Overview
Lots of popular boy dog names relate to loyalty and friendship, such as “Buddy.”
Many dog owners also pick names based on their dog’s personality, such as “Dash” or “Rover” for those who love to run around or even “Bandit” and “Thief” for those who love to ‘steal’ stuff, such as slippers and baby toys.
You can also choose human names for your fur babies or pick a unique name so your dog won’t get confused at the dog park because lots of other animals share their names.
We’ve prepared this list of 1,280+ choices for you to consider for your new puppy.
The Best Boy Dog Names Based On Category
What’s The #1 Dog Name?
Naming trends vary each year, but this dog name can stand the test of time:
- Buddy (American) – “Friend”; classic choice for man’s best friend
What Are The Top 10 Male Dog Names?
- Buddy
- Alpha (Greek dog name) – “The Greek alphabet’s first letter”; it’s also the term used for the leader of the dog pack
- Bandit (American) – “Thief”; funny name for mischievous dogs
- Bingo (American) – “Bingo game”; also after the popular “Bingo” dog song
- Bolt (English and Anglo-Saxon) – “Bolt of lightning,” “thunderbolt,” “arrow,” or “from/of the manor farm”; also a Disney name after the animated comedy-adventure film about the canine superstar “Bolt”
- Champ (American) – One-syllable name meaning “champion” and “winner”
- Dash (American) – “To run quickly”
- Fido (Latin) – “Loyal,” “trustworthy,” or “faithful”
- Fluffy (English) – “Full of fluff” or “full of soft wool or fur”; the perfect name for a dog with thick fur
- Marshall (Scottish and French boy name) – “Caretaker of horses,” “lover of horses,” or “high-ranking military official”; a dalmatian who’s the medical pup and firefighter in the animated TV series “PAW Patrol”
Other Common & Most Popular Dog Names For Boys
- Barkley (British and Scottish) – “Birch tree meadow”; a play at “bark” (sound that dogs make)
- Billy (German boy name) – “Will helmet” or “protection”; common nickname for “William”
- Blaze (Latin) – Name that means “fire” or “flame”
- Charlie (German gender-neutral name) – “Free man”; variant of “Charles”
- Clifford (Anglo-Saxon) – “Ford by a cliff”; after the main character in the fantasy TV show “Clifford the Big Red Dog”
- Courage (English) – “Strength to withstand fear”; name after the funny dog in the TV series “Courage the Cowardly Dog” who has to overcome his fears to save his owners from various ghosts and paranormal spirits living on their farm
- Doug (Scottish and Irish boy name) – Name that means “water” (“dark water” or “black river”)
- Dragon (American) – “Mythical creature that breathes fire”
- Enzo (Italian boy name) – “Winner”
- Fang (English and Chinese boy name) – “Long, pointed teeth,” “wind,” “fragrant,” or “square”; Hagrid’s oversized boarhound dog in the “Harry Potter” series
- Flash (American) – Name that means “light” (bright light); also after American superhero “Flash Gordon” who can run very fast
- Hero (Greek name) – “Brave one” or “demi-god”
- Hunter (English) – “Pursuer” or “one who hunts”
- James (Hebrew) – “Supplanter”; from the biblical boy name “Jacob”
- Luke (Latin and Greek boy name) – “Bright one” or “light”; also a biblical name after “Luke the Evangelist” credited for writing the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke in the Bible
- Otis (English) – “Son of Otto” or “wealth”; pug in the movie “The Adventures of Milo and Otis”
- Paws (English) – “Animals’ feet”
- Rascal (English) – “Mischievous”
- Rebel (English) – “Defiant”
- Scooby-Doo (invented name) – After the “doo-be-doo-be-doo” line in the hit song “Strangers in the Night” by Frank Sinatra; Great Dane in the “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” animated TV series
- Snoopy (English) – “One who snoops or pries curiously”; after the beagle in the “Peanuts” comic strip
- Sport (Old French and English) – “Leisure”
- Spot (English) – “A small area that’s different (color, material, texture, etc.)”; the perfect name for spotted dogs
- Toto (Albanian and Greek) – “Priest”; Dorothy’s pet Cairn Terrier in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”
Boy Dog Names Inspired By Famous Characters
Boy Dog Names Inspired By Movies & Pop Culture
- Bagheera (Hindi) – “Panther” or “leopard”; boy cat name after the black panther in “The Jungle Book” that you can also use for dogs
- Baloo (Hindi) – “Bear”; easygoing sloth bear in “The Jungle Book”
- Darth Vader (invented name based on the German and Dutch language) – “Dark father”; villain in the “Star Wars” franchise
- Eugene (Greek) – “Well-born” or “noble”; fictional character and Rapunzel’s prince in the Disney princess movie “Tangled”
- Ewok (invented name) – Fictional species of small, teddy-bear-like characters in the “Star Wars” franchise
- Frodo (German and Old English boy name) – “Wisdom” or “wise by experience”; one of the protagonists and the ringbearer in “The Lord of the Rings” series
- Genie (Hebrew and Greek) – “Noble,” “well-born,” or “God is gracious”; fantasy creature who grants wishes
- Godzilla (invented name based on the Japanese language) – Originally “Gojira” and a combination of “gorilla” and “whale”; prehistoric reptilian monster by nuclear radiation in the “Godzilla” movies
- Groot (Dutch) – “Big”; tree-like character in the Marvel superhero movies
- Harry (German name) – “Home ruler”; royal name after Britain’s Prince Harry or a witchy name after the boy wizard Harry Potter
- Hawkeye (American) – “Vigilant”; master archer in the Marvel superhero films
- Indiana Jones (American) – Legendary hero in the “Indiana Jones” franchise
- Jaws (American) – A Steven Spielberg movie about a killer shark
- Knuckles (English) – “Part of the hand” or “the strong one”; red character in the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series
- Luca (Latin and Greek) – “Bringer of light”; a coming-of-age film about a sea monster who turns into a boy when on land
- Mater (American) – Old tow truck in Pixar’s “Cars”
