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Dog
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| Choosing a name for your new canine pal can be a fun and informative occasion. You will probably always remember this event, and why you chose the name you did. Some different considerations apply from choosing a baby name; the other dogs won’t laugh if you call your pup Fifi, but if other people do, that could have similar consequences. |
The name you choose for your dog should be fairly easy to pronounce, or lend itself to a good diminutive; as far as that goes, Fifi works well enough, as do other common names like Rover, Rex, and Fido. The name isn’t too long: two or three syllables will work when giving a command. A distinct sound is important to capture your dog’s attention: Fifi is better than Lola for that reason, and Lulu is better than Lola, too. Of course, if you're choosing a name for your dog's pedigree, fewer restrictions apply: the name can be longer and more elaborate for the regristration papers. If your breed has a particular country of origin, you may wish to investigate names from that nation. Rottweilers are often called Ruger, Gunnar, or Hans, for example, or Freda and Zelda. Chihuahuas are named Chico, Taco, or Pepé. Checking your dog’s pedigree for ancestor’s names can give you some ideas. A book of baby names or website with names for people and their meanings is another good place to start. There are websites with names from particular regions that explain the meanings. |
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| Knowing the meaning of a name helps when others ask you why you chose it. You may prefer a name relevant to your field of interest. If you choose a trendy name, such as a character in a popular movie, it may become stale rather quickly and it’s not a good idea to change your dog’s name once he or she has become accustomed to it. The best choice is a classic that endures: sometimes the best names come from works of literature. |
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Many dog breeds have originated in Britain, and Celtic names are popular for British breeds. For a male Scottish Deerhound, Dandy Dinmont Terrier, or Golden Retriever, for example, Fergus, Duncan, Cedric, Tristan, Mungo, and Geordie have been employed. For a female dog of a Scottish breed, Fiona or Rona are appropriate. For the many Irish breeds, such as the Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Terrier, Irish Setter, Red Setter, Red and White Setter, Glen of Imaal Terrier, males could be named Seamus, Tyrone, Kelly, Liam, or Val. For females, Sinead, Kieran, Dana, or Tara are possibilities. |
Below I’ve listed more possible names according to the breed’s place of origin: Irish female: Erin, Ciaran, Isolde, Cath, Brychen, Kate, Pixie Irish male: Donovan, Dillon, Connor, Colm, Cuchulain, Aidan Scottish male: Geoff, Geordie, Tristan, Cedric, Tam, Malcolm, Clyde, Ewart Scottish female: Fiona, Rona, Gillian, Crystal, Arabella, Kylie Welsh female: Tegan, Megan, Taffy, Enid, Regan, Rhiannon Welsh male: Trevor, Gawain, Gareth, Ryence, Llwellyn, Bryce |
| England is famous for its dog breeds, including the Staffordshire, Jack Russell, Patterdale, Welsh, Yorkshire, Bull, and Bedlington Terriers, Cocker, Springer, and Toy Spaniels, the Greyhound and the Whippet, the English Pointer, Rough and Smooth Collies, and the Redtick Coonhound, to mention only a fraction of many breeds. |
English female: Adrienne, Trixie, Vanda, Win, Zita, Sabrina, Sadie, Salina, Saffron, Kendra, Juno, Tanya, Krista, Sybil, Lucy, Lucky, Liana, Lena, Regina, Ginger, Goldie, Gracie, Georgia, Dionne, Dora, Di, Dolly, Cora, Clara, Cicely, Christie, Celeste, Amber, Astrid, Brandy, Mira, Miranda, Jewel, Jo, Morgan, Jess, Gyp, Fancy, Onyx, Zephyr, Bambi, Dumpling, Ruby, Felina, Sarah, Jazz, Sprite, Arianna, Annabelle English male: Toby, Wat, Zeke, Rufus, Kelvin, Lyndon, Leighton, Ewan, Dunstan, Conan, Chad, Monty, Uther, Tor, Tristram, Gareth, Mordred, Merlin, Flash, Folly, Joker, Bounce, Diamond, Ty, Toto, Zero, Bottom, Falstaff, Caliban, Romeo, Dodge, Chuck, Piper |
