Dinosaur Names: Your Complete Guide
Dinosaur names can seem intimidating, but they're actually descriptive once you understand them. Most names are Greek or Latin words describing what the dinosaur looked like, where it was found, or who discovered it.
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How Dinosaur Names Work
- -saurus = lizard
- -raptor = thief/plunderer
- -ceratops = horned face
- -odon/-don = tooth
- tyranno- = tyrant
- tri- = three
- ptero- = wing
Famous Dinosaur Names Explained
Tyrannosaurus Rex
"Tyrant Lizard King"- Tyranno = tyrant
- saurus = lizard
- Rex = king
The most famous dinosaur. 40 feet long, 9 tons, and equipped with 6-inch teeth capable of crushing bone.
Pronunciation: tye-RAN-oh-SORE-us REX
Velociraptor
"Swift Thief"- Veloci = swift
- raptor = thief
Contrary to Jurassic Park, real Velociraptors were turkey-sized and covered in feathers. Still deadly with their sickle-shaped claws.
Pronunciation: veh-LOSS-ih-RAP-tor
Triceratops
"Three-Horned Face"- Tri = three
- cera = horn
- tops = face
30-foot-long herbivore with three distinctive horns and a massive frill. Lived alongside T. Rex.
Pronunciation: try-SAIR-ah-tops
Stegosaurus
"Roof Lizard"- Stego = roof
- saurus = lizard
Named for the plates along its back. Had a brain the size of a walnut despite being 30 feet long.
Pronunciation: STEG-oh-SORE-us
Brachiosaurus
"Arm Lizard"- Brachio = arm
- saurus = lizard
Named because its front legs were longer than its back legs (unusual for sauropods). Could reach 40 feet high.
Pronunciation: BRAK-ee-oh-SORE-us
Pterodactyl
"Wing Finger"- Ptero = wing
- dactyl = finger
Technically not a dinosaur—it's a pterosaur (flying reptile). See our flying dinosaurs guide for more.
Pronunciation: TAIR-oh-DAK-til
Dinosaur Names by Type
- Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Velociraptor
- Spinosaurus
- Allosaurus
- Giganotosaurus
- Carnotaurus
- Triceratops
- Stegosaurus
- Brachiosaurus
- Diplodocus
- Ankylosaurus
- Parasaurolophus
See also: Types of Dinosaurs
Unusual Dinosaur Names
Dracorex hogwartsia — "Dragon King of Hogwarts" (discovered by Harry Potter fans)
Bambiraptor — Named after the Disney deer
Irritator — Named because scientists were irritated by how damaged the fossil was
Thanos simonattoi — Named after the Marvel villain
Zuul crurivastator — Named after Ghostbusters character
Longest Dinosaur Names
- Micropachycephalosaurus — 23 letters
- Carcharodontosaurus — 19 letters
- Pachycephalosaurus — 18 letters
Most Mispronounced Names
- Archaeopteryx — ar-kee-OP-ter-iks (not arch-ee-op-ter-ix)
- Diplodocus — dih-PLOD-oh-kus (not DIP-lo-DOC-us)
- Compsognathus — komp-SOG-nuh-thus