- Meeko (Native American) – “Little mischief”; raccoon in Disney’s “Pocahontas”
- Mowgli (invented name) – Boy raised by wolves in the jungle in “The Jungle Book”
- Nemo (Greek) – “Nobody” or “everyone”; clown fish in “Finding Nemo”
- Olaf (Scandinavian, Old Norse, and Norwegian name) – “Ancestral heritage” or “relic”; snowman created in Disney’s “Frozen” or the patron saint of Norway
- Remy (Latin and French name) – “Oarsman”; rat who dreams of becoming a chef in “Ratatouille”
- Shrek (German) – “Fright”; lovable ogre (supposedly hideous giant) in the “Shrek” movie series
- Simba (Swahili, an African language) – “Lion” and “strength”; titular character in Disney’s “The Lion King” franchise
- Sirius (ancient Greek name) – “Glowing”; the brightest star in the night sky that’s also known as the “Dog Star”
- Stitch (Old English and Old Norse) – “Large, well-built man” or “haystack”; adorable alien “dog” in “Lilo & Stitch”
- Tarzan (English) – “White-skinned”; fictional character and boy raised by the gorillas in the “Tarzan” series
Dog Names Inspired By Cartoons & TV Shows
- Barney (English and Slavic) – “Defender”; singing purple dinosaur in the classic TV show “Barney & Friends”
- Bugs (English) – “Beetle”; gray and white Looney Tunes rabbit
- Doonesbury (American) – “Inattentive” or “clueless”; comic strip by American cartoonist Garry Trudeau
- Drogo (German) – “To carry” or “to bear”; warlord and chieftain in “Game of Thrones”
- Eeyore (invented name) – Donkey in the “Winnie the Pooh” franchise
- Ernie (German) – “Resolute” or “serious”; after an orange muppet in “Sesame Street”
- Goofy (American) – “Funny,” “harmlessly eccentric,” or “foolish”; dog and one of Mickey Mouse’s best friends in “Mickey and Friends”
- Grover (Old English) – Nature name meaning “grove of trees”; furry, blue Muppet character in “Sesame Street”
- Jake (Hebrew) – “Supplanter”; short form of “Jacob”
- Jon Snow (Hebrew and English) – Invented name combining “Jehovah has been gracious” and “frozen rain”; character in “Game of Thrones”
- Kermit (Scottish and Irish name) – “Free man”; frog Muppet character in “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show”
- Linus (Greek) – “Flax-colored”; a boy in the “Peanuts” comic strip
- Mickey (Hebrew) – “Who resembles God?”; one of Disney’s most famous cartoon characters
- Muppet (invented name) – Combination of “marionette” and “puppet”; characters for the TV series “The Muppet Show”
- Piglet (English) – “Young pig”; character in the “Winnie the Pooh” franchise
- Pooh (American) – “Little one”; titular bear in the “Winnie the Pooh” franchise
- Starsky (English) – “He who is star-like”; character in American action TV series “Starsky & Hutch”
- Taz (American and Latin) – “Twin” and “gift from God”; the name of the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil character
Boy Dog Names From Literature & Books
- Falstaff (American) – Fictional character created by William Shakespeare who appears in several plays
- Gryffindor (Old English) – “Power of God”; house of brave wizards and witches in the “Harry Potter” series
- Gulliver (Old French) – “Glutton” or “greedy person”; the main character in the satirical novel “Gulliver’s Travels”
- Hobbit (invented name) – Fantasy character created by J.R.R. Tolkien, notably in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” series
- Pippin (German nonbinary name) – “Awe-inspiring”; a curious hobbit in “The Lord of the Rings” series
- Poky (American) – “Slow” or “dull”; from “The Poky Little Puppy,” a classic children’s book
- Romeo (Latin) – “Pilgrim to Rome” or “Roman”; main character in the Shakespearean tragedy “Romeo & Juliet”
- Wombles (Old English) – “Womb belly”; fictional furry creatures in the children’s novel series “The Wombles”
Classic Names For Your Male Puppy
- Angel (Greek) – “Messenger of God”
- Ansel (German) – “With divine protection” or “follower of a nobleman”
- Axel (Scandinavian, German, and Icelandic) – “Father of peace”
- Brutus (Latin) – “Heavy” and “dull”
- Cowboy (English) – Cool southern boy name for your pet
- Dozer (American) – Short name for “Bulldozer”; great for tank-like, muscular dogs
- William (English and German) – “Strong-willed warrior”
Trending & Modern Boy Dog Names
- Bacardi (African) – “Mojo” or “to place a little spell”; rum brand
- Bailey (British) – “Bailiff” or “berry clearing”
- Charger (English) – “To charge (into battle)”; good name for a puppy full of energy
- Cosmo (British and Italian name) – “Order,” “beauty,” or “decency”; can also be short for “Cosmopolitan”
- Engine (English) – “Machine that converts fuel or power into motion”
- Gadget (English) – Small tool or device; also after the cartoon “Inspector Gadget”
- Gizmo (English) – Another word for “gadget”
- Hashtag (American) – Text following the # symbol used on social media to make topics or categories easier to find
- Icon (American) – “Symbol of something”
- Mojo (African American) – “Magical power,” “spell,” or “good luck”
- Nitro (American) – Short for chemical with the nitro group “NO2” (two oxygens bonded to nitrogen); also a supervillain in Marvel comics
- Radar (American) – “Radiolocation system”
- Radio (American) – “Technology that uses radio waves for communication)
- Rocket (American) – “Space vehicle” or “missile”; raccoon character in the Marvel franchise
- Rocky (English) – “Filled with rocks” or “rest”; recycler pup in “PAW Patrol”
- Rubble (Middle English) – “Fragments of broken stones and bricks”; sporty pup in “PAW Patrol” who loves skateboards and snowboards
- Scout (American) – “To listen” or “first explorer”; white husky in “PAW Patrol”
- Tesla (Slavic) – “Harvester” or “of the ax”; American automotive company famous for its electric “driverless” vehicles
- Uber (German) – “Over” or “above”; ride-hailing company
- Ultrasonic (American) – “High-frequency vibrations”
- Widget (American) – “Small gadget”
- WiFi (American) – “Wireless internet connection”