| Germany is credited with the development of a number of breeds popular in North America, Europe, and Britain, including the Doberman Pinscher, Dachshund, Rottweiler, Hovawart, Eurasier, German Pinscher, Affenpinscher, Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers, the German Shepherd aka Alsatian, Schnauzer, Weimaraner, Münsterlander, and the Boxer. |
German male: Luther, Lex, Dexter, Günter, Woden, Hans, Angst German female: Gisela, Liesl, Hilda, Frieda, Mitzi, Gretel, Hedrun, Marta, Élise, Schatzi Norse male: Thurston, Thor, Kirk, Gustav, Axel, Tyr, Ull, Loki, Greyfell, Günther, Helmut, Bjorn, Sven Norse female: Kirsten, Gerda, Freya, Heidrun, Nanna, Gudrun, Brunhild French male: Yves, Guy, Remy, Leroy, Lance, Léonce, Michel, Daniel, Denis, Eames, Manon, Sebastien, Benoit, Evan, Thierry, Cognac, Gaetan, Bezier, Ulysse French female: Tiffany, Toni, Tonya, Veronique, Monique, Desirée, Leonie, Ghislaine, Bette, Alix, Patapan, Danielle, Circlé, Ivoire, Joelle, Margot, Blaise, Axelle |
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French dog breeds include, of course, the Poodle, and the St. Hubert Hound, the Basset Hound, the Artesian and Briquet Normand, the Brittany and the Clumber Spaniels, the Dogue de Bordeaux aka the French Mastiff, the French Bulldog, Leonberger, Papillion, Bichon Frisé, and the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne. Well-known Russian breeds include the Siberian Husky, the Borzoi (aka Russian Wolfhound), and the Black Russian Terrier. Italian breeds include the Cane Corso, Italian Greyhound, Mezzo Corso, Neapolitan Mastiff aka Mastino Neapolitano, Volpino, Bracco Italiano, Bergamasco, Spinone, Bichon Bolognese, Maltese, Maremma, Cirneco D'ell Etna, Lagotto Romagnolo, Segugio, Bucciriscu Calabrese, and the Sicilian Branchiero. |
Russian female: Lolita, Anastasia, Natasha, Czarina, Suka, Natieva, Olga, Saphir, Shandra, Katerina, Elena, Tascha, Kira, Marika, Troika, Mouchka, Tatiana Russian male: Ivan, Alexi, Laskai, Piotr, Bistri, Velsk, Ivor, Boris, Vigow, Brazhnik, Makhayl, Cossack, Mikhail, Vascha, Sachsa, Sergé, Yergacheffe Latin or Roman male: Victor, Danny, Angel, Guido, Francesco, Dante, Carlos, Vulcan, Cupid, Silvanus, Sisyphus, Jupiter, Janus, Mercury, Barruco, Nuño, Adonis, Cicero, Benito, Oedipus, Enzo, Tiranus, Vito, Narcissus, Gaucho, Gato, Novus, Vasco, Orso, Emeril Latin or Roman female: Venus, Sabina, Frenesi, Flora, Fortuna, Esmeralda, Una, Drusilla, Allegra, Demeter, Ceres, Lucretia, Vesta, Luna, Nina, Sierra, Cera, Zora, Europa, Leda, Caliente, Flauta |
Greek female: Phoebe, Chloë, Althea, Cassandra, Calypso, Calliste, Circe, Clytie, Chaos, Camilla, Fate, Selene, Syrinx, Philomela, Artemis, Tyche, Tyro, Nike, Rhea, Niobe, Jocasta, Electra, Gaia, Hera, Io, Leda, Maia, Halcyone, Ida, Hero, Mercedes, Aphrodite, Psyche, Persephone, Omega, Sine Greek male: Cyril, Ajax, Fido, Daedalus, Cerberus, Charon, Damocles, Talus, Tantalus, Tereus, Titan, Ares, Pluto, Hector, Nemesis, Balthazar, Mythos, Paris, Poseidon, Hermes, Socrates, Zorba, Archimedes Middle Eastern female: Tabitha, Lilith, Leah, Adah, Sekhmet, Semiramus, Ishtar, Sheba, Salome Middle Eastern male: Levi, Gideon, Gabe, Ethan, Abe, Azrael, Jared, Dagon, Set, Horus, Bart, Astrakan, Heime, Omar, Seth, Ramses, Toth |
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| Far Eastern breeds include the Japanese breeds, named for the regions of their origin: Akita, Japanese Kai, Tosa Inu, Shikoku Inu, Hokkaido Inu, Kishu Inu, and the Japanese Chin or Toy Spaniel. The Chinese breeds popular in North American are the Shar Pei, Chinese Crested Dog, and Pug (Mei, Ming, Mei Ling, Wei, Wen). The breeds from Thailand which are becoming popular in North America are the Thai Ridgeback and the Bangkaew. The Korean Jindo is a primitive hunting breed recently brought to North America. |
