Pet Dog Names

A complete idea-starter and thought-guide for choosing the perfect name for your pet!

Pet dog names are important! Any dog lover or pet lover who enjoys adding to his family of furry friends will be challenged periodically to find (or create!) the perfect name for any new additions to the family. We know that the name you choose for your dog, cat, or other pet is a critical first step in helping establish his identity and set the tone for your relationship.

However, looking down a long list of potential pet dog names can be tedious and boring. We've put together this guide which is inteded to give you plenty of good "sample" pet dog names to get your ideas flowing, as well as a helpful thought process with lots of good ideas to consider as you try to decide on the perfect name for your pet dog!

The Secret Psychology
of Pet Dog Names:

The pet dog names you choose say a lot about you, your dogs, and how you view your relationship with them. When someone meets your dog for the first time, one of the questions they always ask is "What is your dog's name?" People ask to gather information about your dog... is it a male or female, is she friendly or aggressive, is she a pampered princess, a wandering free spirit, or tough-love snuggle hound?

Different conotations come to mind from different pet dog names. How would you react if someone told you their dog was named "Rambo" versus someone who told you the dog was named "Fifi?" Learning this information about the dog's name would probably make you react entirely differently toward the dog and maybe give you some insight into her owner as well.

How you, the dog owner, think of the dog is reinforced every time you say the name, too. Whether you realize it or not, naming your dog something unflattering, whether as a "pet name" or a permanent name, is not a good joke. Degrading names, like "Stupid" "Lame Brain" or "Ugly Mutt" serve to remind you of your dog's least wonderful qualities and can subconsciously erode your esteem for him in your own mind.

Likewise, it is hard to nurture a close loving relationship with your dog using these harsh words. Dogs are sensitive and will pick up on the lack of intimacy in your voice. I recommend choosing pet dog names that you like and that your dog would be proud of if he could understand what it meant.

Also remember the "calling your dog factor." You don't want to be embarrased by your dog's crass name when you are calling him in from the yard, or introducing him to a stranger.

Select a Category:

When settling in to choose pet dog names, it can be hard to get started. Sometimes you feel so overwhelmed because of the vast number of choices and options before you. I think the ideal pet dog names are special to you and your dog. Try to get to know a little about your dog, his history, and his breed when selecting a name. It's always wonderful when you "know" you've found a pet dog name because it is so personally signficant for you or your dog - A perfect fit.

Idea Starters

Now you know the importance of choosing good pet dog names, it's time to introduce you to a few great strategies for finding a great dog name for your favorite new pet!

One popular idea is choosing an "International" name for a dog whose breed originates from a certain country. Try a Danish name for a Great Dane or a German name for a Doberman Pinscher or German Shepherd Dog.

German:

Female: Ada, Alice, Berit, Bruna, Freida, Etta, Guida, Gerta, Gretchen, Hilda, Isa, Rikka, Vanda
Male: Aldo, Alfonso, Aren, Berg, Bogart, Leopold, Pepin, Roald, Stein, Ubel, Waldo, Wolfric, Hanz, Henreich, Fredreich, Henri

Irish:

Female: Aidan, Aileen, Keara, Eilis, Irene, Molly Malone ;-), Sybil, Tara, Zinna
Male: Patrick, Blair, Brady, Brandan, Brody, Conroy, Corey, Darby, Elroy, Danny, Innis, Malloy, Nolan, Quinn, Roony, Rory, Ward

English:

Female: Ada, Brooke, Blythe, Cody, Daisy, Ebba, Edith, Fern, Godiva, Jill, Mercy, Poppy, Regan, Sabrina, Shelly, Twylla
Male: Abbot, Aiken, Beamer, Barth, Bliss, Bond, Byron, Cal, Cliff, Flint, Grant, Grover, Hugh, Kemp, Maxwell, Mayfield, Oz, Royce, Sanders

Danish:

Female: Kirsten, Andrea, Hanna, Gudrun, Almeta, Clady, Astrid, Laila, Saffi, Laila
Male: Aren, Axel, Bo, Erik, Fritz, Joris, Lars, Magnus, Thor, Ulrik