- Zuma (Arabic and Aztec name) – “Peace”; chocolate Labrador in “PAW Patrol”
Powerful & Strong Boy Dog Names
- Andy (Scottish and Greek name) – “Brave” or “manlike”; can be a nickname for “Andrew”
- Arthur (English) – “Bear”; after King Arthur, the legendary protagonist of “King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table”
- Avery (English and French name) – “Ruler of the elves”
- Bear (German name) – “Large, carnivorous mammal” or “strong and brave as a bear”
- Blade (English) – “Sharp edge of a sword or knife”; after the vampire-hunter “Blade” movie series
- Bruiser (English) – “Tough,” “strong,” and “aggressive”
- Caesar (Latin) – “Thick head of hair”; after the Roman dictator Julius Caesar
- Capone (Italian name) – “Head”; after the Italian gangster and boss Al Capone
- Captain (English) – “He who is in charge”
- Chief (English) – “Leader” or “head”
- Darius (Persian) – “Rich and kingly”; after the legendary Persian ruler Darius the Great
- Draco (Latin and ancient Greek name) – “Dragon” or “serpent”
- Fury (Greek and English) – “Destructive rage”; after spy and Avengers founder Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Gabriel (Hebrew) – Angel name meaning “man of God”
- Griffin (Latin and Welsh) – “Strong lord”
- Harvey (English and French boy name) – “Battle worthy”
- Henry (German) – “Estate ruler”
- Julius (Latin and Greek) – “Devoted to Jove (Roman king of the gods)” or “downy-bearded”; also after Roman dictator Julius Caesar
- Lightning (English) – “Bolt from the sky”
- Louie (German and French) – “Famous warrior”
- Marty (Latin) – “Warrior”; can be a short form of “Martin”
- Marvel (English and French) – “Extraordinary” or “wonderful”; comic and cinematic universe filled with superheroes like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America
- Napoleon (Greek) – “Lion of Naples (Italian city)” or “lion of the new city”; after French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
- Ninja (Japanese name) – Highly trained spy and assassin in feudal Japan
- Pharaoh (Egyptian) – “Great house” or “ancient Egyptian ruler”
- Pongo (English) – “Ape” or “soldier”
- Ralph (Scandinavian and Old English) – “Wolf counsel” or “famous wolf”
- Rambo (Swedish and Norwegian name) – “Raven’s nest”; legendary war hero in the action-packed “Rambo” movie series
- Richard (Old French and German) – “Strong ruler”
- Rollo (Latin and Old Norse) – “Famed wolf”; first Viking ruler in Normandy (a part of France)
- Sarge (American) – Slang for “sergeant”
- Sergeant (English) – Military rank
- Thunder (English) – “Loud noise in the sky” or “stormy-tempered”
- Warrior (English) – “Someone specializing in warfare”
Charming Names For Small Dogs
- Beau (English and French) – One-syllable name meaning “male admirer” or “beautiful”
- Binky (British) – “Field of beans” or “baby pacifier”
- Biscuit (Old French and English) – “Twice-cooked”; type of food that’s cooked twice: baked then dried in a slow oven
- Bubba (American and German) – “Brother”
- Buttons (Old French and English) – “Small disk that holds fabric together”
- Ember (English) – Name that means “fire” (small piece of burning wood)
- Hershey (American) – “Happiness” or “joyful”; also a famous chocolate brand
- Imp (English) – “Demon” or “fairy” in European mythology
- Jiminy (English) – “Expression of surprise”
- Junior (American) – “Young” or “younger one”
- Kip (English) – “Pointed hill”; also a short form of “Kipling”
- Knox (Scottish) – “Round hill”
- Little Man – Perfect name for a small dog
- Logan (Scottish) – “Little hollow”
- Munchkin (English) – “Small and endearing”
- Nano (Latin and Greek) – “Dwarf” or “very small (microscopic level)”
- Nugget (English) – “Small chunk of something”
- Peanut (English) – “Legume with edible seeds”
- Pebbles (English) – “Small rocks”
- PeeWee (slang) – “Short” or “small”
Legendary Boy Dog Names From Mythology
- Achilles (Greek) – “Pain”; Trojan War hero in Greek mythology
- Ajax (Greek) – “Eagle”; another hero in the Trojan War
- Apollo (Greek) – “Destroyer”; Greek god of sun and light
- Ares (Greek) – “Ruin”; Greek god of war
- Atlas (Greek) – “To carry”; strong Titan who holds up the world on his shoulders
- Cupid (Latin) – “Desire”; Roman god of love and affection
- Hector (Greek) – “Steadfast”; Trojan prince and Troy’s legendary defender
- Hercules (Latin) – “Hera’s glory” or “hero”; Roman god of strength and heroes
- Loki (Old Norse and Scandinavian) – “Airy”; Norse trickster god
- Merlin (Welsh) – “Sea fortress”; witchy name for the powerful wizard in Arthurian legend
- Odin (Old Norse and Scandinavian) – “Raging” or “frenzied”; Norse god of death, wisdom, and poetry
- Phoenix (Greek) – Mystical and immortal bird that rises from its ashes after death
- Thor (Norse) – “Thunder”; Norse god of thunder
- Vulcan (Latin and Italian) – Roman god of fire and the forge
- Zeus (Greek) – “Shine” and “sky”; Greek god of the sky and the king of the gods and goddesses
Mighty Names For Big Dogs
- Arlo (Old English and Anglo-Saxon) – “Fortified hill”; the titular character in the animated movie “The Good Dinosaur”
- Armstrong (Scottish and Middle English) – “One with strong arms”
- Atticus (Latin and Greek) – “One from Attica (a historical region in Greece)”
- Bernie (German) – “Strong and brave bear”; can be a nickname for “Bernard”
- Bowser (Norman) – “Fine sir”; shelled beast (boss) in Nintendo games
- Bronco (Spanish) – Hispanic boy name meaning “wild horse”
- Bucky (English) – “Male deer”; the “Winter Soldier” in the Marvel universe
- Chubby (English) – “Robust” or “fat”
- Dino (Italian and German) – “Little sword” or “elf counselor”; can also be a short form of “Dinosaur”
- Gunner (German and English) – “Warrior in charge of the cannons”
- Gunther (German) – “Warrior” or “battle warrior”
- Hardy (Old German) – “Bold and brave”
- Horton (Anglo-Saxon) – “Farm on muddy soil”; the elephant in the children’s book and film “Horton Hears a Who!”
