How it works
This scientific name generator makes a two-part Latin name for an invented animal or plant. The first word is a made-up genus built from two real Greek roots; the second is a real species word.
Read the full guide
Read the name as a sentence
Press New scientific name, then find both words in the list under the tool. Each genus shows its two roots, such as large and wing, and each species word its meaning, such as red or common. Tap a word to lock it, then press again.
The rule the names follow
A scientific name has two parts. The first names the genus and starts with a capital letter. The second, the specific epithet, does not. Both are written in italics. The system is credited to Carl Linnaeus and his Species Plantarum of 1753.
Tips
- Write the name in italics, as real ones are written: genus capitalized, species word in lower case.
Questions and answers
How do scientific names work?
Each species gets a name of two parts in Latin form. The first part is the genus the species belongs to. The second tells the species apart within that genus. Humans are Homo sapiens.
Are these real scientific names?
No. Each genus was looked up in the Catalogue of Life, the GBIF index, Wikispecies and Wikipedia, and names already used for a genus were cut. The species words are real and are used in many real names.
What do the two words in a scientific name mean?
Often a short description. On this page the genus joins two Greek roots, such as cold and tooth, and the species word is a Latin adjective, such as crested, spotted or northern.
Can I name a real species with one of these?
Not from this page. A real name must be published under the international codes of nomenclature, one for animals and one for algae, fungi and plants. These names are for stories, games and lessons.