It’s hard to find anything cuter than a baby animal and sometimes it's hard to find the correct term for a baby animal too. On the one hand, many young animals share the same name - there are lots of cubs and pups out there. On the other, there are some very specific terms for infant animals, like puggle. Discover common baby animal names (and some not so common) so you’ll know exactly what word to use for young creatures.
Common Baby Animal Names
Some baby animal names are the same for multiple types of animals.
Calf
The term calf is probably most commonly known as the name for a baby cow, but it is actually used for several types of baby animals.
- aardvark
- antelope
- bison
- buffalo
- camel
- cow
- dolphin (also called pup)
- elephant
- giraffe
- gnu
- hippopotamus
- moose
- ox
- porpoise
- reindeer
- rhinoceros
- whale
- yak
Pup
The word pup is used for many baby animals, including (but not limited to) dogs, several rodents and sharks.
- armadillo
- bat
- beaver (also called kitten)
- coyote (also called whelp)
- dog (commonly called puppy)
- fox (also called cub or kit)
- gerbil
- guinea pig
- hamster
- hedgehog (also called piglet)
- mink
- mole
- mouse (also called kitten or pinkie)
- otter (also called whelp)
- prairie dog
- rat (also called kitten or pinkie)
- seal
- shark
- squirrel (can also be referred to as kits or kittens)
- wolf (also called whelp)
Cub
Cub is the name for most baby big cats as well as some other animals.
- badger
- bear
- cheetah
- hyena
- leopard
- lion
- panda
- raccoon
- tiger (also called whelp)
- walrus (can also be called pup)
Joey
Baby marsupial animals are referred to as joeys.
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- kangaroo
- koala
- opossum
- wallaby
- wombat
Hatchling
Several types of baby animals are referred to as hatchlings. These animals all hatch from eggs.
- alligator
- emu
- snake
- squid
- turtle
Did you know? The term hatchling can also be used for some baby birds, but only for the first few days they are alive.
Other Baby Animal Names
Not all names for baby animals are used for multiple kinds of critters. Many animal names are specific to a particular type.
- antling - Baby ants are referred to as antlings.
- bunny - Baby rabbits are commonly called bunnies. They can also be called kittens or kits.
- chick - The word chick is a general word for most young birds, including nesting birds, chickens, birds of prey and others.
- co*ckrell - The term co*ckrell is used to describe baby male chickens, also known as a young rooster or chick.
- colt - The word colt is used for a male foal.
- cria - Baby llamas and alpacas are referred to as cria.
- cygnet - Young swans are most commonly called cygnets, though they can also be described as flappers.
- fawn - Baby deer and pronghorns are referred to as fawn.
- filly - The word filly describes a female foal.
- fledgling - The term fledgling applies once a chick is able to leave the nest but isn’t yet self-sufficient.
- foal - Baby horses, mules and zebras are called foals.
- froglet - A froglet is a baby frog. They start out as tadpoles.
- fry - Newborn fish are called fry.
- infant - Like human babies, monkeys and gorillas are called infants.
- kids - Baby goats are referred to as kids.
- kit - Baby ferrets, skunks and weasels are called kits.
- kitten - Baby cats (pets, not big cats) are called kittens, as are baby servals.
- lamb - The term for a baby sheep is lamb.
- larva - Many insects and bugs start out as larva. Examples include bees, yellow jackets and butterflies.
- nestling - A chick can be called a nestling once it gets past the hatchling stage, but cannot yet leave the nest.
- owlet - The term for a young owl is owlet.
- piglet - The word piglet is used for baby pigs, hogs and boars. These young animals can also be called farrow or shoat.
- poult - The name used for a young turkey is poult.
- puggle - The name for a young platypus is puggle.
- pullet - The term pullet describes a baby female chicken (also known as a young hen or a chick).
- salamanderling - Not surprisingly, salamanderling is the word for a baby salamander.
- spiderling - Baby spiders are called spiderlings.
- squab - A baby pigeon is called a squab. These baby birds are also sometimes known as squeakers.
- wormlet - The name for a baby worm is wormlet.
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Learn More About Animal Life
There are so many terms for newly born animals! Now that you know what to call many baby animals, it’s time to boost your knowledge of science with regards to living things. Start by reviewing a list of names for groups of animals. From there, broaden your knowledge base by learning about how animals and plants are classified through the taxonomy of living things.