- Hulk (English) – “Enormous person”; after the superhero in “The Incredible Hulk”
- Magnum (Latin) – “Great”
- Maximus (Latin) – “Greatest”
- Optimus Prime (Latin) – “The best”; leader of the transforming robots in “Transformers”
- Samson (Hebrew) – Name that means “sun” (like the sun); also a biblical boy name for the strongest man who wrestled a lion
- Trojan (Greek) – “One from Troy (ancient city in modern-day Turkey)”; often associated with the giant horse the Greeks used to win the war
Short Boy Names For Dogs
- Alf
- Ash
- Babe
- Baby
- Bam
- Becks
- Ben
- Bert
- Beta
- Bill
- Bob
- Boss
- Brock
- Bub
- Buck
- Chip
- Dax
- Dez
- Dude
- Elf
- Eli
- Fred
- Fritz
- Gus
- Hoss
- Ice
- Jax
- Jeb
- Lars
- Lex
- Max
- Moe
- Stu
- Tino
- Vic
- Wag
Long Boy Names For Dogs
- Abraham
- Alexander
- Alistair
- Augustus
- Beauregard
- Benedict
- Benjamin
- Bertrand
- Bradford
- Bradley
- Broderick
- Caliber
- Cameron
- Chewbacca
- Clarence
- Copernicus
- Endeavor
- Finnegan
- Geronimo
- Giovanni
- Griswold
- Hamilton
- Hennessy
- Huckleberry
- Jameson
- Kingston
- Leonardo
- Martini
- Maverick
- Mulligan
- Rodrigo
What Are The Rarest & Most Uncommon Boy Dog Names?
- Bowen
- Brodie
- Casper
- Diesel
- Warren
Unusual & Unique Dog Names For Boys
- Archer
- Blitzen
- Cassius
- Cecil
- Cheech
- Chester
- Fletcher
- Handsome
- Jesse
- Jeter
What Are The Coolest Names For A Dog?
- Ace
- Bullet
- Buster
- Cash
- Chopper
- Clyde
Adorable & Cute Names For Your New Dog
- Bo
- Cedric
- Lucky
- Luka
Good Boy Dog Names For Your New Family Member
- Abe (English and Hebrew) – “Father of nations”; short form of the 3-syllable name “Abraham”
- Amos (Hebrew) – “Carried by God”; biblical name after the Old Testament prophet
- Angus (Scottish, English, and Irish name) – “Choice” or “top-notch grade of beef”
- Bowie (Scottish) – “Yellow-haired”
- Cody (Gaelic) – “Helpful”
- Daniel (Hebrew) – “God is my judge”
- Dexter (Latin) – “Fortunate” or “right-handed”; the genius kid in the animated cartoon series “Dexter’s Laboratory”
- Dobby (British) – “Benevolent elf”; house elf loyal to Harry Potter
- Elias (Latin and Hebrew) – “My God is Yahweh”
- Ezra (Hebrew) – “Helper”
- Guinness (Gaelic) – “Son of Angus”
- Jonah (Hebrew) – “Dove”; prophet in the Old Testament
- Koko (Native American and Japanese) – “Night” or “black foot”
- Levi (Hebrew) – “Joined in harmony” and “united”; one of Jacob’s 12 sons
- Liberty (British) – “Freedom”
- Malachi (Hebrew) – “My angel” or “messenger of God”
- Miracle (Latin and English) – “Divine act”
- Noah (Hebrew) – “Rest”; known for making the ark and saving animals during the “Great Flood”
- Reuben (Hebrew) – “Behold, a son”; Jacob’s eldest son
- Samuel (Hebrew and English) – “God has heard”
- Titus (Latin) – “Of the giants,” “strong,” or “honorable”
Elegant & Royal Name Ideas For Male Dogs
- Archie (British) – “Brave”; name of Britain’s Prince Harry’s son
- Armani (Italian boy name) – “Warrior” or “child of Armano”; name of a luxury brand
- Baron (Old English) – Title in British nobility
- Bentley (British) – “Meadow with coarse grass”; luxury car brand
- Calvin (Norman French) – “Little bald one”; fashion brand
- Carlton (British and Old English) – “Free peasant settlement”; luxury hotel
- Chevy (French) – “Knight” or “horseman”; short form of “Chevalier” or a brand that makes luxury cars
- Duke (English) – Noble British royalty title
- Earl (English) – “Nobleman” or “warrior”
- Gucci (Latin) – “Excellent”; Italian luxury fashion brand
- King (Old English) – “Leader” or “monarch”
- Leroy (Norman) – “The king”
- Lincoln (Old English) – “Lake or pool colony”; brand of luxury vehicles
- Majesty (Latin) – “Dignity” or “royal bearing”
- Porsche (German) – “Offering”; a brand known for high-performance sports cars
- Prince (Latin) – “Leader,” “first,” or “the king’s son”
- Rex (Latin) – “King”
- Roy (Norman and Celtic) – “King”
Boy Dog Names Ideas From Celebrities & Famous People
- Arnold – After Austrian-American actor Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Carter – After former US president Jimmy Carter
- Claude – After French impressionist painter Claude Monet
- Dante – After the Italian philosopher and poet known for the “Divine Comedy” poem
- Einstein – After theoretical physicist Albert Einstein
- Eisenhower – After former US president Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Elvis – After rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, also known as “The King”
- Freddie – After Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury
- Houdini – After Hungarian-American illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini
- Hugh – After Australian actor Hugh Jackman
- Jagger – After English singer Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones
- Keanu – After Canadian actor Keanu Reeves
- Morgan – After American actor Morgan Freeman
- Picasso – After Spanish painter Pablo Picasso
- Pierce – After Irish actor Pierce Brosnan
- Socrates – After the Greek philosopher Soctrates
- Viggo – After American actor Viggo Mortensen
- Wesley – After American actor Wesley Snipes
Boy Dog Names From The World Of Sports
- Ali – After iconic professional boxer Muhammad Ali
- Beckham – After English football player David Beckham
- Bruce – After Hong Kong and American martial artist Bruce Lee
- Dodger – After the Los Angeles Dodgers (American professional baseball team)
- Evander – After American former professional boxer Evander Holyfield
- Floyd – After American former professional boxer and promoter Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Kobe – After basketball legend Kobe Bryant
- Lebron – After American professional basketball player LeBron James
- Lou – After American professional baseball first baseman Lou Gehrig
- Manny – After Filipino professional boxer Manny Pacquiao
- Reggie – After American professional basketball player Reggie Miller.