Japanese male: Hiro, Kayo Japanese female: Yokiko, Miwa, Keiko, China, Fujiko, Hiro, Kao, Kyoko, Mitsu Asian male: Kiran, Raj, Sirhan, Khan, Bajeera, Marduk, Kumar, Mahout, Maheesh, Dharma Asian female: Vashti, Zana, Zara, Yasmin, Kali, Maya, Indira, Tiamat, Ara, Fatima, Karma, Chakra |
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Though we haven't forgotten the African breeds like the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Azawakh, Basenji, Boerboel, and Pharaoh Hound, we need to do more research to find names of African origin. Asalee, Aja, Aisha, Malaika, Mali, and Mesi for girls and Mbutu, Malik, Mongo, Bakari, Bwana, Xola, Zulu, Selassi, Simba, Kato, Coffie, Chaka, and Chad for boys should give you some ideas, to start. (But please, not Coujoe: it's much too similar to Cujo, the American derivative.) |
Quite often certain dog names become popular for a time; someone chooses a unique name and five or ten years later it’s no longer unusual. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, don’t worry. I had picked the name Chloë for my first Dobe long before the perfume was on the market! Setting a new trend is preferred to a complete lack of originality: please try to avoid names like King, Prince, and Queenie . . . We’ll continue to add to this list as we run across more interesting names for dogs; meanwhile, visit our Doberman Pinscher puppy names page: some of these names would be perfect for any breed. In addition, we have a page of names arranged according to whether they are cute, quirky, or rare. If rare breeds or the history of the dog fascinates you, spend some time in this online Canine Information Library, which has information on Molloser dogs, rare breeds, and the history of the dog. |
| Male Names: | Female Names: |
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Ankor, Abakan, Aziz, Amir, Akir, Arrow, Avatar, Ancor, Angello, Adonis, Argent, Aragorn, Agate, Athelas, Athens, Algernon, Arsenal, Anubis, Artisan, Alcazar, Ace, Abel Bolivar, Boscoe, Balto, Beltane, Blitz, Bandit, Bruno, Blue, Boomer, Bottom, Baron, Bingo, Bluster, Boromir, Bentley, Brandybuck, Beorn, Beech, Bayonet, Brake, Boston, Bracko, Brig(adier), Benedict, Bacci Cairo, Clive, Caballero, Cheyenne, Cassius, Chester, Czar, Chip, Comet, Caesar, Claude, Cricket, Ceylon, Cab, Cuba, Colin, Chili, Circuit, Cockaigne, Conan, Cory, Chase, Coton, Crocus, Cabal, Craft, Compass, Cable, Cinder, Cyclone |
Ankara, Astrakan, Ada, Amber, Anemone, Aleisha, Amethyst, Aurora, Ally, Athena, Aventurine Bristol, Brie, Breezy, Blue, Bronze, Bettany, Beryl, Burma, Babylonia, Bikini, Baronnie, Belina, Berry Cedar, Channel, Clue, Cyprus, Cami, Cynn, Chaka, Chacha, Copper, Chives, Cocoa, Cheri, Ceylon, Circlé, Crochet, Coral, Citrine, Cleo(patra), Cameo, Claire, Chastity, Clarity, Cara, Charity, Callie, Cyn(thia), Cinder(ella), Chelsea, Copper, Courtney, Cappucino, Currant |
Dover, Dublin, Dekatur, Dayton, Dane, Darfur, Damascus, Dale, Domino, Dozer, Dougal, Dijon, Depp, Dollar, Den, Deft, Dagger, Dolphin, Denver, Disco, Dustin, Dizzie, Digz, Dashiel, Doom, Drummer, Daimler, Dodger, Dom(inic) Emeril, Eddie, Ephemeris, Elvis, Elron, Emir, Evan, Euchre, Espresso, Elir Flint, Fritz, Fudge, Fang, Feldspar, Frodo, Felony, Fester, Forest |
Desi, Desdemona, Dallas, Dakar, Della, Dusty, Daphne, Denim, Daylie, Dahlia, Delfi, Daff(odil), Daisy, Diva Ella, Emma, Élan, Emerald, Eidelweiss, Ephemera, Elvira, Elise, Ester, Echo Fudge, Fellicity, Fidellia, Florence, Fennel, Fallow, Faith |