Spanish:

Female: Alma, Bella, Camila, Corazon, Consuela, Chiquita, Hermosa, Jade, Lupe, Mercedes, Neta, Rita, Sabina, Veta, Zita
Male: Berto, Carlos, Chico, Diego, Domingo, Eduardo, Ernesto, Fabio, Juan, Jose, Franco, Gil, Ganzalo, Miguel, Lazaro, Pablo, Paco, Pedro, Paz, Rafael Raul, Roberto, Rogelio, Veto, Yago

Chinese:

Female: Bo, Chang, Feng, Li Ming, Mei, Na, Pin, Qi, Wan, Wei, Xue, Zi, Tao, Zhen
Male: Cong, Fe, Ho, Lee, Lok, Shaiming, Shin, Sying, Lei, Liang

More international Pet Dog Names.

That's my Brother's Name!

Another trend that is coming back into vogue is choosing "People Names" for our dogs. Popular names, classic names and sometimes historical names can really help anthropomorphise your dog, allowing visitors and friends recognize your dog as a firmly entrenched member of the family.

Female: Fanny, Emma, Sandy, Carla, Joyce, Rebecca, Lindsey, Michelle, Katie, Patty
Male: Oscar, Owen, Eddie, Michael, Milo, Jim, George, David, Peter, Matthew, Andrew

I Should Have Guessed!

Brainstorming descriptive names is another great way to select pet dog names which are special and unique to your particular pets. The timeless classic "Spot" is the architypal example of this, but a creative thinker can go beyond the limitation of visual description and consider personality traits of the dog as well.

Female Dogs: Queenie, Tiger, SweetPea, Honey, Snowpuff, Muff-Muff, Silky, Satin, Vinegar
Male Dogs: Rusty, Fang, Spot, Fuzzy, Shaggy, Spot, Brownie, Wolf, Tubby, Tiny, Scruffy, TallBoy

Other Ideas for Finding
Great Pet Dog names:

Nature: Plants, flowers, or foods- Coco, Licorice, Candy, Chocolate, Cupcake, Cookie, Basil, Ginger, Pepper, Anise, Rose, Amber, Norfolk, Willow, Lava, Tsunami etc.

Literary/Historical: Books, authors, characters, historical figures- Frodo, Lassie, Simba, Scarlett, Shakespeare, Dickens, Lincoln, Caesar, Louis, Napoleon, Gershwin, Appollo, Sherlock, Watson, Motzart, etc.

Spiritual: Words that have spiritual meaning for you- Karma, Peace, Athena, Rah, Zoroaster, Lotus, etc.

International: Words in another language- Boca (mouth), Tiburon (shark), and Amor (love) are some Spanish examples.

Geographical: Cities, States, Countries, Special places- Dakota, Mesa, Brazil, River, Savanna, Kenya, etc.

Big List of Other Pet Dog Names!

Female Dogs:

Jasmine, Anise, Basil, Pepper, Emily, Emma, Ecru, Elaine, Heidi, Heather, Hester, Peanut, Coco, Rose, Rosy, Razz-ma-Tazz, Glitzy, Stormer, Roxie, Fluffy, Snuggles, Pumpkin, Pupkin, Angel, Baby, Barbie,Bonnie, Betsy, Connie, Carla, Cupcake, Danielle, Dahlia, Doris, Diane, Sahara, Sierra, Nevada, Dakota, Cheyenne, Cookie, Vera, Kera, Cuddles, Visa, Sugar, Gretel, Missy,

Male: Freidrich Louie Oscar Grover George Cleveland Lincoln Harris Luke Blake Randy Spot Rex Rover Red Blue Hank Frank Jack Hanz Claw, Fang, Killer, Charlie, Boris, Baxter, Beefy, Horace, Trooper, Champ, Soldier, Captain, Boomer, Woody, Wallace

Need more dog name ideas? Check out Alvin's dog site!

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