Musical Names For Boy Dogs
- Banjo – Stringed instrument
- Beethoven (Dutch) – “Beet farm”; after German composer Ludwig van Beethoven
- Cadence – Sequence of chords or notes
- Disco – Dance music genre
- Jazz – American musical genre
- Journey – American rock band
- Lyric – Verse or words in a song
- Major – Key or scale in music; also a high-ranking officer in the military
- Mozart – After Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Rigby – After the Beatles’ song “Eleanor Rigby”
- Trumpet – Brass musical instrument
- Ukulele – Small string instrument popularized in Hawaii
- Yodel – Singing style and genre
- Ziggy – After the “Ziggy Stardust” song by David Bowie
Food-Inspired Boy Puppy Names
- Applejack
- Bacon
- Butter
- Butterball
- Butterscotch
- Cappuccino
- Cashew
- Cheerio
- Chocolate
- Coco
- Cocoa
- Cookie
- Donut
- Espresso
- Fudge
- Gnocchi
- Gumbo
- Hashbrown
- Jager
- Marshmallow
- Meatloaf
- Milo
- Mocha
- Mochi
- Nacho
- Nougat
- Oats
- Oreo
- Peagreen
- Peanut Butter
- Pickles
- Popcorn
- Porkchop
- Pretzel
- Raisin
- Snickers
- Taco
- Vodka
- Waffles
- Yogurt
Travel-Inspired Place Names For Boy Dogs
- Aspen
- Austin
- Bristol
- Buford
- Cabo
- Dakota
- Dallas
- Denver
- Everest
- Hudson
- Jordan
- London
- Memphis
- Milan
- North
- Oslo
- Peru
- Rio
- South
- Tahoe
- Utah
- West
Nature-Inspired Boy Dog Names
- Acorn
- Barley
- Basil
- Bean
- Beetle
- Breeze
- Clover
- Colt
- Cricket
- Eagle
- Falcon
- Fox
- Gator
- Geyser
- Ginger
- Goose
- Grizzly
- Hurricane
- Joey
- Lotus
- Lupin (wolf)
- Lynx
- Moose
- Moss
- Pepper
- Puma
- Raven
- Rooster
- Snowball
- Sparrow
- Storm
- Sunny
- Tiger
- Tundra (frozen environment)
- Wolf
- Yarrow
Space-Themed Boy Dog Names
- Aries
- Astro
- Comet
- Galaxy
- Hubble (telescope)
- Jupiter
- Mars
- Moon
- Moonshine
- Nova
- Orion
- Pluto
Color-Based Boy Dog Names
- Bleu (French nonbinary name) – “Blue”
- Blue (American) – “Blue”
- Boyd (Gaelic, Scottish, and Celtic) – “Yellow” or “blond”
- Brownie (Old English) – “One with brown eyes” or “brown skin or fur”
- Bruno (German) – “Brown”
- Cole (English) – “Charcoal”
- Copper (English) – Metal with rusty, reddish brown color
- Crimson (English) – “Rich shade of red”
- Duff (Irish) – “Dark”
- Finley (Irish and Scottish) – “Fair-haired hero”
- Finn (Irish) – “Fair or white”
- Ghost (Middle English) – “Spirit” or “demon ghost”; ideal for white dogs
- Inky (English) – “Filled with ink”
- Midnight (American) – “Middle of the night”; great for black dogs
- Onyx (Greek) – “Black gemstone”
- Panda (Indian) – “Bamboo-eater”; great for dogs with black and white fur
- Polar Bear (Latin) – “Sea bear” or “big white bear”
- Red (English) – “Red-haired”; good for dogs with red fur
- Rusty (English) – “Red-headed”
Breed-Based Boy Dog Names
- Bernard (German and French) – “Brave as a bear”; great for the Saint Bernard dog breed
- Bully (English) – “Tough guy” or “someone who intimidates”; chosen for bulldogs
- Dane (British) – “One from Denmark”; can be good for Great Danes
- Freckles (English) – “Small, brownish spots”; for dog breeds with spots, such as Australian Shepherds
- Patches (American) – “Spotted”; good for spotted dog breeds like Dalmations
- Pomroy (English, Irish, and French) – “Dweller near an orchard”; can be a name for a Pomeranian
- Popeye (invented name) – Fictional cartoon character “Popeye the Sailor Man”; ideal name for a pug
- Pugsley (Bulgarian) – “Stomach pump”; also a good choice for a pug, and can be after Pugsley Addams of “The Addams Family”
- Tank (English) – “Armored fighting vehicle”; for tough, muscular dog breeds
- Tracker (English) – “Someone who tracks down game”; for tracking dog breeds like beagles and bloodhounds
Witty & Hilarious Boy Names For Your Furry Friend
- Bandit
- Barky
- Blaster
- Booger
- Boomer
- Brain
- Brewster
- Bubbles
- Bullseye
- Buzz
- Chance
- Chaos
- Chase
- Chewy
- Chipper
- Chomp
- Chronic
- Danger
- Digger
- Fuzzy
- Gremlin
- Grit
- Gronk
- Itchy
- Jingles
- Jinx
- Kilo
- Luck
- Minion
- Mischief
- Money
- Mooch
- Outlaw
- Ozzy
- Patch
- Pipsqueak
- Poacher
- Pooch
- Poochie
- Porky
- Puddles
- Pudge
- Puffball
- Puppers
- Quarantine
- Rags