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Gunn, Gap, Grimm, Gromit, Gear, Grunion, Granite, Glyph, Gimli, Gimlet, Gumby, Gandalf, Gray, Gloin, Gabriel, Gaetan, Getrag, Ginseng, Gaspé, Gryphon, Gizmo, Glacier Hooch, Hatchet, Harlequin, Handel, Hilt, Helmit, Heath, Herc(ules), Hermes, Hunter, Hammer, Hoover Ivor, Ivan, Iain, Irony Joliet, Jasper, Joquin, Joker, Jabañero, Jukka |
Godiva, Gilda, Gemini, Gerta, Gretl, Galactica, Ginny, Gale, Galadriel, Galadriel, Glad, Gabriella, Gemmy, Glamor Hannah, Hansel, Halcyon, Honey, Hope, Heather, Hebrides, Hally Illona, Isis, Indira, Ivory, Isobel Jade, Joliet, Jolie, Jezabel, Jazz, Juniper, Justine, J'adore, Jessica, Jenny, Joy |
Klaus, Kazan, Kurgan, Kadir, Kerouac, Khan, Kubla, Kona, Kestrel, Keeper Lurch, Lurk, Lefse, Luxor, Leif, Lobo, Lazuli Macon, Madras, Monte, Mettle, Mandalay, Mulch, Milo, Matisse, Moose, Mace, Merlin, Malachite, Marduk, Mason, Marmaduke, Micah, Mordor, Momento, Magnet, Mirror, Muse, Meld, Moss |
Kashmir, Kara, Kit, Katje, Kenya, Kelpie, Kylie, Kismet, Kyoko, Kim, Kyla, Kayla, Kiowa Laramie, Lavender, Lafayette, Lark, Larkspur, Liza, Lizzie, Lucile, Loni, Lapis, Lucy, Lilac, Liv Melanie, Madison, Milly, Mabe, Meade, Myst, Misti, Mimsi, Maisie, Matilda, Mae, Mitzy, Mimi, Melody, Marmalade, Myr, Meadow, Merry, MissD'meanor, Mariah, Mercy, Modesty, Mina, Martini, Michaella, Mari, Marnie |
Nero, Nemesis, Nazgul, Noir, Nigel, Niles Om, Otis, Orson, Orion, Omar, Onyx Poohka, Poacher, Puck, Patrasche, Prints, Precio, Paladin, Paladium, Pyrite, Peregrin, Pippin, Poker Quentin, Quinn, Quartz, Quasimoto, Quequeg |
Nefertiti, Nola, Nutmeg, Nova, Nessie, Natalie, Novella, Nadir, Noire Odessa, Odene, Olga, Olive, Oprah, Ophra, Olivia Picot, Peridot, Passion, Pachabel, Peony, Punkin, Platinum, Pixie, Phaeton, Pansy, Pru(dence), Panda, Palmetto Quill, Quince, Query |
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Rafael, Richie, Riki, Robin, Rip, Ryal, Red, Reading, Rohan, Radar, Roy, Replay, Rasputin, Riot, Raider Saricin, Steel, Sparks, Spud, Snert, Shiloh, Shire, Shark, Squid, Stealth, Sharik, Skip, Satchel, Sprocket, Scupper, Smurk, Sentry, Sebastian, Spartan, Scorpio, Serpico, Siam, Sentry, Scabbard, Spinel, Spectro, Serpentine, Splice, Sonar, Sergé, Sauron, Strider, Sting, Snit, Sketch, Sapphire, Seraph, Sine, Sword, Sirocco, Skud, Scrabble, Squire, Sailor, Syzygy |
Robin, Rhonda, Rhonnie, Rochelle, Rosebud, Rocket, Renata, Rafaella, Rommie, Roma, Robin, Rivendell, Royale, Rhapsody, Raisin Samarkan, Sahara, Sari, Serif, Seri, Star, Scamp, Syria, Spark, Slate, Salty, Silver, Sierra, Spice, Silky, Satin, Spirit, Spring, Siam, Sylph, Shana, Shawna, Shayna, Shadowfax, Sheba, Sheena, Sugar, Sophia, Sepia, Salome, Shondra, Sedona, Sonora |
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Tatt, Tyson, Trent, Tamarack, Toto, Top, Tattoo, Tonto, Tito, Toth, Tyg, Tyrone, Tuck, Trucker, Tucson, Troy, Tussle, Tramp, Titanium, Tiger, Turin, Triton, Tango, Tarek, Thebes, Turquoise, Touchdown, Truman, Testament, Trine, Tailor Ubu, Ulrich, Uther, Utah Virgil, Virgo, Vincent, Veikko, Vortex, Vincenzo, Vagabond, Velcro, Vigilance, Vulcan, Volcano, Volcan, Viking Wolfram, Wellington, Wilt, Wyatt, Wendell, Woody, Winston, Wulf, Wyoming, Wakim, Warden |
Tupelo, Tassie, Tangier, Tia, Tatiana, Tumult, Turquoise, Tawny, Tami, Taffetta, Tulsa, Twiggy, Tilly, Thyme, Topaz, Tamara, Terry, Tassle, Tiff, Tera, Temperance, Tempest, Tansy, Taline, Tulip, Thalassa, Thelma Ursula, Uma, Una, Ulysse, Urzana, Umbel Verdell, Verdigris, Vixen, Vigil, Venicia, Vici, Vinca, Vita, Vanity, Valetta Windy, Winona, Winter, Wonder, Wanda |
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Xavier, Xander, Xerox, Xizor Yurek, Yukon, York, Yurik, Yeller, Yuri Zorba, Zaruri, Zeki, Zorro, Zinc, Zaire, Zone, Zircon, Zarathustra, Zeal, Zebra, Zoyd |
Xaviera, Xara, Xandra Yolanda, Yule, Yodel, Yarrow Zamora, Zelda, Zora, Zafir, Zampara, Zirana, Zara |
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