Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. Today I am going to tell you about something that made me laugh way more then I expected — funny dinosaur names. I always thought dinosaur names are all serious, big science words that nobody can even pronounce. But when I started digging into this, I found out some of these names are actually really funny, once you know what they mean.
So yes, this whole post is about funny dinosaur names, the ones scientists actually gave to real dinosaurs, plus a few funny ones fans made up too. Some of these names are funny because of what they mean in Latin or Greek. Some are funny just because of how they sound. And honestly, one or two are funny because scientists were clearly having a bad day when they picked the name. Let’s get into it.
Why Do Some Dinosaur Names Sound So Funny?
Most dinosaur names are made from Latin or Greek words, mixed together to describe how the dinosaur looked, behaved, or where it was found. So the scientist is basically making a new word every time. And because of this, sometimes the mash-up ends up sounding funny in English, even though the scientist did not mean it that way at all.
Also, sometimes the name is a joke on purpose. Like, a paleontologist finds a fossil after a really annoying day of digging, and just names it something funny out of frustration. I think this is honestly the best part of dinosaur naming, it shows scientists are humans too, not just boring lab coat people.
Funniest Real Dinosaur Names And What They Actually Mean
Okay here is a table I made with some of the funniest dinosaur names I found, and what they really mean. I got a lot of this from Reddit threads where people were sharing their favorite weird dinosaur names, and also from some dinosaur fact sites.
| Dinosaur Name | What It Means | Why It’s Funny |
|---|---|---|
| Irritator | Named because the fossil was so damaged and hard to study, it “irritated” the scientists | Basically the dino is named after someone’s bad mood |
| Drinker | Named after paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope, not because it drank anything | People assume it means the dino loved beer, it does not |
| Megapnosaurus | Means “Big Dead Lizard” | Well, technically every dinosaur fossil is big and dead, so this name is kind of pointless, honestly |
| Oviraptor | Means “Egg Thief” | Turns out it was actually protecting its own eggs, so the name is basically an insult that is wrong |
| Bambiraptor | Named after the cute Disney deer Bambi | But it was actually a small, sharp-clawed hunter, not cute and gentle at all |
| Gasosaurus | Means “Gas Lizard” | Named after the gas company that found the fossil, not because of any actual gas |
| Micropachycephalosaurus | Means “Tiny Thick-Headed Lizard” | It has one of the longest names of any dinosaur, but the dino itself is really small, I find that funny |
| Stygimoloch | Means “Horned Demon from the River Styx” | Sounds terrifying, but it was actually a harmless plant eater |
I think Oviraptor is my personal favorite from this list. Imagine getting called a thief for your whole existence, and it turns out you were just a good parent the entire time. That is kind of sad if you ask me, but also really funny.
Dinosaur Names That Sound Kind Of Rude By Accident
Some funny dinosaur names are funny because they accidentally sound rude or awkward in English, even though the scientist did not mean it that way at all.
- Erectopus — One Reddit user called this dino a carnosaur “with some seriously horny issues,” and honestly, once you read the name, you can’t unsee it.
- Scrotum humanum — This one is a really old name, from before proper dinosaur naming rules existed, and it got its name because a fossil bone looked like a certain human body part. I am not even joking, this is a real historical name.
- Nigersaurus — This one is not rude on purpose, it is named after the country and river Niger, but Reddit users often joke that “one mispronunciation and you’re dead,” because it sounds close to a very different word in English.
I think it just shows that language is funny like that. A totally normal, serious science name can sound completely different depending on which language you are reading it in.
Weird Nicknames Scientists Gave Their Own Discoveries
Some dinosaurs also got funny nicknames from scientists, even before or besides their official Latin name. This one is called Elvisaurus, which is actually the nickname for Cryolophosaurus, because its head crest looks exactly like Elvis Presley’s hairstyle. I really love this one, because it shows even serious paleontologists have a sense of humor sometimes.
Another one is Pantydraco, and yes, it does sound like it is about pants, but it actually just means “Dragon of the Spring Valley” in Welsh, since it was found near a place called Pant-y-ffynnon in Wales. Still funny to read out loud though, no pun intended.
Funny Dinosaur Names From Reddit And Fan Communities
Beside the official science names, I also found a lot of funny dinosaur names that regular people made up, mostly from game communities like ARK, where players get to name their own tamed dinosaurs. These are not official names, but they made me laugh a lot while researching this post, so I had to add them.
| Fan-Made Name | For Which Dinosaur | Why People Chose It |
|---|---|---|
| Chili con Carno | A Carnotaurus | Food pun on “Carno” |
| Pterry Crews | A Pteranodon | Pun on actor Terry Crews |
| Ptara Reid | A Pteranodon | Pun on actress Tara Reid |
| Bruce | A Megalodon | Just a simple, funny pet-style name |
| Big Ass Betty | A Brontosaurus | Because, well, it is a very big dinosaur |
| Captain Poop-Chute | A Dung Beetle | Made-up but based on what the creature actually does |
Honestly, I think fans are sometimes even funnier then actual scientists when it comes to naming dinosaurs. There is something about a giant, scary Megalodon just being called “Bruce” that makes me smile every time.
FAQ
Q: What is the funniest dinosaur name ever given? A: A lot of people online say Irritator is the funniest, because it is basically named after a scientist being annoyed. I personally also really like Oviraptor for the same funny-but-wrong reason.
Q: Why do dinosaurs have such weird, long names? A: Most dinosaur names come from Latin or Greek words mixed together, so they describe something about the dinosaur, but end up sounding long and strange in English.
Q: Are any dinosaur names actually rude by accident? A: Yes, a few, like Erectopus and the very old name Scrotum humanum. These were not meant to be jokes, but they sound funny or awkward to English speakers today.
Q: Can I name a dinosaur myself? A: Only if you are the scientist who officially discovers and describes a new species. But if you play dinosaur games like ARK, you can name your own tamed dinosaurs anything you want, which is honestly half the fun.
Final Words
So guys, that was my list of funny dinosaur names, both the real official ones and the fan-made ones I found from game communities and Reddit. I have tried to cover why these names sound funny, which ones are accidentally rude, and some fun nicknames scientists made up themselves. Honestly, before writing this post, I had no idea dinosaur naming could be this entertaining.
If you like this kind of word humor, you should also check my post on what “no pun intended” actually means, or my big list of funny names with “trading” in the title. And if you are more into funny animal stuff in general, my 150+ funny dog puns post is also a good one to read next.
Let me know in the comments which funny dinosaur name is your favorite, guys. Keep on visiting Funny Puns Only for more! 🦖
Sources
- Reddit — r/Dinosaurs: Dinosaurs with amusing scientific names
- Reddit — r/Dinosaurs: What are some funniest/weirdest dinosaur names
- Reddit — r/ARKone: Funny dinosaur names players use in-game
- Reddit — r/ARK: Funny names for tamed creatures
- Gage Beasley Prehistoric — 15 Dinosaurs Boasting the Funniest Names