- Rowdy
- Runner
- Scoop
- Scooter
- Scrappy
- Screech
- Seven
- Shadow
- Skip
- Slink
- Smoky
- Socks
- Sparky
- Spike
- Squirt
- Stinky
- Vandal
- Vanish
- Waggles
- Wags
- Wishbone
- Yeller
Game-Inspired Monikers For Boy Dogs
- Blackjack – Casino card game
- Checkers – Classic board game
- Deuce – The number two card (deck of cards)
- Dice – Small, throwable cube with sides marked with dots corresponding to numbers 1-6
- Domino – Game with black and white tiles
- Jigsaw – Tiling puzzle with irregularly shaped but interlocking pieces
- Keno – “Lucky pick” gambling game
- Koopa – Turtle-like characters that throw their shells in the “Mario” game series
- Link – The main character in “The Legend of Zelda” video game series by Nintendo
- Luigi – Brother of Mario in the “Mario Bros.” arcade game
- Marbles – Small glass balls used in different games
- Mario – The main character in the “Mario Bros.” arcade game
- Scrabble – Board-and-tile game that requires players to form words
- Yoshi – Fictional dinosaur in the “Super Mario World”
- Zork – Text-based adventure game
Exotic Boy Dog Names From Around The World
Greek Boy Dog Names
- Leon (Greek) – “Lion”
- Lucas (Greek and Latin) – Name that means “light” (bringer of light) or “man from Lucania (historical region of southern Italy)
- Nautilus (Greek) – “Sailor”
- Tobias (Greek and Hebrew) – “God is good”
- Utopia (Greek) – “No place” or “a good place”
- Xanadu (Greek and Mongolian) – “Exotic, idyllic, or luxurious place”
Spanish Boy Dog Names
- Amigo (Spanish) – “Friend”
- Bobo (Spanish) – “Silly”
- Chico (Spanish) – “Boy”
- Cinco (Spanish) – “Number five”
- Diablo (Spanish) – “Devil”
- Diego (Spanish) – “Supplanter”; variant of “James”
- Domingo (Spanish) – “Sunday” or “day of the Lord”
- Jefe (Spanish) – “Boss” or “leader”
- Jose (Spanish and Hebrew) – “God will give”; variant of “Joseph”
- Ocho (Spanish) – “Number eight”
- Oso (Spanish) – “Bear”
- Pablo (Spanish) – “Small” or “humble”; variant of “Paul”
- Padre (Spanish) – “Father”
- Quatro (Spanish) – “Number four”
- Queso (Spanish) – “Cheese”
- Rico (Spanish) – “Rich”
- Tonto (Spanish) – “Silly,” “dumb,” or “idiot”
- Toro (Spanish) – “Bull-like”
German Boy Dog Names
- Bamey (German) – “Brave as a bear”
- Dusty (German) – “Brave warrior”
- Frederick (German) – “Peaceful ruler”
- Hans (German, Scandinavian, Danish, and Hebrew) – “God is gracious”; variant of “John”
- Hansel (German, Scandinavian, and Hebrew) – “God is gracious”; one of the main characters in the classic fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”
- Kaiser (German) – “Emperor”
- Leonard (German) – “Brave as a lion”
- Ryker (German) – “Rich”
Hawaiian Dog Names
- Kai (Hawaiian) – Name that means “water” (sea)
- Kona (Hawaiian) – “Dry side of the island” or “leeward” (toward the side sheltered from the wind)
- Maui (Hawaiian and Maori) – “Trickster god”; the second largest Hawaiian island
Irish Boy Dog Names
- Aiden (Irish and Gaelic) – “Little fire”
- Conan (Irish and Gaelic) – “Hound” or “wolf”
- Kevin (Irish) – “Handsome”
- Mac (Scottish and Irish) – “Son of”
- Murphy (Gaelic and Irish) – “Sea warrior”
- Riley (Irish and Gaelic) – “Courageous”
Japanese Boy Dog Names
- Kenji (Japanese) – “Intelligent,” “strong,” “second son,” or “healing”
- Michi (Japanese) – “Righteous way” or “beautiful wise child”
- Mika (Japanese, Hungarian, and Russian name) – “Beautiful fragrance”
- Montaro (Japanese) – “Big boy”
Other Exotic Boy Names For New Pups
- Arkin (Scandinavian) – “The eternal king’s son”
- Balto (Babylonian) – “Bel (Babylonian god), protect the king”
- Bodhi (Sanskrit) – “Enlightenment” or “awakening”
- Bora (Turkish, Albanian, and Korean name) – “Storm,” “snow,” or “purple”
- Igor (Greek, Russian, and Polish name) – “Farm laborer” or “warrior”
- Jacques (French) – “Supplanter”; variant of “Jacob”
- Kalik (Arabic boy name) – “Creative”
- Khan (Turkish) – “Prince”
- Nanook (Native American) – “Polar bear”
- Niko (Finnish) – “Victory of the people”
- Obi (Igbo, an African language) – “Heart”
- Omar (Hebrew, Arabic, and German) – “Eloquent,” “flourishing and long-lived,” and “wealthy spear”
- Pavlov (Czechoslovakian) – “Son of Paul”
