims
- Typhon– monstrous serpent giant from Greek legend
Names related to snakes
These names might make you think of snakes or serpents even if they don’t specifically mean snake.
- Charmer
- Coil
- Scale
- Serpentine
- Slither
- Sneak
- Venom
Names that sound like snake, serpent, or types of snakes
- Addie, Addison (adder)
- Annie (anaconda)
- Aspie (asp)
- Beau (boa)
- Connie (anaconda)
- Kobe (cobra)
- Pithy (python)
- Serpentini
- Serpico (a surname from the Italian word for serpent)
- Serpina
With these I conclude my lists. Hoping this guide helped!