Beyond the Ceramic Pig: Exploring Alternative Names for the Classic Piggy Bank

When you think about saving your spare change as a child, the image of a bright pink, ceramic pig almost certainly comes to mind. But while the piggy bank is a universal childhood symbol, people around the world use a variety of different names for this trusty little container.

Whether you are looking for a more formal term, a regional variation, or a fun alternative, here is a look at what else people call a piggy bank and where those names come from.

Top Alternative Names for a Piggy Bank

Depending on where you live or what the container looks like, a piggy bank can go by several different titles:

• Money Box: The most common alternative, especially in British English and other Commonwealth countries. It simply describes any box or container designed to hold money.
• Coin Bank: A more modern, professional term used frequently in retail and finance. It strips away the animal imagery to focus purely on the function of storing coins.
• Penny Bank: A nostalgic, traditional term dating back to eras when pennies were the primary coins children saved.
• Savings Jar / Piggy Jar: Often used when the container is made of glass or plastic (like a mason jar) rather than ceramic or metal.
• Money Pot: A term often used for traditional clay pots (like the taban or kendi in various cultures) that have to be smashed to retrieve the money inside.

Regional Differences at a Glance

| Term | Primary Region / Dialect | Common Material |
| :— | :— | :— |
| Piggy Bank | United States, Canada, General | Ceramic, Plastic, Wood |
| Money Box | United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand | Metal, Wood, Plastic |
| Coin Bank | Global (Formal/Commercial) | Various |
| Money Pot | Global (Traditional/Cultural) | Terracotta, Clay |

The Surprising History Behind the Name

Interestingly, the term “piggy bank” has a rather amusing linguistic history. It didn’t actually start with the animal!

Etymology Note: Back in the Middle Ages in England, people stored household money in jars made from a dense, affordable orange clay called pygg. Over hundreds of years, the English language evolved. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the word pygg had morphed into pig, while people had largely forgotten what the original clay was called.

When English potters were eventually asked by customers to make money containers shaped like the animal they were now saying out loud (pigs), the literal “pig bank” was born.

Conclusion

Whether you call it a money box, a coin bank, or a classic piggy bank, the goal remains the same: stashing away small amounts of change today to build up something bigger for tomorrow. Language may vary across borders and generations, but the habit of saving is timeless.