- Salvatore (Italian) – “Savior”
- Usk (Middle Welsh) – “Abundant in fish”
- Yenko (Hebrew and Slavic) – “Yahweh is merciful”; variant of “John”
Gender-Neutral Names For Your New Pup
- Andre (French and Portuguese) – “Manly” and “warrior”; variant of “Andrew”
- Nikita (Greek and Slavic) – “Victor” or “unconquered”
- Robin (English) – “Bright fame” or “small bird”
- Shiloh (Hebrew) – “His gift,” “abundance,” or “he who has been sent”
- Terry (English) – “Power of the tribe”
- Willow (Old English) – “Willow tree”
Boy Dog Names From A To Z
Boy Dog Names Starting With A
- Abbott
- Aero
- AJ
- Albert
- Alden
- Alex
- Alfie
- Alford
- Alfredo
- Alistar
- Alvin
- Ames
- Argo
- Artie
- Ashby
- Asher
- Atari
- Augie
- August
- Auster
Boy Dog Names Starting With B
- Barry
- Barton
- Baxter
- Bayer
- Beckett
- Benji
- Bennett
- Benny
- Benson
- Bertie
- Bix
- Blake
- Bogart
- Bogey
- Bond
- Boone
- Boots
- Boris
- Bosco
- Brady
- Brando
- Braxton
- Brigham
- Brody
- Brogan
- Bronson
- Bryce
- Bubby
- Bubs
- Bugsy
- Butch
- Byron
Boy Dog Names Starting With C
- Cain
- Caleb
- Carmel
- Casey
- Cisco
- CJ
- Clark
- Clement
- Clint
- Clive
- Coby
- Coda
- Colby
- Coleman
- Colin
- Conrad
- Cooper
- Corby
- Corky
- Cornelius
- Corvus
- Crawford
- Cubby
Boy Dog Names Starting With D
- Daffy
- Dak
- Dale
- Damien
- Damon
- Dandy
- Danny
- Darby
- Dargo
- Darwin
- Dave
- Davis
- Davy
- Deeks
- Deke
- Digby
- Dixie
- Dixon
- Doc
- Dodge
- Dom
- Donnie
- Donovan
- Douglas
- Drake
- Drew
- Duck
- Dudley
- Duffy
- Dutch
- Dwight
- Dylan
Boy Dog Names Starting With E
- Easton
- Echo
- Eddie
- Edgar
- Edison
- Edmund
- Edward
- Edwin
- Eldon
- Elliott
- Elmer
- Elmo
- Elon
- Elway
- Elwood
- Emerson
- Emmett
- Emory
- Eric
- Ernest
- Errol
- Evan
- Everett
Boy Dog Names Starting With F
- Fabian
- Fabio
- Fargo
- Farley
- Felix
- Felton
- Fenda
- Fenton
- Fenway
- Fergus
- Fisher
- Flex
- Flynn
- Fonzi
- Ford
- Forest
- Foster
- Francis
- Frank
- Frankie
- Franklin
- Freddy
- Freedom
- Freeman
- Fuse
- Fuzz
Boy Dog Names Starting With G
- Gabe
- Gage
- Galant
- Gale
- Garry
- Garth
- George
- Gerald
- Gerry
- Gibbs
- Gibson
- Gilbert
- Gill
- Gino
- Gio
- Gonzo
- Gordy
- Grady
- Graham
- Grant
- Gregory
Boy Dog Names Starting With H
- Hamish
- Hammer
- Han
- Hank
- Hansen
- Happy
- Harlem
- Harley
- Harold
- Harris
- Harrison
- Hart
- Hayes
- Heath
- Heinz
- Hendrix
- Herbert
- Herman
- Hickory
- Hilton
- Hitch
- Hobbs
- Hogan
- Homer
- Hooch
- Hoover
- Howie
- Huck
- Huff
- Hugo
- Huron
- Huxley
- Hyatt
Boy Dog Names Starting With I
- Ian
- Idris
- Iggy
- Ike
- Inca
- Inchyra
- Indie
- Indy
- Inman
- Ira
- Irving
- Isaac
- Ivan
- Ives
- Ivor
- Izzy
Boy Dog Names Starting With J
- Jabba
- Jack
- Jackson
- Jacob
- Jag
- Jago
- Jase
- Jason
- Jasper
- Java
- Jawa
- Jeeves
- Jefferson
- Jerry
- Jersey
- Jester
- Jet
- Jethro
- Jimmie
- Joe
- John
- Johnny
- Jonas
- Jordi
- Joseph
- Jude
- Judge
Boy Dog Names Starting With K
- Kane
- Karl
- Keegan
- Kelpie
- Kendrick
- Kennedy
- Kenny
- Kent
- Kipling
- Kirby
- Kit
- Knight
- Knotts
- Koda
- Kodak
- Kodiak
- Kody
- Kurt
- Kyle
Boy Dog Names Starting With L
- Lad
- Lambert
- Lance
- Lancelot
- Lane
- Langston
- Larry
- Laurie
- Lawrence
- Lazer
- Lee
- Legend
- Leland
- Lemuel
- Lenin
- Lennon
- Lennox
- Lenny
- Leo
- Lester
- Lewis
- Liam
- Lucias
- Luther
- Lyle
Boy Dog Names Starting With M
- Madden
- Maddux
- Magoo
- Maguire
- Malcolm
- Malfoy
- Maple
- Marco
- Marcus
- Marley
- Marlin
- Marlo
- Marrone
- Martin
- Marvin
- Mason
- Mateo
- Maurice
- Maximillian
- Maxwell
- McCoy
- McGregor
- McKinley
- Mercer
- Meyer
- Micah
- Michael
- Mick
- Mikey
- Miko
- Milburn
- Miles
- Miller
- Milton
- Mister
- Mitch
- Monet
- Monroe
- Monty
- Morris
- Mort
- Morton
- Mosley
- Motley
- Murdock
- Murray
- Muttley
Boy Dog Names Starting with N
- Nando
- Nash
- Nate
- Nathan
- Ned
- Nelson
- Neo
- Nero
- Newton
- Nick
- Nico
- Nile
- Niles
- Norm
- Norman
- Norris
- Norton
Boy Dog Names Starting With O
- Oakley
- Odie
- Oliver
- Ollie
- Omega
- Opie
- Orson
- Orville
- Oscar
- Otto
- Overton
- Owen
- Ozzie
Boy Dog Names Starting With P
- Pacino
- Paco
- Paddy
- Paisley
