The same pepper often travels under completely different names depending on region, language, market, and whether it’s fresh, dried, or smoked. This is a running list of documented aliases for the same pepper—not close relatives, only true equivalents. Contribute corrections or additions to keep it current.
| Recognized Pepper | Alternate or Equivalent Names |
| Bhut Jolokia | Ghost Pepper, Naga Jolokia, Bih Jolokia, Raja Mircha, Umorok, King Chili |
| Pequin | Piquin, Petin, Chile Pequin, Chiltepin (interchangeably used in northern Mexico and southern U.S.) |
| Tepin | Chiltepin, Tepin, Flea Pepper, Bird Pepper (used variably across Latin America and the U.S.) |
| Chilaca | Pasilla (when dried), Pasilla Negro |
| Jalapeño | Chipotle (when smoked), Huachinango (mature red), Cuaresmeño (regional name) |
| Mirasol | Guajillo (when dried), Chile Guaco, Puya (a smaller, hotter relative) |
| Poblano | Ancho (when dried), Mulato (if ripened more before drying) |
| New Mexico Chile | Hatch, Anaheim, Big Jim, Sandia, Chimayo (regional names for same or related lineages) |
| Cherry Pepper | Pimiento, Pimento, Cheeseball Pepper |
| Malagueta | Piri Piri, Gindungo, African Devil, Piri Piri (in Portugal), Cobé (in Mozambique) |
| Scotch Bonnet | Bonney Pepper, Jamaican Hot, Bahama Mama |
| Habanero | Congo Pepper, Red Habanero, White Habanero, Orange Habanero |
| 7 Pot | Seven Pot, 7 Pod, 7 Pot Jonah, 7 Pot Douglah |
| Trinidad Scorpion | Butch T, Moruga Scorpion, Scorpion Pepper |
| Aji Amarillo | Aji Escabeche, Aji Mirasol (dried), Aji Peruano |
| Aji Cristal | Crystal Aji, Aji Blanco |
| Hungarian Wax | Hot Banana, Hungarian Hot Wax |
| Anaheim | California Chili, New Mexico No. 9 |
| Manzano | Perón, Apple Chili, Chile Manzano, Rocoto (closely related name used interchangeably in some markets) |
| Padron | Herbón Pepper, Padrón (especially in Galicia, Spain) |
| Bell Pepper | Sweet Pepper, Paprika (Hungary), Poivron (France), Capsicum (India, UK, Australia) |
| Shishito | Japanese Sweet Pepper, Wrinkled Old Man Pepper |
| Tennessee Teardrop | Tennessee Cherry, Teardrop Pepper |
| Cubanelle | Cuban Pepper, Italian Frying Pepper |
| Calabrian | Diavolicchio, Peperoncino Calabrese |
| Aleppo | Halaby Pepper, Pul Biber (in Turkey, as flake) |
| Kashmiri Chili | Deggi Mirch (commercial blend), Kashmiri Mirch |
Grower’s Takeaway
- Fresh, dried, and smoked forms of the same pepper often carry entirely different names—Poblano becomes Ancho, Jalapeño becomes Chipotle
- Regional naming is inconsistent—Chiltepin and Tepin are used interchangeably but may refer to slightly different ecotypes
- When sourcing seeds, always confirm species and region of origin, not just common name
- This list is community-maintained—if you know an alias that’s missing, add it
Sources & Further Reading
- Priest, C.T., and D.J. Austin. The Chile Pepper Almanac. Harambe Publishing, 2026. Amazon