Animal reference
Baby Animal Names
Cub, calf, joey, kit, pup — the proper name for the young of every animal, in one table.
In brief
Baby animals have their own names: a baby tiger is a cub, a baby elephant is a calf, a baby kangaroo is a joey, and a baby rabbit is a kit. This table lists the names for the young of 50 common animals, with links to full guides.
| Animal | Baby is called |
|---|---|
| Bat | Pup |
| Bear | Cub |
| Cheetah | Cub |
| Chimpanzee | Infant |
| Crocodile | Hatchling |
| Crow | Chick |
| Deer | Fawn |
| Dolphin | Calf |
| Donkey | Foal |
| Eagle | Eaglet |
| Elephant | Calf |
| Ferret | Kit |
| Fox | Kit |
| Frog | Tadpole |
| Giant panda | Cub |
| Giraffe | Calf |
| Goose | Gosling |
| Gorilla | Infant |
| Grey wolf | Pup |
| Hamster | Pup |
| Hare | Leveret |
| Hedgehog | Hoglet |
| Hippopotamus | Calf |
| Horse | Foal |
| Jaguar | Cub |
| Kangaroo | Joey |
| Koala | Joey |
| Leopard | Cub |
| Lion | Cub |
| Octopus | Larva |
| Orangutan | Infant |
| Otter | Pup |
| Owl | Owlet |
| Pangolin | Pangopup |
| Peacock (peafowl) | Peachick |
| Penguin | Chick |
| Rabbit | Kit |
| Raven | Chick |
| Rhinoceros | Calf |
| Sea lion | Pup |
| Sea turtle | Hatchling |
| Seahorse | Fry |
| Seal | Pup |
| Shark | Pup |
| Sloth | Pup |
| Snake | Snakelet |
| Swan | Cygnet |
| Tiger | Cub |
| Whale | Calf |
| Zebra | Foal |
Baby animal names: FAQs
What is a baby elephant called?
A baby elephant is called a calf. Females and their calves live together in family herds led by an older matriarch.
What is a baby kangaroo called?
A baby kangaroo is called a joey. It is born tiny and undeveloped and continues to grow inside its mother's pouch.
What are baby animals called in general?
Many young animals share general terms — mammals are often "cubs" (big cats, bears), "pups" (dogs, seals, foxes), "kits" (rabbits, ferrets) or "calves" (elephants, whales, deer), while the young of many species simply take the name in the table above.
What is a baby rabbit called?
A baby rabbit is called a kit (short for kitten). A group of baby rabbits born together is a litter, and a female rabbit is a doe.