Names from The Wind in the Willows for your pet
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows (1908) is about four friends on an English riverbank: shy Mole, kind Ratty the water rat, boastful Mr. Toad of Toad Hall, and gruff old Badger. Its names fit small pets especially well, and Ratty is a natural name for a pet rat.
Checked October 29, 2026.
13 names, good for any pet. Read The Wind in the Willows on Peabody (for kids).
| Shortlist | Name | Boy or girl | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mole | Either | Shy Mole, who leaves his spring cleaning to find the river. Great for a hamster, mouse, rat or gerbil or guinea pig. | |
| Ratty | Boy | The Water Rat, who loves messing about in boats. Great for a hamster, mouse, rat or gerbil. | |
| Toad | Boy | Mr. Toad, who falls in love with motor cars. Great for a reptile or turtle. | |
| Badger | Boy | Wise, gruff Mr. Badger, who lives in the heart of the Wild Wood. | |
| Otter | Boy | Ratty's friend who lives in the river. Great for a dog or fish. | |
| Portly | Boy | Otter's little son, who goes missing and is found safe. | |
| Willow | Girl | From the book's title: the willow trees along the river. | |
| River | Either | The River Bank, where the story begins. | |
| Wildwood | Either | The Wild Wood, where Badger lives. | |
| Toady | Boy | What his friends call Mr. Toad. | |
| Kenneth | Boy | Kenneth Grahame, who wrote the book for his son. | |
| Rowboat | Either | Ratty's little boat, where Mole learns to row. | |
| Hall | Either | Toad Hall, Mr. Toad's grand red-brick house. |
Tick the names you like, then take them to a family vote.
Sources
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Project Gutenberg (checked October 29, 2026)