- Parka
- Parker
- Parley
- Pepe
- Percival
- Percy
- Perry
- Pete
- Peter
- Petey
- Peyton
- Phillip
- Pilot
- Piper
- Pogo
- Pops
- Porter
- Potter
- Presley
Boy Dog Names Starting With Q
- Quaker
- Quartz
- Quasimodo
- Quentin
- Quest
- Quibble
- Quigley
- Quill
- Quin
- Quincy
- Quinn
- Quinton
- Quip
- Quirk
- Quixie
- Quiz
Boy Dog Names Starting With R
- Rally
- Randall
- Ranger
- Raymond
- Rayzr
- Reece
- Reed
- Reef
- Reese
- Remi
- Remington
- Rhett
- Rhys
- Ricky
- Rider
- Ridley
- Ringo
- Ripken
- Ripley
- Rob
- Robert
- Rocco
- Rockefeller
- Rockwell
- Roger
- Roman
- Ronin
- Ronnie
- Roosevelt
- Roscoe
- Ruben
- Rudolph
- Rudy
- Rufus
- Ruger
- Rupert
- Russell
- Ryder
Boy Dog Names Starting With S
- Sabin
- Sam
- Sammy
- Sanford
- Santana
- Sativa
- Saul
- Sawyer
- Scott
- Scottie
- Seamus
- Sebastian
- Seth
- Seuss
- Sheldon
- Shelton
- Sherlock
- Sherman
- Sherwood
- Sigmund
- Silas
- Silo
- Simon
- Sinclair
- Sioux
- Skippy
- Smith
- Smokey
- Soldier
- Spencer
- Spud
- Stan
- Stanley
- Stark
- Steve
- Stewie
- Stirling
- Stuart
- Summer
- Sylvan
Boy Dog Names Starting With T
- Tack
- Tanner
- Taylor
- Teddy
- Teton
- Tex
- Thaddeus
- Theo
- Theodore
- Thomas
- Thornton
- Tiller
- Timber
- Timmy
- TJ
- Toby
- Todd
- Tom
- Tot
- Trapper
- Trevor
- Tripp
- Tristan
- Troy
- Truman
- Tubby
- Tucker
- Turner
- Tyler
- Tyrion
- Tyson
Boy Dog Names Starting With U
- Udin
- Ulrich
- Ultron
- Ulysses
- Unicorn
- Unique
- Uno
- Upton
- Urban
- Uriah
- Uriel
- Urkel
- Usher
- Uzzi
- Uzziel
Boy Dog Names Starting With V
- Vader
- Vagabond
- Valentine
- Valor
- Van
- Vance
- Vaughn
- Vector
- Vegas
- Velvet
- Venture
- Vernon
- Victor
- Vince
- Vincent
- Vinnie
- Vinny
- Virgil
- Vito
Boy Dog Names Starting With W
- Wade
- Wael
- Wagner
- Waldo
- Wallace
- Wally
- Walter
- Wander
- Watson
- Watts
- Waylon
- Wayne
- Webley
- Weston
- Wheeler
- Wicket
- Wilbur
- Wilder
- Wilhelm
- Wilkie
- Willie
- Willy
- Wilson
- Winslow
- Winston
- Woody
- Wrigley
- Wyatt
- Wylie
- Wystan
Boy Dog Names Starting With X
- X
- Xador
- Xander
- Xavier
- Xenon
- Xerxes
- Xian
- Xirus
- Xylo
Boy Dog Names Starting With Y
- Yak
- Yale
- Yancy
- Yang
- Yani
- Yaris
- Yeats
- Yeti
- Yoda
- Yogi
- Yukon
Boy Dog Names Starting With Z
- Zack
- Zane
- Zappo
- Zarley
- Zeal
- Zebedee
- Zeiss
- Zeke
- Zero
- ZigZag
- Zippo
- Zippy
- Zoom
- Zorro
- Zulu
- Zyron
Bonus: Favorite Female Dog Names
- Artemis (Greek girl name) – Greek goddess of wild animals
- Juno (Latin) – Roman goddess of love and marriage
- Laika (Russian girl name) – “Little barking one”; first dog in space
- Lilo (Hawaiian girl name) – “Generous one”; main character in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch”
Factors To Consider When Choosing Boy Dog Names
Inspirations For Boy Dog Names
- Favorite cartoon characters
- Famous people or celebrities
- Dog breed names
- Fur color
- Your dog’s personality
- Unique names
Characteristics Of A Good Pet Name
- Something you won’t feel embarrassed to call out loud, even when there are other people or pet parents around
- Possibly unique so your dog won’t get confused at the dog park when lots of other pets are around
- Something that describes your pet or fits their personality
Dog Names You Might Want To Avoid
- Names of dog treats or their favorite food
- Names that sound similar to common dog commands
- Embarrassing names
- Naming your pet “My Dog”
Bonus Tips: Keeping Your Dog Healthy & Honoring Your Pet
- Choose healthy canine diets
- Keep their vaccines updated
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Regular exercise
- Parasite prevention and treatment
- Regular bathing
Some ways to honor your pet:
- Preserving their paw print
- Customized art with your pet’s image or name
- Laser-engraved wood or glass plaques
- Framed photos (with or without you in the pictures)
Other Pet Names To Try
Popular Baby Name Lists
- Country boy names
- Unique girl names
- Girl names starting with K
- Male Greek god names
- Biblical girl names
- Mexican boy names
- Goddess names for girls
- Black girl names
- Old-English names for men
- Mexican girl names
- Middle names for girls
- Greek gods and goddesses